Bridges on Proverbs 22:8
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 22:8
 
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8.  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. {the rod...: or, with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed}
 
Scripture often gives the practical illustration of the seed-time and harvest.† They are linked together in the spiritual, not less than in the natural, world. The harvest is according to the seed. (Galatians 6:7, 8.) Such is the transcendent dignity and worth of the soul, that eternity is stamped upon all its actions. Every thought, every principle (is not this a solemn recollection?) is a seed for eternity, issuing in an harvest of eternal joy, or “desperate sorrow.” The wise man here adverts to the latter harvest. All experience and observation testify to the fact, that the diligence of the ungodly sower can only end in vanity, in utter and eternal disappointment. (Job 4:8. Romans 6:21.)
The connection,† however, of the two clauses of the Proverb may intimate, that the iron rod of the rich ruling over the poor, following the dictates of selfishness, will ensure disappointment. Their abused power will shortly fail, and they will reap only the harvest of their injustice. Often may oppressors prosper for a time. God may use them as his chastening rod. But the seed-time of iniquity will end in the harvest of vanity; and when they have done their work, the rod of their anger shall fail. Such was Sennacherib in olden time,† such was Napoleon in our own day. Never has the world seen so extensive a sower of iniquity, never a more abundant harvest of vanity. The rod of anger was he to the nations of the earth. But how utterly was the rod suffered to fail, when the purpose was accomplished! despoiled of empire, shorn of greatness, an exiled captive. Such is not the harvest from God's seed! “A sure reward” (Chapter 11:18), not of vanity, but of substantial, everlasting joy. (Psalm 126:5, 6.) Here let us “sow bountifully, that we may reap also bountifully.” (2 Cor. 9:6, 9.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 126:5, 6. Hosea 10:12. Matthew 13:3, 24-30.
 
 
Psalm 126:5, 6
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. {joy: or, singing} 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. {precious...: or, seed basket}
 
Hosea 10:12.
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
 
Matthew 13:3, 24-30
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Galatians 6:7, 8.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Job 4:8
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
 
Romans 6:21
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Proverbs 22:7.
 
 
Proverbs 22:7
8 ¶ He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. {the rod...: or, with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 10:5-12, 24, 25; 30:31. Zechariah 10:11.
 
 
Isaiah 10:5-12, 24, 25
5 ¶ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. {O...: or, Woe to the Assyrian: Heb. Asshur} {and: or, though} 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. {tread...: Heb. lay them a treading} 7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? 10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? 12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. {punish: Heb. visit upon} {stout...: Heb. greatness of the heart} 24 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. {and shall...: or, but he shall lift up his staff for} 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
 
Isaiah 30:31
31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.
 
Zechariah 10:11
11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 11:18
18 ¶ The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 126:5, 6
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. {joy: or, singing} 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. {precious...: or, seed basket}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Corinthians 9:6, 9
6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.