Bridges on Proverbs 17:15
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 17:15
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11-13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27-28 
 
15.  He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
 
Judicial iniquity is an awful abuse of God's authority. (Exodus 23:7.) The judge or magistrate “is a minister of God for good.” (Romans 13:4.) The appeal is to him for justice, as the Representative of God. (Deuteronomy 25:1.) If the great Judge “loveth righteousness and hateth iniquity,”† this unrighteousness [of] justifying the wicked must be abomination to him.† This guilt of Samuel's sons, so contrary to his own integrity, was the immediate cause of the abolition of the Theocracy.† The judges in David's time seem to have been guilty of both these branches of injustice.† Ahab's house was ruined by his condemnation of the just.† “Not this man, but Barabbas”† — combined the double sin. It was the perfection of injustice, the most aggravated abomination.
Not however to confine the application to official iniquity — Do we not all need great watchfulness, that we may “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24); that no corrupt bias may prejudice the exercise of our private judgment, either in favor of the wicked, or in the condemnation of the just?
But let us place ourselves before the “Judge of all” accused by Satan, our own conscience, and the righteous law of God; convicted of every charge; yet justified. Does God then in thus “justifying the ungodly” (Romans 4:5) contravene this rule? Far from it. If he justifies the wicked, it is on account of righteousness. (Ib. 3:25, 26.) If he condemn the just, it is on the imputation of unrighteousness. Nowhere throughout the universe do the moral perfections of the Governor of the world shine so gloriously as at the cross of Calvary.† The satisfaction of the holy law, and the manifestation of righteous mercy, harmonize with the justification of the condemned sinner.† And this combined glory tunes the song of everlasting praise.†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exodus 23:7
7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
 
 
Romans 13:4
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
 
 
Deuteronomy 25:1
1 ¶ If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 45:7. Deuteronomy 32:4.
 
 
Psalm 45:7
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
 
Deuteronomy 32:4
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 5:23. Compare Sophoclis OEdip. Tyr., verses 622, 623, also Chapter 24:23, 24.
 
 
Isaiah 5:23
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
 
Proverbs 24:23, 24
23 ¶ These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 8:3-5, with 12:3.
 
 
1 Samuel 8:3-5
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 ¶ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
 
with
1 Samuel 12:3
3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. {bribe: Heb. ransom} {to blind...: or, that I should hide mine eyes at him}
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 82:2; 94:20, 21.
 
 
Psalm 82:2
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
 
Psalm 94:20, 21
20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 21:13-19.
 
 
1 Kings 21:13-19
13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. 15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17 ¶ And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
 
 
Footnote:
John 18:40.
 
 
John 18:40
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
 
 
John 7:24
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
 
 
Romans 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
 
 
Romans 3:25, 26
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; {set forth: or, foreordained} {remission: or, passing over} 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 53:5-10. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
 
 
Isaiah 53:5-10
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. {wounded: or, tormented} {stripes: Heb. bruise} 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. {laid...: Heb. made the iniquity of us all to meet on him} 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. {from prison...: or, away by distress and judgment: but, etc} {was he...: Heb. was the stroke upon him} 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. {death: Heb. deaths} 10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. {thou...: or, his soul shall make an offering}
 
2 Corinthians 5:21.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 85:10. Isaiah 42:21; 45:21.
 
 
Psalm 85:10
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
 
Isaiah 42:21
21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. {it: or, him}
 
Isaiah 45:21
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Davenant justly quotes this text, as an example of the forensic use of the term justification — ‘not the infusion of a quality, but the pronouncing a sentence.’ (Discourse on Inherent Righteousness, chapter 22. Allport's Translation.) In this true sense it is used in reference to our justification before God — pronounced just in God's own court of judgment.