Bridges on Proverbs 19:19
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 19:19
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6-7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28-29 
 
19.  A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. {do: Heb. add}
 
How often does the unchastened child grow up to a man of great wrath, bringing himself into trouble by his boisterous and ungoverned passions! Adonijah, whom “his father had not displeased at any time,” rebels against his brother, and suffers punishment. (1 Kings 1:5; 2:25.) The wretched victim gained nothing by experience. Delivered from one broil, he plunges into another. Indeed who knows what will be the end of undisciplined passion? Cain — a man of great wrath — the murderer of his brother — the punishment that he suffered was “greater than he could bear.” (Genesis 4:5-8, 13.) The friendly efforts to restrain this wrath must be repeated again and again. (1 Samuel 19:1-11; 20:32, 33), even though too often ineffectually. Meanwhile the man suffers his own punishment — the miseries of a fierce intestine war, driven about by the fury of his raging lust. Truly “it is a man's discretion to defer his anger” (Verse 11), as the first, often the successful, effort to restrain a passion, the indulgence of which leaves him degraded and defenseless. (Chapter 25:28.)
After all that a man boasts of his self-government, there is no fermentation within, which restraint may bind, but cannot subdue. Wounded pride and unquelled resentment leave the wretched criminal in his brooding chamber within, suffering an intolerable burden of self-inflicted punishment. What then is the radical cure? “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Matthew 11:29.) The glory and encouragement of the gospel is, that religion, with all its difficulties, is a practicable thing. (2 Corinthians 12:9.) “My grace is sufficient for thee” — is the cheering word of Him, who sealed the faithfulness of the promise with his blood. Doubt not then, that “he will perfect that which concerneth us” (Psalm 138:8), even to the molding of the man of great wrath into his image of meekness, gentleness, and love.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Kings 1:5
5 ¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. {be king: Heb. reign}
 
1 Kings 2:25
25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
 
 
Genesis 4:5-8, 13
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. {be accepted: or, have the excellency} {unto...: or, subject unto thee} 8 ¶ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 13 ¶ And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. {My...: or, Mine iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven}
 
 
1 Samuel 19:1-11
1 ¶ And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. 4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. {in times...: Heb. yesterday, third day} 8 ¶ And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. {him: Heb. his face} 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 11 ¶ Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
 
1 Samuel 20:32, 33
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 19:11
11 ¶ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. {discretion: or, prudence}
 
 
Proverbs 25:28
28 ¶ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
 
 
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 
 
2 Corinthians 12:9
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.
 
 
Psalm 138:8
8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.