Bridges on Proverbs 22:7
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 22:7
 
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7.  The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. {the lender: Heb. the man that lendeth}
 
“The rich and the poor meet together” (Verse 2) for mutual sympathy and helpfulness; yet God has appointed one to rule, and the other to submit. And this gradation of rank in all its forms, involves distinct obligations to be carefully sought out and followed. Subjection, on the one hand, is cheerfully acknowledged as God's own ordinance; while the sense of responsibility is enlarged on the other. The rule applies to all the domestic relations between dependants and superiors. Yet let it be the rule of order, not of pride, caprice, or selfishness. And especially, when exercised over young persons of refined minds and education, let dependence be soothed by “the law of kindness,” elevating them to a rank far above the menials of the house. The golden rule of love will diffuse Christian happiness without disorder or compromise of obligation.
Too often, however, it is a rule of harshness.† And indeed, without a practical submission to God's rule over us, we can scarcely be trusted with power over our fellow-men. Such obligations as that of the borrower to the lender, often force the dependant to a servile bondage. Man becomes an alien to his brother; the victim of his gratification, not the object of his sympathy.†
Very important is it to maintain an independence of mind, quite distinct from pride, which elevates the mind far above doing or conniving at evil, for the sake of pleasing a patron. Many have been forced to great entanglement of conscience, perhaps to vote contrary to their conscience, rather than lose the great man's smile. Often also the influence of capital is an iron rule of the rich over the poor. Many, who profess to resist conscientiously state-interference, have little regard for the consciences of their dependants. The monied master exercises a control over his workmen, which shews too plainly his purpose to make them the creatures of his own will. This gigantic tyranny should be denounced with the most solemn protest.
The true Christian line is to shun that proud independence, which scorns the kindly offer of needful help; but at the same time to avoid all needless obligations. ‘Sell not your liberty to gratify your luxury.’† If possible, “own no man anything but love.” (Romans 13:8.) ‘Guard against that poverty, which is the result of carelessness or extravagance. Pray earnestly, labor diligently. Should you come to poverty by the misfortune of the times, submit to your lot humbly; bear it patiently; cast yourself in child-like dependence upon your God.’†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 22:2
2 ¶ The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 18:23. Amos 2:6; 4:1; 5:11, 12; 8:4-6. James 2:6; 5:4. Compare Ecclesiasticus 13:19.
 
 
Proverbs 18:23
23 ¶ The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
 
Amos 2:6
6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
 
Amos 4:1
1 ¶ Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
 
Amos 5:11, 12
11 Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. {pleasant...: Heb. vineyards of desire} 12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. {a bribe: or, a ransom}
 
Amos 8:4-6
4 ¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? {new...: or, month} {set...: Heb. open} {falsifying...: Heb. perverting the balances of deceit} 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
 
James 2:6
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
 
James 5:4
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}
 
Compare
Ecclesiasticus 13:19
19 As the wild ass is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
2 Kings 4:1. Nehemiah 5:3-5. Matthew 18:25, 29. Compare the blessing, Deuteronomy 15:6; 28:12.
 
 
2 Kings 4:1.
1 ¶ Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
 
Nehemiah 5:3-5
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
 
Matthew 18:25, 29
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
 
Compare the blessing,
Deuteronomy 15:6;
6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
 
Deuteronomy 28:12
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Henry in loco.
 
 
Romans 13:8
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
 
 
Footnote:
Geier in loco.