Bridges on Proverbs 15:28
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 15:28
 
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28.  The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
 
Consideration is an important part of the Christian character; nowhere more important than in the discipline of the tongue. Think twice, before we speak once. “The wise man's heart is at his right hand” (Ecclesiastes 10:2), that he may weigh his words, and study how to answer (Chapter 10:31, 32; 16:23), and “be ready always to give an answer to him that asketh a reason of the hope that is in him.” (1 Peter 3:15.) Though there may be “good treasure” within, yet we must carefully ponder to draw from it “a word in due season.” (Verse 23.) Often may we reflect upon ourselves for speaking hastily. And indeed, when that comes out which is uppermost, nothing but the dross of evil can be looked for. Many stumblings have been made by speaking from the impulse of the moment, from warm feelings, rather than from a well-balanced and considerate judgment. (Psalm 31:22; 116:11.) In this haste, Joshua was beguiled by the Gibeonites; David indulged a burst of murderous revenge; Peter would fain have dissuaded his Master from the work, which he came down from heaven to do, and without which we should have been a world eternally lost. Cultivate a pondering mind. If ever asked to open an important subject, throw it not off hastily, nor give an answer, till we have obtained it from God. For the heart's study to answer necessarily implies prayer, the only medium of receiving the “wisdom that is profitable to direct.” (Chapter 2:1-6. Ecclesiastes 10:10. James 1:5.) Nehemiah darted up his prayer; and how graciously was the answer for the moment vouchsafed! (Nehemiah 2:1-6.) This is especially a ministerial responsibility for the many cases of conscience, that require “the tongue of the learned” — a word of wisdom, conviction, or consolation. How can “the priest's lips keep knowledge” (Malachi 2:7), unless the heart under his Master's teaching studieth to answer?
The wicked has no such restraint. He cares not what he says. It is of little consequence to him, whether it be true, or well-timed, or whom it wounds. His poisoned fountain poureth out poisonous waters. (Ecclesiastes 10:3, 12-14.) Yet fearful is it to think, how every light word brings its account (Matthew 12:36), and will be found a ‘hot coal to make the fire of hell burn more fiercely.’ Such a plague often infests the Church. (Titus 1:10, 11.) “From such withdraw thyself.” (1 Timothy 6:5.) Separation is the keeping of the soul.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 10:2
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
 
 
Proverbs 10:31, 32
31 ¶ The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. {frowardness: Heb. frowardnesses}
 
Proverbs 16:23
23 ¶ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. {teacheth: Heb. maketh wise}
 
 
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: {fear: or, reverence}
 
 
Proverbs 15:23
Proverbs 15:23. 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}
 
 
Psalm 31:22
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
 
Psalm 116:11
11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
 
 
Footnote:
Joshua 9:14, 15.
 

 
Joshua 9:14, 15
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. {the men...: or, they received the men by reason of their victuals} 15 ¶ And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 25:13-21.
 

 
1 Samuel 25:13-21
13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. 14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. {railed...: Heb. flew upon them} 15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: {hurt: Heb. shamed} 16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 18 ¶ Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. {clusters: or, lumps} 19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. 20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. 21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 16:22.
 

 
 
Matthew 16:22
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. {Be...: Gr. Pity thyself}
 
 
Proverbs 2:1-6
1 ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; {liftest...: Heb. givest thy voice} 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
 
Ecclesiastes 10:10
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
 
James 1:5
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
 
 
Nehemiah 2:1-6
1 ¶ And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. {queen: Heb. wife}
 
 
Malachi 2:7
7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 10:3, 12-14
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. {his...: Heb. his heart} 12 ¶ The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. {gracious: Heb. grace} 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. {his talk: Heb. his mouth} 14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? {is full...: Heb. multiplieth words}
 
 
Matthew 12:36
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
 
 
Footnote:
Cartwright, in loco.
 
 
Titus 1:10, 11
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
 
 
1 Timothy 6:5
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. {Perverse...: or, Gallings one of another}