Bridges on Proverbs 16:14-15
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 16:14-15
 
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14.  The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. 15.  In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
 
The vast power of a King is here developed in a graphic picture of Eastern despotism. Life and death is in his hands. His will is law. (Ecclesiastes 8:4.) Every sign of his wrath — even the frown of his face, or the word out of his mouth — is a messenger of death. (Esther 7:7-10.) The despot issues his order, and the executioner performs his warrant without delay or resistance.† No common wisdom was needed to pacify his wrath. Jonathan appeased his father's wrath.† Daniel pacified the outrageous autocrat of Babylon.† What a blessing, in contrast with this tyranny, is our own constitution! Such an admirable counterpoise between the power of the people and the caprice of the Sovereign! The just authority of the crown is preserved, without invading the due liberty of the subject.
The king's favour marks the same absolute power. The restoration of Pharaoh's butler to his place was as “life from the dead.”† The captive monarch found renewed life in the light of his Master's countenance;† Nehemiah's depression was cheered by his Sovereign's kind manners and still kinder indulgence.† And was not the golden sceptre, held out to Esther,† as the reviving cloud of the latter rain — the security of “the joy of harvest”?†
But think of the King of Kings, before whom the mightiest Monarch is as dust. (Isaiah 40:22.) How much more is his wrath to be dreaded as a messenger of death!† The Kings themselves will fly to the rocks in vain for a shelter from its fury.† Wise indeed is the man who pacifies it. What owe we to that blood, which speaks our peace?† Sinner — ere it be too late — listen to the pleading call — “Be ye reconciled unto God.”† And then whose wrath need he fear, who knows that God is propitious to him?
For truly, if in the light of the earthly King's countenance, much more “in his favour is life.” (Psalm 30:5.) One smile scatters the thickest cloud, and brings “gladness” infinitely more than all the treasures of earth;† refreshing as the latter rain.† ‘Christ liveth’ — said the noble Luther — ‘else I would not desire to live one moment.’ Yea — Christian! — bitter and deep as thy sorrow may be, dread above all thy troubles the clouding of thy Lord's countenance. Watch every interval to obtain a glimpse of it. Seize every leisure to exchange a word or a look. Count every moment of separation irksome to thee. Above all — look and hasten to that time, when thou shalt walk up and down in the unclouded light. Oh, my Lord! ‘let the splendour of that day irradiate my soul, even at this distance from it, and leave no space void of its light and comfort. Yea — let it eclipse all other joys, and by its glistening beauty cause the small contentment of this world to be so many glow-worms, which shine only in the night. Impress on my heart such a lively sense of thee, and of thy glory, that I may sooner forget myself, than thee and thine appearing.’†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 8:4.
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
 
 
Esther 7:7-10
7 ¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. {before me: Heb. with me} 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. {gallows: Heb. tree} 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 22:16-21. 1 Kings 2:24, 25, 46. 2 Kings 6:31-33. Matthew 14:10. Compare Paxton's Sacr. Geogr. 405.
 
 
1 Samuel 22:16-21
16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. 17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. {footmen: or, guard: Heb. runners} 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. 20 ¶ And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.
 
1 Kings 2:24, 25, 46
24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day. 25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died. 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
 
2 Kings 6:31-33
31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. 32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him? 33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
 
Matthew 14:10
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 19:4-6.
 
 
1 Samuel 19:4-6
4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
 
 
Footnote:
Daniel 2:15, 16. Compare Acts 12:20-22.
 
 
Daniel 2:15, 16
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
 
Compare
Acts 12:20-22
20 ¶ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. {was highly...: or, bare an hostile mind, intending war} {the king's chamberlain: Gr. that was over the king's bedchamber} 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 40:20, 21.
 
 
Genesis 40:20, 21
20 ¶ And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. {lifted...: or, reckoned} 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
 
 
Footnote:
2 Kings 25:27-30.
 
 
2 Kings 25:27-30
27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; 28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; {kindly...: Heb. good things with him} 29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. 30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.
 
 
Footnote:
Nehemiah 2:1-8.
 
 
Nehemiah 2:1-8
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} 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Esther 5:2, 3, with 4:16.
 
 
Esther 5:2, 3
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
 
with
Esther 4:16
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. {present: Heb. found}
 
 
Footnote:
Deuteronomy 11:14. Job 29:23. Joel 2:23. Zechariah 10:1. James 5:7. As the Jews began their civil year after the Autumnal Equinox, the latter rain fell in the spring; ‘and the more wet the spring’ — says Dr. Russel — ‘the later the harvest, and the more abundant the crop.’ Harmer's Observ. i. 71.
 
 
Deuteronomy 11:14
14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
 
Job 29:23
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
 
Joel 2:23
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. {the former rain moderately: or, a teacher of righteousness} {moderately: Heb. according to righteousness}
 
Zechariah 10:1
1 ¶ Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. {bright...: or, lightnings}
 
James 5:7
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. {Be...: or, Be long patient, or, Suffer with long patience}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 40:22
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: {It is...: or, Him that}
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 22:13. Luke 12:5.
 
 
Matthew 22:13
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
Luke 12:5
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
 
 
Footnote:
Revelation 6:15.
 
 
Revelation 6:15
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
 
 
Footnote:
Colossians 1:20. Hebrews 12:24.
 
 
Colossians 1:20
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. {having...: or, making}
 
Hebrews 12:24
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. {having...: or, making}
 
 
Footnote:
2 Corinthians 5:20; 6:2.
 
 
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
 
2 Corinthians 6:2
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
 
 
Psalm 30:5
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. {his anger...: Heb. there is but a moment in his anger} {for a night: Heb. in the evening} {joy: Heb. singing}
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 4:6, 7; 21:6.
 
 
Psalm 4:6, 7
6 ¶ There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
 
Psalm 21:6
6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. {made him most...: Heb. set him to be blessings} {made him exceeding...: Heb. make him glad with joy}
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 72:6. Hosea 6:3.
 
 
Psalm 72:6
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
 
Hosea 6:3
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Patrick's Glorious Epiphany, pp. 110, 114.