Bridges on Proverbs 21:29
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:29
 
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29.  A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. {directeth: or, considereth}
 
A hardened face, without shame or blushing for sin, is a fearful manifestation of a hardened heart. Cain standing boldly in the presence of his God, with his hands reeking with his brother's blood; Gehazi with his fearless lie; the Traitor, bearing to be pointed out by his Master, without visible emotion, then afterwards with unblushing effrontery kissing his sacred cheeks — how hardened must have been their faces in determined wickedness! The adulteress also, clothing her seductive witcheries with an impudent face, stands out before us. (Chapter 7:10-13.) Sometimes the wicked man, bent upon his way, hardens his face against the most distinct warning and intimations of the will of God. Nothing would hinder Balaam from his own “perverse way.” He even anticipated the conditional permission of God, lest it should ultimately stand in his way. Ahab determinately hardened his face against the clear forbidding will of God. Jehoiakim, before his whole council, set God at defiance. His people “ran” with the bravery of madmen “upon the thick bosses of his buckler.” And does not sin stand out before us with a brazen face? (Isaiah 3:9.) The drunkard reels at noon-day. The swearer pours out his wickedness in the open crowd. The sensualist “glories in his shame.” (Philippians 3:19.) Truly this is the spirit of Satan. How near to hell! How awful is the plain stamp of the seal of wrath! (Romans 2:5.) Truly ‘we have no stay and command of ourselves. So masterful are our wills and headstrong, but that, if God should leave us wholly to the wildness of our unruly nature, and to take our own course, we should soon run ourselves upon our own ruin.’
Cheering is it to contrast the tender spirit of the child of God. This is rest indeed — to put ourselves in the Lord's hands, fearful of taking one step alone; carefully ordering our steps, lest by inadvertence, much more by willfulness, they should bring shame upon his face. (Psalm 119:5, 6, 80.) Godly simplicity greatly clears the eye of the soul. Where the heart is set on duty, there will be seldom any great difficulty in discovering the path. (Matthew 6:22.) Secret heavenly direction is engaged. (Chapter 3:6.) An unfixed, unresolved mind gives great advantage to the enemy's assault. Here lies the contrast — The wicked man hardens his face against God's ordinances. The godly directs his way by them; not waiting in inactivity for miraculous leading, but improving those ordinary means, which throw light upon every step. Temporals, as well as spirituals; trifles, as well as important matters, are brought under the eye of our gracious God. Child-like confidence brings sunshine and acceptance, a brighter and more glorious privilege than the scepter of the universe.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 4:8, 9.
 

 
Genesis 4:8, 9
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. 9 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
 
 
Footnote:
2 Kings 5:25.
 

 
2 Kings 5:25
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. {no whither: Heb. not hither or thither}
 
 
Footnote:
John 13:21-30.
 

 
John 13:21-30
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. {sop: or, morsel} 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 26:47-49.
 

 
Matthew 26:47-49
47 ¶ And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
 
 
Proverbs 7:10-13
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, {with...: Heb. she strengthened her face and said}
 
 
Footnote:
Numbers 22:20-22, 32.
 

 
Numbers 22:20-22, 32
20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 ¶ And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: {to...: Heb. to be an adversary unto thee}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 22:3-6, 18-29.
 

 
1 Kings 22:3-6, 18-29
3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? {still...: Heb. silent from taking it} 4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
 
18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. {persuade: or, deceive} 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. 24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. {into...: or, from chamber to chamber: Heb. a chamber in a chamber} 26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. 29 ¶ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 36:23, 24.
 

 
Jeremiah 36:23, 24
23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 44:16, 17, with Job 15:25, 26.
 

 
Jeremiah 44:16, 17
16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah, we will not hearken unto thee. 17 But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of {1} victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. {1) Heb bread}
 
with
Job 15:25, 26
25 Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, And {1} behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty; {1) Or biddeth defiance to} 26 He runneth upon him with a stiff neck, {1} With the thick bosses of his bucklers; {1) Or Upon}
 
 
Isaiah 3:9
9 ¶ The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
 
 
Philippians 3:19
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
 
 
Romans 2:5
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
 
Footnote:
Bp. Sanderson's Sermon on Psalm 19:13.
 

 
 
Psalm 19:13
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. {the great: or, much}
 
 
Psalm 119:5, 6, 80
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 80 ¶ Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
 
 
Matthew 6:22
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
 
 
Proverbs 3:6
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.