Bridges on Proverbs 15:30
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 15:30
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7 
 8-9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16-17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 31-32 
 33 
 

30.  The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
 
The eye is the medium of the most rational enjoyment. Most elevating is the sight of the wonders of the creation! (Psalm 19:1; 111:2.) The Psalmist's hymns of praise finely portray his delight. (Ib. 108. 104.) Glowing was the joy which burst from the wise man's heart in the sight of the morning glory — “Truly light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 11:7.) Look also at his gracious and unexpected providence — How did the light of the aged Patriarch's eyes rejoice his heart, when he embraced his long-lost son! A sunbeam truly was it in the cloud of despondency! And when the eye fastens upon the one object of attraction, even one look casts a glory on the soul, and fills it with life and joy. (Genesis 46:29, 30. Chapter 13:12.) “They looked unto him, and were lightened.” (Psalm 34:5.) And what will it be, when the whole soul, animated with Divine Power, shall centre in the eye; when the light of the eyes shall present him to unclouded view, whom all heaven adores with everlasting praise!
But let us look at the joy of hearing. How did the Patriarch's heart bound at the good report of his beloved Joseph! (Genesis 45:27, 28. Chapter 25:25.) The absent Minister seems to live again in the good tidings of his thriving people. (1 Thessalonians 3:8.) ‘How delightful must it be to the humbled sinner to hear the good report of salvation, and to have his eyes enlightened to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’! The animating delight with which the Shepherds saw the good report realized before their eyes, can scarcely be conceived. (Luke 2:15-17.) So joyful is it still to be the humbled sinner, that the very “feet of its messengers are beautiful” in his eyes. (Isaiah 52:7.) “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.” (Psalm 89:15.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 19:1
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
 
Psalm 111:2
2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
 
 
Psalm 108.
1 ¶ {A Song or Psalm of David.} O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. {clouds: or, skies} 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; 6 ¶ That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me. 7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; 9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph. 10 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? 11 Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? 12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. 13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
 
Psalm 104.
1 ¶ Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. {Who...: Heb. He hath founded the earth upon her bases} 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. {They go up...: or, The mountains ascend, the valleys descend} 9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. 10 ¶ He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. {He: Heb. Who} {run: Heb. walk} 11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. {quench: Heb. break} 12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. {sing: Heb. give a voice} 13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. {oil...: Heb. to make his face shine with oil, or, more than oil} 16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. 19 ¶ He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. 20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. {beasts...: Heb. beasts thereof do trample on the forest} 21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. {made: Heb. formed} 27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 31 ¶ The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. {endure: Heb. be} 32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. 33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. 35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 11:7
7 ¶ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
 
 
Genesis 46:29, 30
29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
 
Proverbs 13:12
12 ¶ Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
 
 
Psalm 34:5
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. {were lightened: or, they flowed unto him}
 
 
Genesis 45:27, 28
27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
 
Proverbs 25:25
25 ¶ As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
 
 
1 Thessalonians 3:8
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
 
 
Footnote:
Scott.
 
 
Luke 2:15-17
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. {the shepherds: Gr. the men the shepherds} 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 
 
Isaiah 52:7
7 ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
 
 
Psalm 89:15
15 ¶ Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.