Bridges on Proverbs 22:16
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 22:16
 
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16.  He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
 
These two cases seem to be at opposites. Yet they meet at the same center. Both are equally destitute of the love of God, and of their brother. Both alike are seeing their own aggrandizement. The one oppresseth the poor to increase his riches. The other giveth to the rich, “hoping for” something “again.” Both courses — paradoxical as it may appear — are the road to want. “For the oppression of the poor — now will I arise — saith the LORD. Him that loveth violence, his soul hateth.” (Psalm 12:5; 11:5.) ‘Sin pays its servants very bad wages; for it gives the very reverse of what is promised. While the sin of oppression promises mountains of gold, it brings them poverty and ruin. (Jeremiah 12:13-15.) Injuries done to the poor are sorely resented by the God of mercy, who is the poor man's friend, and will break in pieces his oppressor.’ But if oppression is the road to poverty, is not liberality the way to riches? Doubtless it is, if it be for God. (Chapter 3:9, 10.) But here the man was putting forth a false show of munificence to ensure gifts in tenfold return; while he could at the same time indulge his selfishness in grinding the poor with impunity. Our Lord, therefore, forbids his friends to “make a feast for the rich, looking for a recompense.” “If ye do good to them” — said he to his disciples — “that do good to you — if ye lend to them, of whom ye hope to receive — what thank have ye?” (Luke 6:33, 34.) To give to the rich is perverting our stewardship for the service of the poor. But retributive justice will blast the ill-gotten gains of selfishness; and hypocrisy will meet its just reward of shame and disappointment. (Luke 12:1, 2.) Oh! let the Christian ever hear his Father's voice — “Walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 12:5
5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. {puffeth...: or, would ensnare him}
 
Psalm 11:5
5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
 
 
Jeremiah 12:13-15
13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. {they shall: or, ye shall} 14 ¶ Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
 
 
Footnote:
Lawson in loco. Compare verses 22, 23.
 

 
Proverbs 22:22, 23
22 ¶ Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
 
 
Proverbs 3:9, 10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 14:12. Martial often alludes to the expectation of a legacy with keen rebuke of selfishness.
 

 
Luke 14:12
12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
 
 
Luke 6:33, 34
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
 
 
Footnote:
Job 20:19-22. Isaiah 5:8, 9. Micah 3:2-5. Zech. 7:9-14. James 2:6, 13; 5:1-4.
 

 
Job 20:19-22
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; {oppressed: Heb. crushed} 20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. {feel: Heb. know} 21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. {none...: or, be none left for his meat} 22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. {wicked: or, troublesome}
 
Isaiah 5:8, 9
8 ¶ Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! {they: Heb. ye} 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. {In...: or, This is in mine ears, saith the LORD, etc} {Of a...: Heb. If not, etc}
 
Micah 3:2-5
2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. 4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. 5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
 
Zechariah 7:9-14
9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: {Execute...: Heb. Judge judgment of truth} 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. {pulled...: Heb. they gave a backsliding shoulder} {stopped: Heb. made heavy} 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. {by: Heb. by the hand of} 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: 14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. {pleasant...: Heb. land of desire}
 
James 2:6, 13
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. {rejoiceth: or, glorieth}
 
James 5:1-4
1 ¶ Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. {sabaoth: Heb. hosts}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luke 12:1, 2
1 ¶ In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.