Bridges on Proverbs 20:3
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 20:3
 
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3.  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
 
The opposition of this precept to the maxim of the world proves it to be from God. A world of sin must always be a world of strife, because governed by “the wisdom that descendeth not from above,” the parent of “strife, confusion, and every evil work.” (James 3:14-16.) And yet an evil world is a fine theater for the display of the grace of God, in the fruits of “the wisdom that is from above” — meekness, gentleness. (Ib. 17, 18.) We have been before reminded, that “it is the glory of a man to pass over transgression” (Chapter 19:11); here — to cease from strife. Many from the love of quiet, if not from a better motive, would overlook an injury. Yet if they were embroiled in strife, they would feel their honour at stake, not in ceasing from it, but in following it up, striking the last blow. Far more difficult is it to gather back the waters once let out, than to restrain them within their proper bounds. To “leave off contention,”† especially when we see that we are in the wrong; or — if in the right — that no good will come from it — this “is an high honour for a man, a noble triumph over the flesh.”† Abraham thus ceased from strife by disinterested concession. (Genesis 13:8, 9.) Isaac shewed himself a man of peace under the vexatious annoyance of the Philistines. (Ib. 26:17-31.) The prophet “went his way,” to prevent a further kindling of anger. (Jeremiah 28:11.) But how much more commonly is strife fed by the folly of man's pride, than extinguished by a peaceful and loving spirit!† The meddling fool rushes into strife as his element:† and thus becomes a torment to himself, and a plague to those around him. To return “a soft answer” to “grievous words,”† and to keep out of the way of an angry person,† is the path of wisdom. To “put on meekness and long-suffering,” and to “let the peace of God rule in our hearts” — these are the marks of “the elect of God,” following the example of our Divine Master. (Colossians 3:12-15.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James 3:14-16
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. {sensual: or, natural} 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. {confusion: Gr. tumult, or, unquietness}
 
 
James 3:17, 18
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. {partiality: or, wrangling} 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
 
 
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}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 17:14. Indeed — as Schultens remarks — ‘Solomon is here giving full significance to this former proverb, which however’ — he adds — ‘considered by itself, strongly sets out the disgraceful and most dishonorable lust of quarreling.’
 
 
Proverbs 17:14
14 ¶ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 16:32. Romans 12:21.
 
 
Proverbs 16:32
32 ¶ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
 
Romans 12:21
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
 
 
Genesis 13:8, 9
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. {brethren: Heb. men brethren} 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
 
 
Genesis 26:17-31
17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. {springing: Heb. living} 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. {Esek: that is, Contention} 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. {Sitnah: that is, Hatred} 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. {Rehoboth: that is Room} 23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. 25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well. 26 ¶ Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. 27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? 28 And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; {We saw...: Heb. Seeing we saw} 29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. {That...: Heb. If thou shalt} 30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeremiah 28:11
11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way
 
 
Footnote:
Judges 8:1; 12:1.
 
 
Judges 8:1
1 ¶ And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. {Why...: Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us} {sharply: Heb. strongly}
 
Judges 12:1
1 ¶ And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. {gathered...: Heb. were called}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 18:6; 2 Samuel 10:1-14; 2 Kings 14:8.
 
 
Proverbs 18:6
6 ¶ A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
 
2 Samuel 10:1-14
1 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? {Thinkest...: Heb. In thine eyes doth David} 4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. 6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. {Ishtob: or, the men of Tob} 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. 13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
 
2 Kings 14:8
8 ¶ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 15:1.
 
 
Proverbs 15:1
1 ¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 25:8.
 
 
Proverbs 25:8
8 ¶ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
 
 
Colossians 3:12-15
12 ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. {quarrel: or, complaint} 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.