Bridges on Proverbs 20:2
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 20:2
 
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2.  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
 
The wrath of the king has been before mentioned under this figure. (Chapter 19:12.) Here his fear is described, the effect for the cause. Even Joab with all his valor, trembled at this roaring of the lion, and fled for refuge to the horns of the altar.† Jonathan felt the strong necessity for appeasing it.† Such was the power of the king (unknown in our happy land) the sole, the uncontrolled arbiter of life and death;† whosoever therefore provoked him to anger, sinned, as Adonijah found to his cost (1 Kings 2:23), against his own soul. What must then be the fear of the Great King! ‘Armies of terrors and doubts are nothing to a look of his angry countenance. “O LORD,” says that holy man (concerning the frailty of poor man, and the power of God) “who knoweth the power of thine anger? According to thy fear, so is thy wrath.”’† Even “a little kindling” is ruin past conception, and without remedy. (Psalm 2:12.) Nay — his very “enduring long-suffering,” kindles the fire more fiercely for “the vessels of wrath,” whose aggravated provocations of it have “fitted them for destruction.” (Romans 9:22.) ‘Miserable sinner! deprecate his wrath. Seek a Mediator. Beware of continuing in sin.’†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 19:12
12 ¶ The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 2:28-34.
 
 
1 Kings 2:28-34
28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. 30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father. 32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah. 33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD. 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 19:4-6. Ecclesiastes 10:4.
 
 
1 Samuel 19:4-6
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.
 
Ecclesiastes 10:4
4 ¶ If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 16:14. Esther 7:8.
 
 
Proverbs 16:14
14 ¶ The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
 
Esther 7:8
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. {before me: Heb. with me}
 
 
1 Kings 2:23
23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
 
 
Footnote:
Leighton's Sermon on Jeremiah 10:23, 24. Psalm 90:11.
 
 
Jeremiah 10:23, 24
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. 24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. {bring...: Heb. diminish me}
 
Psalm 90:11
11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
 
 
Psalm 2:12
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
 
 
Romans 9:22
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {fitted: or, made up}
 
 
Footnote:
Geier in loco.