Bridges on Proverbs 14:6
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:6
 
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6.  A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
 
What then? — Is the promise belied — “He that seeketh findeth”?† The failure lies at the scorner's own door. He seeks indeed, but without seriousness;† without honesty of purpose;† without delight;† solely for his own interest.† He ‘finds therefore matter enough for his humour, but none for his instruction!’† He charges the darkness upon the Scripture, not — where it really belongs — to his own heart. He feels himself able to comprehend the subject, and therefore free to reject what is beyond his conception, or contrary to his prejudices. He scorns the humbling submission of faith, so that the glory even of the wisdom of God is foolishness with him. (Romans 9:31, 32; 10:3.) No wonder that, while he makes an effort to seek, he findeth not. (Chapter 24:7. 2 Timothy 3:7.) He seeks his object, but neglects the means, and perishes in the scornfulness of his own unbelief. (1 Corinthians 3:19.)
To another class of seekers, knowledge is easy. (Chapter 8:9.) The Ethiopian Eunuch gathered his knowledge from simplicity. (Acts 8:31.) God gave him a ready will, a right taste; and in “doing his will he knew his doctrine.” (John 7:17.) Obedience is the path of understanding. “Whosoever shall humble himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4.)
Shall not we thus unite with our Divine Master in adoring the gracious Sovereignty of this dispensation? — “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” (Matthew 11:25.) Shall not we seek for deeper humility as the pathway to higher instruction? While we “are in our Father's hands” as the object of his love, think of the privilege of “sitting down at his feet, every one to receive of his words.” (Deuteronomy 33:3.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 7:7, 8. Isaiah 45:19.
 
 
Matthew 7:7, 8
7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
 
Isaiah 45:19
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
 
 
Footnote:
John 18:38.
 
 
John 18:38
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 42:1-3; 43:1-4. Ezekiel 14:1-4; 20:1-3. Matthew 22:15, 16.
 
 
Jeremiah 42:1-3
1 ¶ Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) {Let...: or, Let our supplication fall before thee} 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
 
Jeremiah 43:1-4
1 ¶ And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.
 
Ezekiel 14:1-4
1 ¶ Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
 
Ezekiel 20:1-3
1 ¶ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2 Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
 
Matthew 22:15, 16
15 ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 17:16; 18:2.
 
 
Proverbs 17:16
16 ¶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
 
Proverbs 18:2
2 ¶ A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
 
 
Footnote:
Acts 8:18-23.
 
 
Acts 8:18-23
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
 
 
Footnote:
Lord Bacon, quoted by Bishop Patrick.
 
 
Romans 9:31, 32
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
 
Romans 10:3
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
 
 
Proverbs 24:7
7 ¶ Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
 
2 Timothy 3:7
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
 
1 Corinthians 3:19
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
 
 
Proverbs 8:9
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
 
 
Acts 8:31
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
 
 
John 7:17
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
 
 
Matthew 18:4
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
 
 
Matthew 11:25
25 ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
 
 
Deuteronomy 33:3
3 Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.