Bridges on Proverbs 15:19
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 15:19
 
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19.  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. {is made...: Heb. is raised up as a causey}
 
Another picture of the slothful man drawn to life! He plants his own hedge, and then complains of its hindrance. He is always at a stand. Every effort is like forcing his way through a hedge of thorns, where every thorn-bush tears his flesh. Indecision, delay, and sluggishness, add to his difficulties, and paralyze his exertion; so that after a feeble struggle of conscience, with much to do, but no heart to do anything, he gives up the effort.
This sloth is ruinous in temporals. One or two hills vigorously climbed make the way plain for future triumph. But to put half the soul to the work; to drag to it as an unavoidable task; to avoid present difficulties in order to find a smoother path, makes a hedge of thorns, harassing to the end of the journey.
Much more ruinous is this evil in the Christian life. The sluggard in religion is never at ease. He knows that he needs a change. He makes and effort to pray; or he takes up a good book. But all withers for want of purpose of heart. Exertion is to him impossible. He sees no hope of overcoming, and sinks again.
Nor is this merely the beginning of his path. It is his way — his whole course. The righteous may loiter or decline, but it is not his way. The slothful man may have a fit — sometimes an astonishing fit — of exertion; but he relapses to his former state (Chapter 12:27), still surrounded by a hedge of thorns, unable to force his way, pierced, disheartened to the end.
Observe God's estimate of him. He contrasts with him, not the diligent, but the righteous; marking him as a “wicked, because a slothful servant.” (Matthew 25:26.) The difficulties are far more in the mind than in the path. For while the slothful sits down by his hedge-side in despair, the way of the righteous, in itself not more easy, is made plain. He does not expect God to work for him in an indolent habit. But he finds that God helps those that help themselves. Working with diligence, he finds that he can work in comfort. Following his commands, feeding upon his promises, continuing in prayer, in waiting and watching for an answer to prayer — his way is raised up, before him. He believes what is written, and acts upon it without disputing, without delay. As soon as ever the light comes into his mind — at the very first dawn — this determines the direction of his steps, and the order of his proceedings. Thus his stumbling-blocks are removed. (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9. Isaiah 57:14.) Industrious wisdom performs what lazy foolishness deemed impossible. Thorns there are doubtless in the way, but not an impassable hedge of thorns; only such, as while they pierce his flesh, are overruled as a blessing to his soul. (2 Corinthians 12:7, 8.)
Now to apply this to myself — to my great work. Of infinite moment it is for me to have my way made plain. For this — confidence of success is indispensable. Let me then examine my ground. Suppose up to this moment I have been living in enmity with God; yet now he “willeth not my death;” he invites me to come to him; he assures my acceptance. I have his word to depend upon. Why should “I stagger in unbelief”? His truth claims my confidence, and warrants my expectation of the certain blessing. I do not begin, hoping to amend for past neglect, but believing in him for free pardon and strength. The physician heals my helplessness. Faith expels slavish fear, and “the way of the LORD,” instead of a hedge of thorns, is “strength to the upright.” (Chapter 10:29.) The prospect brightens, and instead of “the hard man,” which the slothful pictures to himself, a reconciled God appears before me. (Matthew 25:24. 2 Corinthians 5:19.)
This is no easy way. What fluctuation of faith! — What weariness and discouragement! But at length the way is made plain. Difficulties are faced, surmounted, carried by assault, and what cannot be removed is endured. The mountains are leveled before Zerubbabel. (Zechariah 4:7.) The feeble worm threshes them by the energy of faith. (Isaiah 41:15.) Hope, love, and joy, are conquering principles. Religion, with all its crosses, is found to be a practicable thing. (Philippians 4:13.) The victory over sloth opens a happy and triumphant way to heaven. (Matthew 11:12.)
The slothful man has enjoyed the same advantages. But he has not gone through the thorn-hedge of his own corruptions. He has never learnt, that the cross is the discipline to the end of the way. He does not think what is spoken to faith, but what is agreeable to feeling. He has never broken through the thorn of unbelief. He has compromised and failed in the unreserved trust and surrender of himself to his Savior. He never therefore comes to God in confidence. All his service is with a festering conscience, and with that timidity and delay which ensures defeat. His way at every turn is restless trouble; struggling with a hedge of thorns to the very last.
Child of God! beware of a sluggish spirit. Even the morbid, scrupulous strife about your state may sometimes be a slothful indulgence in direct opposition to the plainest declarations of God. Let not unbelief wrest the promise from your hand, or paralyze the hand that holds it. If the way has been made plain, sit not down in the indulgent comfort of it. But “go in this thy strength” to more important advantage. Prize every particle of success obtained by exertion. Oh! it is worth everything, if we have suffered ourselves to be entangled by spiritual sloth, to rise, though it be at the setting of the sun, and clear away the clouds, that “in the evening time there may be light.” (Zechariah 14:7.) Happy indeed will it be to be quickened, though at the last, to a firmer confidence; to be brought, though only a step nearer to Christ, — to have one thorn less to conflict with in the struggle of death.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
A highway — a path so formed, as to be easy to the foot of the traveler’ — French and Skinner. Compare Isaiah 35:8. Also 2 Chronicles 9:11, margin.
 

 
Isaiah 35:8
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. {but...: or, for he shall be with them}
 
Also
2 Chronicles 9:11, margin.
11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. {terraces: or, stairs: Heb. highways}
 
 
Proverbs 12:27
27 ¶ The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
 
 
Matthew 25:26
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
 
 
Numbers 13:30
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
 
Numbers 14:6-9
6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. {defence: Heb. shadow}
 
Isaiah 57:14
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
 
 
2 Corinthians 12:7, 8
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. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
 
 
Footnote:
Ezekiel 33:11.
 

 
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 11:28.
 

 
Matthew 11:28
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
 
 
Footnote:
John 6:37.
 

 
John 6:37
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
 
 
Proverbs 10:29
29 ¶ The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
 
 
Matthew 25:24
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
 
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. {committed...: Gr. put in us}
 
 
Zechariah 4:7
7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
 
 
Isaiah 41:15
15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. {teeth: Heb. mouths}
 
 
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
 
 
Matthew 11:12
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. {suffereth...: or, is gotten by force, and they that thrust men}
 
 
Zechariah 14:7
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. {it shall be...: or, the day shall be one}