Bridges on Proverbs 17:4
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 17:4
 
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4.  A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
 
Here is a black, but true picture of human nature. The wicked doer is not content with the stirring impulse of his native lust. But such is his craving appetite for sin, that he seeks foreign stimulants to give it increasing activity.† Amnon thus stimulated his own lust, by giving heed to the false lips of his friend.† Ahab, to secure his desired object, eagerly listened to the counsels of his murderous wife.† The Jews gave delighted ears to the false prophets, who flattered them in their wickedness.† Active and intense was the malice of the ungodly, in suborning false witness for our Lord's condemnation.’† Yet ‘there would not be so many open mouths, if there were not as many willing ears to entertain them.’† But be it remembered, that the listening ears share the responsibility of the naughty tongue; as all are involved in the treason, that are directly or indirectly acquainted with the plot.
Gladly does the liar give ear to that, which countenances his own wickedness.† If he did not “love a lie,” he would not listen to it. But thus he shrinks from the condemning light of truth into his own atmosphere of darkness. (John 3:20.) How unlike is this spirit to the true “charity” of the Gospel, which “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth!” (1 Corinthians 13:6.) ‘If then’ — saith good Bishop Hall,† ‘I cannot stop other men's mouths from speaking ill, I will either open my mouth to reprove it; or else I will stop mine ears from hearing it, and let him see in my face, that he hath no room in my heart.’ (Psalm 15:3.) Let the guilty talker think, — how certainly will this “reproach taken up against his neighbour” exclude from the heaven of light and love! Oh! my God, fill my heart and tongue with thine own gracious Spirit!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 4:16, 17. Psalm 64:5, 6.
 
 
Proverbs 4:16, 17
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
 
Psalm 64:5, 6
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? {matter: or, speech} {of...: Heb. to hide his snares} 6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. {they...: or, we are consumed by that which they have throughly searched} {a diligent...: Heb. a search searched}
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 13:5, 6.
 
 
2 Samuel 13:5, 6
5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. 6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 21:4-7.
 
 
1 Kings 21:4-7
4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 5 ¶ But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 30:9-11. Jeremiah 5:30, 31. Micah 2:11. 1 John 4:5.
 
 
Isaiah 30:9-11
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
 
Jeremiah 5:30, 31
30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; {A wonderful...: or, Astonishment and filthiness} 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? {bear...: or, take into their hands}
 
Micah 2:11
11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. {walking...: or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely}
 
1 John 4:5
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 26:59, 60.
 
 
Matthew 26:59, 60
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
 
 
Footnote:
Bp. Hall's Works, viii. 7.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 28:4.
 
 
Proverbs 28:4
4 ¶ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
 
 
John 3:20
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. {reproved: or, discovered}
 
 
1 Corinthians 13:6
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; {in the truth: or, with the truth}
 
 
Footnote:
Works, ut supra.
 
 
Psalm 15:3
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. {taketh...: or, receiveth, or, endureth}