Bridges on Proverbs 16:24
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 16:24
 
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24.  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
 
The sweets of pleasure are not always health. (Chapter 5:3-5.) The honeycomb combines both. Description may give a fancied notion of it. But the taste affords the only true apprehension. Such is the mysterious delight and refreshment conveyed to us in pleasant words. When they are words of counsel, sympathy, or encouragement, they are medicinal also; not only sweet to the soul, but health to the bones. Much more are the pleasant words of God both sweet and wholesome. The professor may enjoy a passing sweetness in them.† But it is only “the drinking in of them,” that realizes their solid pleasure,† “sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.”† We go on our way, like Samson, eating our honeycomb;† like Jonathan, revived.† We take the Lord's words to the throne of grace; and, pleading them humbly and thankfully, most pleasant are they to our taste. Yea, so overwhelming often is their richness, that we can only ask, as concerning the manna — “What is it?”† Not less healthful are they than pleasant; invigorating to our inner principles, the strength — the bones — so to speak — of our spiritual system. (Chapter 3:8; 4:22.)
The like pleasure and health flow from the words of man in the things of God.† How did “David and Jonathan in the wood strengthen each other's hands in God”!† How was the Eunuch cheered by Philip's exposition of the precious Scripture!† What health did Paul's most pleasant words pour into the heart of the desponding jailor!† And how was his own spirit revived by the meeting at Appii Forum;† as the disciples had been refreshed by the converse of their Divine Master on the walk to Emmaus!† When he is the subject, and his Spirit the teacher, pleasant indeed will be the words of Christian communion beyond any earthly enjoyment.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 5:3-5
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: {mouth: Heb. palate} 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
 
 
Footnote:
Ezekiel 33:32. Matthew 13:20. Hebrews 6:4-5.
 
 
Ezekiel 33:32
32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. {a very...: Heb. a song of loves}
 
Matthew 13:20
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
 
Hebrews 6:4-5
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
 
 
Footnote:
Hebrews 6:7.
 
 
Hebrews 6:7
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: {by: or, for}
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 19:10. Compare 119:103.
 
 
Psalm 19:10
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. {the honeycomb: Heb. the dropping of honeycombs}
 
Psalm 119:103
103 ¶ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! {taste: Heb. palate}
 
 
Footnote:
Judges 14:8, 9.
 
 
Judges 14:8, 9
8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 14:27.
 
 
1 Samuel 14:27
27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 16:15, marg.
 
 
Exodus 16:15, marg.
15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. {It is...: or, What is this? or, It is a portion}
 
 
Proverbs 3:8
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. {health: Heb. medicine} {marrow: Heb. watering, or, moistening}
 
Proverbs 4:22
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. {health: Heb. medicine}
 
 
Footnote:
Verses 21, 23; 15:23; 27:9.
 
 
Proverbs 16:21, 23
21 ¶ The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 23 ¶ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. {teacheth: Heb. maketh wise}
 
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}
 
Proverbs 27:9
9 ¶ Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. {by...: Heb. from the counsel of the soul}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 23:16.
 
 
1 Samuel 23:16
16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
 
 
Footnote:
Acts 8:35-39.
 
 
Acts 8:35-39
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
 
 
Footnote:
Acts 16:27, 34.
 
 
Acts 16:27, 34
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 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. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 28:15.
 
 
Acts 28:15
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 24:32.
 
 
Luke 24:32
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?