Bridges on Proverbs 19:13
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 19:13
 
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13.  A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
 
‘Many,’ observes an old commentator — ‘are the miseries of a man's life; but none like that, which cometh from him, who should be the stay of his life.’† As “a wise son maketh a glad father” (Chapter 10:1; 15:20), so a foolish son is the father's calamity† — a multitude of calamities meeting in one, such as no earthly portion, no riches, honour, or station, can alleviate or balance. The denunciation — “Write this man childless”† — would be to his heart a comparative boon. The throne of grace to the Christian father will be the only refuge for his grief. There will he pour out the bitterness of his soul in humiliation for himself, and supplication for his child; and find rest. (2 Samuel 23:5.) Oh! can we be too earnest for the prevention of this calamity? Shall we not seek early grace for our children, and — combined with this — special grace for ourselves (Judges 13:12), to preserve us from unwittingly sowing the seed in their young hearts, that will afterwards spring up with such deadly fruit?
Another domestic calamity is mentioned, not less poignant. The contentions of a wife are as a continual dropping (Chapter 27:15, also 21:9, 19; 25:24) of rain through the roof of an old house. Such a dropping utterly destroys a man's household comfort, and “wears away” a heart firm as a “stone.” This trial is the more fretting, because there is no lawful escape. The foolish son may be cast out. (Deuteronomy 21:18.) The contentious wife must be endured. (Matthew 5:32; 19:9.) Yet would this cross have been had the plain Scriptural rule of subjection been duly honoured?† Or is it not the just chastening for the neglect of the Divine injunction, so essential to secure happiness in the yoke?† Or may it not be the “thorn in the flesh,” the needful restraint from some imminent, subtle, and fearful danger? (2 Corinthians 12:7.) Self-will and impatience would flee from the cross. Faith will seek strength to bear it meekly to the honour of God, extracting a solid blessing out of a heavy trial. (Ib. verses 8, 9.) And who knoweth but the contentious wife may be given to persevering prayer and patient forbearance, as an help-meet to her husband, and both shall ultimately “dwell as heirs together of the grace of life”?†
But surely our God teaches us a valuable lesson of this world's vanity, by fixing disappointment on its most substantial comforts. Let his children beware of building their rest on an earthly portion, of being ensnared by their best blessings; else will their jealous Father embitter their sweetest sources of enjoyment, and teach them by painful discipline to look to enter into no rest but his.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Jermin in loco.
 
 
Proverbs 10:1
1 ¶ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
 
Proverbs 15:20
20 ¶ A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
 
 
Footnote:
Heb. Plur. Chapter 17:21, 25.
 
 
Proverbs 17:21
21 ¶ He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 25 ¶ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 22:30. Augustus in a burst of grief in his domestic trials, is said to have applied to himself Hector’s exclamation against his effeminate brother — ‘Would that thou hadst never been born, or never married!’ Iliad, G. 40.
 
 
Jeremiah 22:30
30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
 
 
2 Samuel 23:5
5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
 
 
Judges 13:12
12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? {How shall we order...: Heb. What shall be the manner of the, etc} {how shall we do...: or, what shall he do?: Heb. what shall be his work?}
 
 
Proverbs 27:15
15 ¶ A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
 
also
Proverbs 21:9
9 ¶ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. {a brawling...: Heb. a woman of contentions} {a wide...: Heb. an house of society} 19 ¶ It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. {in...: Heb. in the land of the desert}
 
Proverbs 25:24
24 ¶ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
 
 
Deuteronomy 21:18[-21].
18 ¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: [19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.]
 
 
Matthew 5:32
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
 
Matthew 19:9
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 13:22. Numbers 27:7. Deuteronomy 21:16. 1 Kings 21:3, 4. 2 Corinthians 12:14.
 
 
Proverbs 13:22
22 ¶ A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
 
Numbers 27:7
7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
 
Deuteronomy 21:16
16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
 
1 Kings 21:3, 4
3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 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.
 
2 Corinthians 12:14
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 25:39-42.
 
 
1 Samuel 25:39-42
39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. 41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. {after her: Heb. at her feet}
 
 
2 Corinthians 12:7
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
 
 
2 Corinthians 12:8, 9
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Peter 3:7. Genesis 2:18. 1 Corinthians 7:16.
 
 
1 Peter 3:7
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
 
Genesis 2:18.
18 ¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. {meet...: Heb. as before him}
 
1 Corinthians 7:16.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? {how: Gr. what}