Bridges on Proverbs 19:16
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 19:16
 
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16.  He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
 
The fearing of the commandment is the path of honour. (Chapter 13:13.) The keeping of it is our security. Keep the word, and the word will keep us securely. Our duties are thus identified with our privileges. (Psalm 19:11; 119:165.) This is the first successful effort to shake ourselves from the deep sleep of slothfulness; when we “stir up ourselves to take hold of God, choosing the things that please him, and joining ourselves to him, to serve him, and to love his name.” Yet the power to keep the commandment is not in a man's self. Is it not God working in us, through, by, with us? Thus “all our deeds are wrought in him;” and nothing is left us, but the thankful, humbling acknowledgment — “Yet not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” Let then the world know, that we do not exercise obedience in a covenant of works, nor reject it as a system of bondage and despondency; but that keeping the commandment evangelically is keeping our own souls — the way of present happiness, the seal of everlasting mercy, the pathway to heaven.
But alas! the multitude, instead of keeping the commandment, “go at all adventures,” careless of their ways, reckless of their end. It is with them scarcely worth looking into, whether God is displeased or not; whether they be walking in the narrow or broad path; and what the end of that path may be. The sight before our eyes defies illustration. The most momentous realities, that could ever attract the attention of an immortal being, stand before him, not in dreaming visions, but in actual demonstration — the favor or the curse of the ever-blessed God — salvation or damnation. They confront him in the presence of God. He sees them in the light of God. He acknowledges the stamp of God upon them; and yet with this tremendous sight, this fearful responsibility, not a serious thought fixes in his mind. Instead of being overwhelmed with the consciousness of his own interest in it (enough — were it apprehended — to suspend almost the power of thought) he is ready for any trifle or vanity that crosses his path. He despises his ways, and dies.
Sometimes men come into this thoughtless world, fresh from the influence of a religious education. For a while they yield alternately to their conscience and their corruptions. They are touched a moment under the convictions of the word, or the corrections of the rod. Yet the want of steadiness and consistency soon sweeps all away into “worse” hardness than before. (2 Peter 2:20-22.) They are “carried away unto their idols, even as they were led” (1 Corinthians 12:2); and, slaves of their wills, their lusts, their fancies, they know not, they care not to know, “that for all these things God will call them to judgment.”
Young people — “Ponder the path of your feet.” Look to it well at every step, that “your ways may be established” (Chapter 4:26) in converting grace, the only security for Christian steadfastness. (2 Peter 3:17, 18.) Keep the conscience tender, the Divine rule before your eyes, and the promise in the heart. Cherish a pliable spirit for your Father's guidance. How solemn the warning — He that despiseth his ways shall die! Sinner! would that thou wouldest ponder this death! It is no creation of a distempered fancy. It is the death, which sin bringeth forth to perfection. (James 1:14, 15.) It is the harvest from that seed. (Galatians 6:7, 8.) It is the death such as a soul can die — an eternal reality of infinite, unchangeable misery; the extinction, not of thy being (that were a boon indeed!) but of thy happiness. What must it be to be immovably linked with the wrath of God! Yea — to have the wrath of an immortal God filling the conscience of thine immortal soul, with all its power eternally enlarging to receive the full and eternal impression! And whilst thou art “going on frowardly in the way of thine heart” (Isaiah 57:17), remember “there is but a step” — who knows how short a step — how soon taken? — “between thee and this death.” (1 Samuel 20:3.) “Why” then “wilt thou die,” when the oath of thy God testifies, that “he hath no pleasure in thy death,” when his gracious voice to thee is — “Turn and live. Consider thy ways.” Oh! listen, ere thou learn the wisdom of fools, to be wise too late.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 13:13
13 ¶ Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. {shall be rewarded: or, shall be in peace}
 
 
Psalm 19:11
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
 
Psalm 119:165
165 ¶ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. {nothing...: Heb. they shall have no stumblingblock}
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 64:7; 56:4-6.
 

 
Isaiah 64:7
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. {consumed: Heb. melted} {because: Heb. by the hand}
 
Isaiah 56:4-6
4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 10:23.
 

 
Jeremiah 10:23
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 26:12. Philippians 2:12, 13.
 

 
Isaiah 26:12
12 ¶ LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. {in us: or, for us}
 
Philippians 2:12, 13
12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
 
 
Footnote:
John 3:21.
 

 
John 3:21
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 15:10
 

 
1 Corinthians 15:10
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:17; 16:17; 22:5.
 

 
Proverbs 10:17
17 ¶ He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. {erreth: or, causeth to err}
 
Proverbs 16:17
17 ¶ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
 
Proverbs 22:5
5 ¶ Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 64:5. John 14:21-23.
 

 
Isaiah 64:5
5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
 
John 14:21-23
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 103:17, 18.
 

 
Psalm 103:17, 18
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 35:8-10. Revelation 22:14.
 

 
Isaiah 35:8-10
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. {but...: or, for he shall be with them} 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
 
Revelation 22:14
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
 
 
Footnote:
Leviticus 26:21, margin.
 

 
Leviticus 26:21, margin
21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. {contrary...: or, at all adventures with me}
 
 
2 Peter 2:20-22
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
 
 
1 Corinthians 12:2
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
 
 
Footnote:
Ecclesiastes 11:9, with 2 Kings 10:31. Jeremiah 44:17.
 

 
Ecclesiastes 11:9
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
 
with
2 Kings 10:31
31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. {took...: Heb. observed not}
 
Jeremiah 44:17
17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. {queen...: or, frame of heaven} {victuals: Heb. bread}
 
 
Proverbs 4:26
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. {let...: or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright}
 
 
2 Peter 3:17, 18
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
 
 
James 1:14, 15
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
 
 
Galatians 6:7, 8
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
 
 
Isaiah 57:17
17 ¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. {frowardly: Heb. turning away}
 
 
1 Samuel 20:3
3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
 
 
Footnote:
Ezekiel 33:11; 18:32.
 

 
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
 
Ezekiel 18:32
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. {yourselves: or, others}
 
 
Footnote:
Haggai 1:5, 7.
 

 
Haggai 1:5, 7
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. {Consider...: Heb. Set your heart on your ways} 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. {Consider...: Heb. Set your heart on your ways}