Bridges on Proverbs 23:26-28

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 23:26-28


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26. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. {as for...: or, as a robber}

Solomon here manifestly rises above himself, and speaks in the name and person of Divine Wisdom. (Chapter 1:20; 8:1.) For who else could claim the gift of the heart — the work of his own hands, the purchase of his own blood? My son. Such is the relationship which God acknowledges; including every blessing which he can give, and all the obedience that he can claim. No obedience can be without the believing and practical acknowledgment of this relation — My son; not a stranger; not an enemy; not a slave, but a son! invited to return. An amnesty of the past, a perpetual jubilee of joy, awaits thee at thy Father's house.

Many are the claimants for the heart. Heaven and hell contend for it. The world with its riches, honors, and pleasures; and science with its more plausible charms — cries — Give me thine heart. Nay, even Satan dares to put in a loud and urgent plea — “If thou wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” (Luke 4:7.) The loving Father calls — My son, give me thine heart. The answer too often is — ‘I have no heart for God. It is engaged to the world. I cannot make up my mind to be religious, at least not yet.’ And so, even where there is no wickedness — nay, perhaps even some plausible semblance of piety, “the darling is given to the lion;” the heart to the murderer. Not one is naturally ready with the gift to him, who alone deserves it. A few only hearken in a moment of conviction; and then, not till they have proved to their cost the falsehood and disappointment of all other claimants.

An honor indeed he puts upon his creatures, in condescending to receive as a gift, what is his most rightful debt, and what he might at any moment command for himself. But his call wakens his child to recollection and conscious dependence. It is the Father's striving with his child's will. It is the test of his child's obedience. It is a pointed arrow of conviction to his conscience for willful resistance to his call; the only hindrance to his giving his heart being, that he has already given it to claimants infinitely unworthy of it. ‘My guilt is damnable’ — exclaimed an humbled saint — ‘in withholding my heart; because I know and believe his love, and what Christ has done to gain my consent — to what? — my own happiness.’†

And yet this call to many is utterly without interest, as if it were to lay up a treasure in the clouds. To others it is rather like the funeral knell than a jubilee sound; as if we were called to surrender all our pleasures, instead of adding to them one of pre-eminent value and pervading influence. Indeed most truly is our happiness bound up in this gracious command. For what else can ‘fill up the aching void’ within, but “the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost”? (Romans 5:5.) Created objects only seem to widen the chasm. If our appetite is satisfied, it is but for a moment; while every irritation increases the general dissatisfaction. The heart, willfully remaining at a distance from God, can find its home only in a land of shadows. It grasps nothing solidly; while its incessant conflict with conscience is, “the troubled sea, which cannot rest.” (Isaiah 57:20.)

Little indeed is it thought, who demands the gift. It is claimed by the ever-blessed God, whose smile is heaven, whose frown is hell. To rise to a higher obligation — it is claimed by Him, whose love brought him from the throne of glory to the accursed cross; whose grace will cast out none that come to him; who will find a place for his bitterest enemies near to his heart; who will be to each of them all that a lost sinner, with an immortal soul, can need; who “is able to save to the uttermost;” who has saved countless myriads; who is ready — Sinner! ponder it well — to save thee.

But remember — he will never abate one atom of his full requisitions. He asks not for magnificent temples, costly sacrifices, pompous ceremonials, but for the spiritual worship of the heart.† ‘He demands, not the hands, the feet, the tongue, the ears; but that which is the moving principle of all the members — the heart.’† Give that; — It is all he desires. Withhold it; — He rejects all besides. What the heart does not do, is as if it were not done at all. The cold formality of a lifeless faith is a dead, not “a living,” not therefore a “reasonable” or acceptable, “service.” (Romans 12:1.) “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?” (Judges 16:15.) The man, who gives his heart to the world, rises above all his difficulties, persevering, resolved, successful. Never can we triumph over the hindrances of the gospel without those supports, known only in the full engagement of the heart to God.

