Bridges on Proverbs 15:23
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 15:23
 
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23.  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! {due...: Heb. his season}
 
This is a true Proverb, when the mouth is under Divine discipline. A word for our Great Master to our fellow-sinners he will condescend to bless. The remembrance — “Who made man's mouth?” (Exodus 4:11) — puts away pride. But have we not joy by the answer of our mouth? (Chapter 12:14; 13:2.) The pain that every right-minded Christian feels in giving “open rebuke,” is abundantly compensated by the joy of the happy issue. (Chapter 27:5. 2 Samuel 12:1-13.) Even an unsuccessful effort brings the joy in “the testimony of our conscience.” It must however be a word spoken in due season (Chapter 25:11), though it be from feeble lips.† For — though ‘there are some happy seasons, when the most rugged natures are accessible;’† yet many a good word is lost, by being spoken out of season. Obviously a moment of irritation is out of season. We must wait for the return of calmness and reason. (1 Samuel 25:37.) Sometimes indeed the matter forces itself out after lengthened and apparently ineffectual waiting. It has been long brooded over within, and must have its vent. But his explosion sweeps away every prospect of good, and leaves a revolting impression. Instead of a fertilizing shower, it has gathered into a violent and destructive tempest.
It is most important, that our whole deportment should bring conviction , that we yearn over the souls of those whom we are constrained to reprove. The general rule is, to give reproof privately (Matthew 18:15); not exasperating, except when the occasion calls for it (1 Timothy 5:20. Acts 13:6-11), by public exposure. Never commence with an attack; which, as an enemy's position, naturally provokes resistance. Study a pointed application. A word spoken for every one, like a coat made for every one, has no individual fitness. When “the wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment” (Ecclesiastes 8:5), the word is doubly effective. Manoah's wife upheld her husband's faith.† Abigail restrained David's murderous intent.† Naaman's servants brought their master to sober reason.† Paul withheld the jailor's hand from self-destruction, and opened salvation to his soul.† Sweet indeed also is the Minister's joy from the answer of his mouth, when the “gifted tongue of the learned speaks a word in season to him that is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4.) And will it not be an element of his consummating joy “at that day,” when he shall welcome those instrumentally saved by the answer of his mouth, as his “glory and joy”? (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exodus 4:11
11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
 
 
Proverbs 12:14
14 ¶ A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
 
Proverbs 13:2
2 ¶ A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
 
 
Proverbs 27:5
5 ¶ Open rebuke is better than secret love.
 
2 Samuel 12:1-13
1 ¶ And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. {meat: Heb. morsel} 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: {shall...: or, is worthy to die, or, is a son of death} 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 25:11
11 ¶ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. {fitly...: Heb. spoken upon his wheels}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 24:26. Thus Luther after the patterns of the great Apostle, gladly acknowledged his obligation. — ‘The word of a brother, pronounded from Holy Scripture in a time of need, carries an inconceivable weight with it. The Holy Spirit accompanies it, and by it moves and animates the hearts of the people, as their circumstances require. Thus Timothy and Titus, and Epaphroditus, and the brethren who met St. Paul from Rome, cheered his spirit; however much they might be inferior to him in learning and skill in the word of God. The greatest saints have their times of faintness, when others are stronger than they.’ — Scott's Continuation of Milner, i. 332. See the ministry of Christ, Isaiah 7:4.
 
 
Proverbs 24:26
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. {that...: Heb. that answereth right words}
 
Isaiah 7:4
4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. {neither...: Heb. let not thy heart be tender}
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Hopkins' Works, iv. 485. ‘Mollissima fandi tempora.’ — Virg. AEn. 293, 294.
 
 
1 Samuel 25:37
37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
 
 
Matthew 18:15
15 ¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
 
 
1 Timothy 5:20
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
 
Acts 13:6-11
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 8:5
5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. {shall...: Heb. shall know}
 
 
Footnote:
Judges 13:23.
 
 
23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 25:32, 33.
 
 
1 Samuel 25:32, 33
32 ¶ And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Kings 5:13, 14.
 
 
2 Kings 5:13, 14
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
 
 
Footnote:
Acts 16:28-31.
 
 
Acts 16:28-31
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
 
 
Isaiah 50:4
4 ¶ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
 
 
1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? {rejoicing: or, glorying?} 20 For ye are our glory and joy.