Bridges on Proverbs 22:11
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 22:11
 
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11.  He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. {for...: or, and hath grace in his lips}
 
Pureness of heart describes not the natural, but the renewed, man. It is no external varnish, no affectation of holiness; but sincerity, humility, shrinking from sin, conformity to the image of God. He who hath fully attained this pureness is before the throne of God. He who loveth it is the child of God on earth. His perfection is desire, constant progress, pressing towards the mark. (Philippians 3:12-15.) When the fountain is cleansed, it sendeth forth sweet waters. When “the tree is made good, the fruit will be good.” “Of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:33, 34.)
Pureness of heart sheds such refinement over the whole character, and pours such grace upon the lips, as attracts the admiration of those, who do not understand its source, and cannot appreciate its principle. (Chapter 31:10, 26.) Such was the grace upon the lips of the holy Savior, that “the multitude hung upon them, wondering at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.”† The moral influence also of this purity of character is to put impurity to shame.
Solomon doubtless spoke his own determination, that the king should be the friend of the gracious servant. This had been his father&aposs resolution.† This character smoothed the way to royal favor for Joseph,† for Ezra,† and Daniel.† Nay — we find godly Obadiah in the confidence of wicked Ahab.† So powerful is the voice of conscience, even when God and holiness are hated! Yet this choice of the gracious lips is to often rather what ought to be, than what is.† Well is it for the kingdom, when the sovereign&aposs choice is according to this rule.† Such alone the great King marks as his friends. Such he embraces with his fatherly love.† Such he welcomes into his heavenly kingdom.† “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See Philippians 3:12-15
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
 
 
Matthew 12:33, 34
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
 
 
Proverbs 31:10, 26
10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 19:2, 7. Luke 19:48; 4:22.
 
 
Psalm 19:2, 7
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
 
Luke 19:48
48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. {were...: or, hanged on him}
 
Luke 4:22
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 101:6; 119:63.
 
 
Psalm 101:6
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. {in a...: or, perfect in the way}
 
Psalm 119:63
63 ¶ I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 41:37-45.
 
 
Genesis 41:37-45
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. {be ruled: Heb. be armed, or, kiss} 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; {fine...: or, silk} 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. {Bow...: or, Tender father: Heb. Abrech} 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. {Zaphnathpaaneah: which in the Coptic signifies, A revealer of secrets, or, The man to whom secrets are revealed} {priest: or, prince}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Ezra 7:6, 21-25.
 
 
Ezra 7:6, 21-25
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. {measures: Chaldee, cors} 23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? {Whatsoever...: Chaldee, Whatsoever is of the decree} 24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. 25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Daniel 6:1-3, 28.
 
 
Daniel 6:1-3, 28
1 ¶ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 18:3, 12. 2 Kings 13:14.
 
 
1 Kings 18:3, 12
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: {Obadiah: Heb. Obadiahu} {the governor...: Heb. over his house} 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
 
2 Kings 13:14
14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 16:12, 13.
 
 
Proverbs 16:12, 13
12 ¶ It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 ¶ Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 28:2; 25:5.
 
 
Proverbs 28:2
2 ¶ For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. {by...: or, by men of understanding and wisdom shall they likewise be prolonged}
 
Proverbs 25:5
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 15:9.
 
 
Proverbs 15:9
9 ¶ The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 15:1, 2; 24:3, 4.
 
 
Psalm 15:1, 2
1 ¶ {A Psalm of David.} LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? {abide: Heb. sojourn} 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
 
Psalm 24:3, 4
3 ¶ Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. {He...: Heb. The clean of hands}
 
 
Matthew 5:8
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.