Bridges on Proverbs 21:12
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:12
 
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12.  The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
 
The punishment of the wicked reads a lesson not only of love and trembling, but of wise consideration. Yet many are the perplexing mysteries of Providence. The righteous man does not always see with his right eyes. The prosperity of the wicked staggers his faith, excites his envy, and induces hard thoughts of God. (Psalm 73:2-14.) But when he looks with the eye of faith, he sees far beyond the dazzling glory of the present moment. He wisely considereth their house; not its external splendor and appurtenances, but how it will end. He justifies God, and puts himself to shame. (Ib. Verses 16-22.) “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25.) Here we rest, until he shall “arise and plead his own cause,” and “with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming, destroy”† the very existence of evil. Meanwhile, where the superficial eye sees nothing but confusion, let the righteous man wisely consider lessons of deep and practical profit. The shortness of the prosperity,† and the certainty of the overthrow, of the wicked;† the assurance of a day of recompense;† the contrast of the substance of the godly for time and for eternity† — these are the apprehensions of faith. Do they not marvelously set out the perfections of God, and call to each of his children — “My son, give glory to God”?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 73:2-14
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. {firm: Heb. fat} 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. {in...: Heb. in the trouble of other men} {like: Heb. with} 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. {have...: Heb. pass the thoughts of the heart} 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. {chastened: Heb. my chastisement was}
 
 
Psalm 73:16-22
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; {too...: Heb. labour in mine eyes} 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 ¶ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. {ignorant: Heb. I knew not} {before Heb. with}
 
 
Genesis 18:25
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 74:22; 82:8. 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
 
 
Psalm 74:22
22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
 
Psalm 82:8
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:8
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
 
 
Footnote:
Job 20:4, 5. Psalm 37:35, 36.
 
 
Job 20:4, 5
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? {short: Heb. from near}
 
Psalm 37:35, 36
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. {a green...: or, a green tree that groweth in his own soil} 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 12:7; 13:3-6; 15:25. 2 Peter 2:4-9.
 
 
Proverbs 12:7
7 ¶ The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
 
Proverbs 13:3-6
3 ¶ He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 ¶ The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 5 ¶ A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. 6 ¶ Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. {the sinner: Heb. sin}
 
Proverbs 15:25
25 ¶ The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
 
2 Peter 2:4-9
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Job 21:28-30. Psalm 58:10, 11.
 
 
Job 21:28-30
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? {the dwelling...: Heb. the tent of the tabernacles} 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. {wrath: Heb. wraths}
 
Psalm 58:10, 11
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. {a reward...: Heb. fruit of the, etc}
 
 
Footnote:
Job 22:15-20. Psalm 73:23-26.
 
 
Job 22:15-20
15 ¶ Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: {whose...: Heb. a flood was poured upon their foundation} 17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? {for: or, to} 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. {substance: or, estate} {the remnant...: or, their excellency}
 
Psalm 73:23-26
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. {strength: Heb. rock}