Never will he dispense with this claim of the love of all our heart.† We must not deal with him as Lot's wife, moving slowly forward, while the heart is behind;† or like Orpah, stopping at the very moment that the cross is to be borne.† Dream not of dividing the heart with the world.† He loves a broken heart. He spurns a divided heart. Satan will seem to be content with a part; because he knows that, as God will accept nothing less than all, the whole will thus fall to him. It is far beneath the Majesty of heaven to possess anything less than the throne (Matthew 10:37); — a mean throne at best for the Almighty Sovereign of the universe. But his claims are paramount. And never are we truly our own, till we unreservedly acknowledge ourselves to be his. Indeed all false religions in the world are but vain substitutes for this plain and most happy duty. However plausible the show, if it does not lead the heart to God, it is fearful delusion. Whatever principles, practices, or society, turn our hearts from God — it is the highroad of ruin.

And doth he ask his child for his heart; and will he refuse to give it? Does it open immediately to Satan and the world — yea — even before they knock? and is the beseeching Father to be excluded? Are there no “bands of love to draw”? (Hosea 11:4.) Out of what rock was it hewn, that it can be proof against the pleadings of Divine parental love? Canst thou not give it him? Surely hadst thou the will, thou wouldest have the power too. If thou hast the faintest will, at least shew though but the feeblest effort. Offer it, though but with a trembling hand. His hand will meet thine, and take it of thee. The happiest day of life is now arrived; a day, the recollection of which will never be tinged with one shade of regret.

If thou hast not done it, do it now. Let there be no half-giving. To hesitate — to delay — is to refuse. And why should you delay? Has Satan been so good a Master, that you are reluctant to leave him? Can you find a better friend than Him, who hath cared so long for you, than Him who hath died for you? Now then, with the help of the Divine Spirit, without whom this cannot be done — resolve, decide — once for all — for ever. But if thou hast done it, do it daily. He is still the same; still as deserving of your heart as ever. Thou canst not give it to him too soon or too often. The command does not hale us (as Saul haled his victims, Acts 8:3) to the service of God. The citadel is not stormed, but it opens its gates. A principle of immortal energy constrains the heart; yet only by “making it willing.” (Psalm 110:3.) The reluctancy is melted away, and by the power of love the heart is “compelled to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:14. Luke 14:23.) What so free as a gift? And never is the will so free, as when it moves towards God. Weak as he is, yet the child can testify, that to give his heart is his first desire; that he never designs or intends anything less; that he longs for the consuming of every corruption, which hinders the full surrender. Oh my God! thy grace alone can enable me. I am ashamed of the gift. Nothing can be more unworthy. But because it is the purchase of thy death, and thou callest for it, it is thine own, it shall be thine. Take it then as it is. Make it what it is not. Keep it with thyself. Bind it so close to thee with the cords of love, that it may never cast a wishful look away from thee. Had I a thousand hearts, all should be thine. Thou alone canst fill it. Thou alone art worthy of it. Exalt thine own throne in it for ever.

Think how all hangs on this point. Give it; all the blessings of the gospel are yours. Refuse; you trample them under your feet; you live a life of base rebellion to your best friend, and of cruel madness to your own soul; you live without Christ; you will die without hope; accursed, lost for ever. The command of authority is an invitation of love — Dwell upon it. Think how right, how reasonable, how winning, how much it is beyond everything else, how much worth accepting in spite of every hindrance and objection. How much beyond every other joy is the delight of giving your heart to the tender compassionate love of your dying Savior! And then, having made him the object of your desires, the sum of all your wishes for happiness and for dependence; be determined to seek, and confident to find all in him, and resolute in rejecting every temptation to seek it elsewhere. Having therefore given your heart, let your eyes observe his ways. (Chapter 4:23-25.) ‘Our heart given, gives all the rest. This makes eyes, ears, tongue and hands, and all, to be holy, as God's peculiar.’† His word will be our rule;† His Providence our interpreter.† The heart, no longer divided, is now at full liberty for the service. The eyes, no longer wandering, like “the eyes of a fool, in the ends of the earth” (Chapter 17:24), are now fixed upon an object supremely worthy, and abundantly satisfying.

