Bridges on Proverbs 15:10
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 15:10
 
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10.  Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. {Correction: or, Instruction}
 
But is it not also “grievous for the present” to the child of God? He knows his need of it, kisses the rod, bows his will, and reaps a fruitful blessing. (Hebrews 12:11.) But grievous indeed is it to him that forsaketh the way. He is humbled by force, not in spirit. He kicks at it, and, like an untractable child under the rod, only increases his own chastisement. There is no surer step to ruin than this hatred of reproof.† How do “the spots of God's children” (2 Chronicles 16:10) here warn us — “Cease ye from man”! (Isaiah 2:22.)
But correction turns back him, who had forsaken the way. Then it is grievous no more. Had not Manasseh more cause to bless God for his fetters than for his crown, for his dungeon than for his palace?† “This man was born there.” We would always look hopefully at a sinner under correction. For surely so long as the physician administers the medicine, there is no ground for despondency.
Child of God! Dost not thou still need the correction, to perfect thee for more difficult and refined obedience? This costly teaching brings us on wonderfully. The Lord teach thee, when the thorn is in the flesh, to pray for grace in the heart! (2 Corinthians 12:7.) Seek thy Father's favor, more than thine own ease. Desire the sanctifying, rather than the removal, of his rod. Mock him not by the empty ceremonial of repentance. But in true penitence look up to thy smiter to be thy healer (Hosea 6:1); yet not till his correction has fully accomplished his gracious work. Lord! let me know the smart of thy rod, rather than the eclipse of thy love. Shew me thy love; then do with me what thou wilt.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hebrews 12:11
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 1:30; 5:11, 12, 23; 29:1: Pharoah, Exodus 10:24-29: Ahab, 1 Kings 18:17; 21:20; 22:8, 37: Amaziah, 2 Chronicles 25:15, 16, 27: Ahaz, 28:22, 23: the Jews, 16:15-17. Jeremiah 6:16-19.
 
 
Proverbs 1:30
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
 
Proverbs 5:11, 12, 23
11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
 
Proverbs 29:1
1 ¶ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. {He...: Heb. A man of reproofs}
 
Pharoah,
Exodus 10:24-29
24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25 And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. {us: Heb. into our hands} 26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29 And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.
 
Ahab,
1 Kings 18:17
17 ¶ And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
 
1 Kings 21:20
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
 
1 Kings 22:8, 37
8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. {was brought: Heb. came}
 
Amaziah,
2 Chronicles 25:15, 16, 27
15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? 16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destsroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. {determined: Heb. counselled} 27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. {from...: Heb. from after} {made...: Heb. conspired a conspiracy}
 
Ahaz,
2 Chronicles 28:22, 23
22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. {Damascus: Heb. Darmesek}
 
the Jews,
2 Chronicles 36:15-17
15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: {by: Heb. by the hand of} {betimes: that is, continually and carefully} 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. {remedy: Heb. healing} 17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
 
Jeremiah 6:16-19
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Chronicles 16:10
10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. {oppressed: Heb. crushed}
 
 
Isaiah 2:22
22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
 
 
Footnote:
2 Chronicles 33:11-13. Compare David, Psalm 119:67, 71: Ephraim, Jeremiah 31:18-20: the Prodigal, Luke 15:12-20.
 
 
2 Chronicles 33:11-13
11 ¶ Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. {of the king: Heb. which were the king's} {fetters: or, chains}
 
Compare David,
Psalm 119:67, 71
67 ¶ Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 71 ¶ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
 
Ephraim,
Jeremiah 31:18-20
18 ¶ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. 19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. {are...: Heb. sound}
 
the Prodigal,
Luke 15:12-20
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Corinthians 12:7
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
 
 
Hosea 6:1
1 ¶ Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.