Bridges on Proverbs 21:15
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:15
 
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15.  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
 
It is not that the just does judgment. Conscience may dictate this, at least externally, while the bias of the heart is on the side of sin. But it is joy to the just to do it. His rest, purpose, affections — all center in it. He has as much delight in doing judgment, as “the soul of the wicked desireth evil” (Verse 10), as his own soul desired it. It is joy, but only to the just. To the mere professor of religion it is conviction, and fear; the service of a slave. He knows God only as a Master, and conceives of him as a task-master. He has never known him as a Father, and therefore never served him as a child. But his true service — does it not, Christian? — identifies holiness and happiness, and brings its own smile and income of joy with it, as naturally as heat accompanies fire, and beams flow from the sun. And thus “the way of the LORD is strength to the upright.” (Chapter 10:29.) Was it not so with our beloved Lord? He could say — “I delight to do thy will, O my God. My meat, that the world knows not of, is to do my Father's will, and to finish his work.” Oh! that the servant might be in spirit like his Lord!
What, then, is the gloom and sadness charged upon religion? Truly the children of this world have never tasted the clusters of Canaan. How then can they know their sweetness? Christian! look up, and be cheerful, for the honor of your God and his gospel. Live not, as if some affliction had happened to you; but as one snatched from destruction; as a child of God, an heir of heaven. You know more than you can tell. You can tell enough to make the world inexcusable, if they turn away. But you cannot tell half, when all that you can tell is told. Yet let them see, that “the work of righteousness is peace,” and “the yoke of Christ is easy;” nay, that the sharpest sacrifices for him are sweet; that there is more pleasure in “plucking out the right eye” for him, than in using it for sin or for Satan. And then for yourself think further, if this be the happiness amidst all the clogging hindrances of sin, what will it be, when these hindrances shall be removed, and we shall serve him without sin for ever! If such be the wilderness, what will Canaan be!
But what know the ungodly of this reality? Sin is to them a mockery, a sport, even a joy. But never can it be their solid joy. It is their weariness, never their rest. To the workers of iniquity belong only vanity and disappointment, ending in destruction. Hear the testimony of God — “Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 21:10
10 ¶ The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. {findeth...: Heb. is not favoured}
 
 
Footnote:
Ephesians 2:2, 3. Titus 3:3.
 

 
Ephesians 2:2, 3
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {desires: Gr. wills}
 
Titus 3:3
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 32:11; 97:11, 12.
 

 
Psalm 32:11
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
 
Psalm 97:11, 12
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. {at...: or, to the memorial}
 
 
Proverbs 10:29
29 ¶ The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 40:8. John 4:32-34.
 

 
Psalm 40:8
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. {within...: Heb. in the midst of my bowels}
 
John 4:32-34
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 32:17. Matthew 11:30.
 

 
Isaiah 32:17
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
 
Matthew 11:30
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
 
 
Footnote:
Revelation 7:15; 22:3.
 

 
Revelation 7:15
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
 
Revelation 22:3
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 14:9.
 

 
Proverbs 14:9
9 ¶ Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:23; 26:18, 19.
 

 
Proverbs 10:23
23 ¶ It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
 
Proverbs 26:18, 19
18 ¶ As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, {firebrands: Heb. flames, or, sparks} 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 15:21.
 

 
Proverbs 15:21
21 ¶ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. {destitute...: Heb. void of heart}
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 47:13; 57:10, 20; Jeremiah 9:5.
 

 
Isaiah 47:13
13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. {astrologers: Heb. viewers of the heavens} {the monthly...: Heb. that give knowledge concerning the months}
 
Isaiah 57:10, 20;
10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. {life: or, living} 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
 
Jeremiah 9:5.
5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. {deceive: or, mock}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 5:22. Matthew 7:23.
 

 
Proverbs 5:22
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. {sins: Heb. sin}
 
Matthew 7:23
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 3:16, 17. Isaiah 59:7, 8; 57:21.
 

 
Romans 3:16, 17
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known:
 
Isaiah 59:7, 8
7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. {destruction: Heb. breaking} 8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. {judgment: or, right}
 
Isaiah 57:21
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.