Here also is our power of resistance to the gross seductions of the enemy (Chapter 2:10, 11, 16) — “I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot,” I will not, go back.† He hath my heart, and he shall have it. So long indeed as we carry about us a body of sin and death, we need a continual supply of “the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body.”† But in our new atmosphere of heavenly light, the mask falls off from the allurements of sin. The strange woman appears frightful as a deep ditch, or, what is even more, a narrow pit, with no room to escape.† Mighty and strong men have fallen into it.† The tempter hides the danger, while she lays wait for the prey; and thus she successfully increases the transgressors among men.† Blessed be God! if while fleshly lusts “have destroyed their thousands and tens of thousands” (Chapter 7:26), we have, by giving our heart to its Divine Lord, been enabled to abhor the temptation, and to ascribe to our faithful-keeping God the glory of our deliverance.

Proverbs 1:20

20 ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: {Wisdom: Heb. Wisdoms, that is, Excellent wisdom}

Proverbs 8:1

1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

Luke 4:7

7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. {worship me: or, fall down before me}

Footnote:

Adams' Private Thoughts.

Romans 5:5

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Isaiah 57:20

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Footnote:

Isaiah 66:1, 2. John 4:23, 24.

Isaiah 66:1, 2

1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

John 4:23, 24

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Footnote:

‘Non caput, non manum, non pedem, non caetera membra; sed omnium membrorum principium, radicem, et vitae humanae fontem, qui cor est, dari sibi Deus postulat.’ – Glass, Philolog. Sacr. lib. ii. pars i. Tract. ii. sect. iii.

Romans 12:1

1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Judges 16:15

15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

Footnote:

Matthew 22:37

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Footnote:

Genesis 19:26.

Genesis 19:26

26 ¶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Footnote:

Ruth 1:14.

Ruth 1:14

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Footnote:

Matthew 6:24.

Matthew 6:24

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 10:37

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Hosea 11:4

4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

Acts 8:3

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Psalm 110:3

3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. {from...: or, more than the womb of the morning: thou shalt have, etc}

2 Corinthians 5:14

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Luke 14:23

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Proverbs 4:23-25

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. {with...: Heb. above all keeping} 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. {a froward...: Heb. frowardness of mouth and perverseness of lips} 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Footnote:

Leighton on 1 Peter 2:4, 5.

1 Peter 2:4, 5

4 ¶ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. {are: or, be ye}

Footnote:

Chapter 6:23. Psalm 119:9-11, 105.

Proverbs 6:23

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Psalm 119:9-11, 105

9 ¶ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 ¶ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 105 ¶ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. {lamp: or, candle}

Footnote:

Psalm 107:43.

Psalm 107:43

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Proverbs 17:24

24 ¶ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 2:10, 11, 16

10 ¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

Footnote:

Judges 11:35. Compare Genesis 39:9.

Judges 11:35

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

Compare

Genesis 39:9

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Footnote:

Romans 8:13. Galatians 5:16.

Romans 8:13

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Galatians 5:16

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. {ye...: or, fulfil not}

Footnote:

Chapter 22:14; 2:19.

Proverbs 22:14

14 ¶ The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

Proverbs 2:19

19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

REFERENCE

Footnote:

1 Kings 11:1-8, with Nehemiah 13:26. Judges 16:4-20. ‘He (Samson) broke the bonds of his enemies; but he could not break the bonds of his own lusts. He choked the lion; but he could not choke his own wanton love.’ Ambrose quoted by Jermin in loco.

1 Kings 11:1-8

1 ¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; {together...: or, beside} 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. {Milcom: also called, Molech} 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. {went...: Heb. fulfilled not after} 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

with

Nehemiah 13:26

26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Judges 16:4-20

4 ¶ And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. {in...: or, by the brook} 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. {afflict: or, humble} 6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. 7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. {green...: or, new cords: Heb. moist} {another: Heb. one} 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. {green...: or, new cords: Heb. moist} 9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known. {toucheth: Heb. smelleth} 10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound. 11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. {that never...: Heb. wherewith work hath not been done} 12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread. 13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. 14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. 15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. 16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; {vexed: Heb. shortened} 17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. 18 ¶ And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. 19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Proverbs 7:26

26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

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