Bridges on Proverbs 24:10

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 24:10


1-2	3-6	7	8-9	10	11-12	13-14	15-16
17-18	19-20	21-22	23-26	27	28-29	30-34

10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. {small: Heb. narrow}

Let this be a word of strengthening encouragement. The marvel is, that those who know not where to look for refuge, when the storm is breaking over their heads, do not always faint. But natural courage and buoyancy, or a deeper plunge into the world, as a diversion from sorrow, raises them above their troubles for a while, estranging them yet further from God.

But why should the child of God, contrary to his Father's injunction,† faint? Look at thy privilege — “The eternal God is thy refuge; and underneath are the everlasting arms;”† thy duty — “Call upon me in the time of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me;”† — thy security — “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.”†

Yet we “speak not parables.” Every Christian's heart responds to the confession, that he is apt to faint. ‘The strongest and holiest saint on earth is subject to some qualms of fear;’† not from the greatness of the danger, but from the weakness of his faith. (Matthew 14:30.) Even those who had “endured a great fight of afflictions, who had taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods,” still needed stirring exhortations and encouragements to Christian steadfastness.† If they had borne the brunt of one battle, there are heavier conflicts before them.† Let each of us be awake to the besetting danger. Remember — when we seek strength from our own resources;† when faith gives way to distrust;† praise to murmuring,† hope to despondency;† when relinquished pleasures vividly come to mind,† and protracted toils press heavily† — then we faint in the day of adversity.

For this day we must prepare. “Man is born to trouble,”† as his portion inherited from his first father. He may be called to drink a deep draught of the bitter cup, requiring much strength, that “patience may have its perfect work.” (James 1:4.) The day is needful for the trial of our principles. What seemed more promising, than the confidence of the stony-ground hearers, or than the longer endurance of the apostle's companions? But the day of adversity exposed their hollow profession.† Often also, even when “the root of the matter is found,” a painful exhibition of faintness,† unable to weather out a bad day, proves the smallness, not the vigour, of strength.

But why — again we ask — should the child of God faint? If “affliction came from the dust, and sprung out of the ground” (Job 5:6), he might be discouraged by his ill-fortune. But where every minute circumstance has been the fruit of eternal counsel, where “the hairs of his head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30), well may he “stay himself upon his God.” If his soul, like Israel of old, “be much discouraged because of the way” (Numbers 21:4, 5), it leadeth to his Father's house. If he be wearied with his burden, soon will he rest eternally in his Savior's bosom. Never will he be called to a martyr's trial, without a martyr's faith.† The chastening rod is the seal of everlasting love.† The temporal cross comes from the same hand as his everlasting crown. ‘Never believe’ — Christian — ‘that thy tender-hearted Savior, who knows the weakness of thy constitution, will mix the cup of affliction with one drachm weight of poison.’† If thy strength be small, go to the strong for strength. “He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” (Isaiah 40:29.) Commit thyself daily to him, for his supply of “grace is sufficient for thee.” So go onward, weak and strong at once; weak in order to be strong; strong in thy weakness, “his strength being made perfect in it;” and thou at length “glorying even in thy” depressing “infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9); not only sustained, but “strengthened unto joyfulness.” (Colossians 1:11.)

Oh! — hasten the time, when the dark and cloudy day shall be changed for unclouded sunshine; the crown of thorns for the crown of glory; “the spirit of heaviness” for the garment of “everlasting praise.” (Isaiah 61:3.)

Footnote:

Chapter 3:11.

Proverbs 3:11

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Footnote:

Deuteronomy 33:27.

Deuteronomy 33:27

27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Footnote:

Psalm 50:15; 91:15.

Psalm 50:15

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 91:15

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Footnote:

Hebrews 13:5. Isaiah 54:7.

Hebrews 13:5

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 54:7

7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

Footnote:

Bishop Hall's Contemplations, B. xviii. Cont. 8.

Matthew 14:30

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. {boisterous: or, strong}

Footnote:

Hebrews 10:32-36; 11.; 12:1-3.

Hebrews 10:32-36

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. {in yourselves...: or, that ye have in or, for yourselves} 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 12:1-3

1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {author: or, beginner} 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Footnote:

Ib. 12:4.

Hebrews 12:4

4 ¶ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Footnote:

Isaiah 40:30.

Isaiah 40:30

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

Footnote:

Psalm 78:19, 20.

Psalm 78:19, 20

19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? {furnish: Heb. order} 20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

Footnote:

Exodus 15:1, 24; 17:3.

Exodus 15:1, 24

1 ¶ Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Exodus 17:3

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Footnote:

Numbers 14:3.

Numbers 14:3

3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Footnote:

Exodus 16:3. Numbers 11:4-6.

Exodus 16:3

3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Numbers 11:4-6

4 ¶ And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? {fell...: Heb. lusted a lust} {wept...: Heb. returned and wept} 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

Footnote:

Job 7:1-4.

Job 7:1-4

1 ¶ Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? {an appointed...: or, a warfare} 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: {earnestly...: Heb. gapeth after} 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. {the night...: Heb. the evening be measured?}

Footnote:

Ib. 5:7.

Job 5:7

7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. {trouble: or, labour} {sparks...: Heb. the sons of the burning coal lift up to fly}

Footnote:

James 1:4.

James 1:4

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Footnote:

Matthew 13:20, 21. 2 Timothy 4:16; 1:15.

Matthew 13:20, 21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. {offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin}

2 Timothy 4:16

16 ¶ At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

2 Timothy 1:15

15 ¶ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Footnote:

Abraham, Genesis 12:10-13; 20:2. Moses, Exodus 4:10-13; Numbers 11:11; Joshua, 7:6-10; David, 1 Samuel 27:1; Psalm 31:1, 22; 116:11; Elijah, 1 Kings 19:3, 4. Jeremiah, 20:7-18; Jonah, 4:8, 9; Peter, Matthew 26:35, 69-74; the disciples, ib. verse 35, 56.

Abraham,

Genesis 12:10-13

10 ¶ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 20:2.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

Moses,

Exodus 4:10-13

10 ¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. {eloquent: Heb. a man of words} {heretofore: Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day} 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. {wilt: or, shouldest}

Numbers 11:11

11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Joshua,

Joshua 7:6-10

6 ¶ And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! {backs: Heb. necks} 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? 10 ¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? {liest: Heb. fallest}

David,

1 Samuel 27:1

1 ¶ And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. {perish: Heb. be consumed}

Psalm 31:1, 22

1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Psalm 116:11

11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.

Elijah,

1 Kings 19:3, 4.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. {for himself: Heb. for his life}

Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 20:7-18

7 ¶ O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. {was deceived: or, was enticed} 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. 10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. {All...: Heb. Every man of my peace} 11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. 12 But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. 13 Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers. 14 ¶ Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. 16 And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; 17 Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. 18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Jonah,

Jonah 4:8, 9

8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. {vehement: or, silent} 9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. {Doest...: or, Art thou greatly angry?} {I do well...: or, I am greatly angry}

Peter,

Matthew 26:35, 69-74

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 69 ¶ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

the disciples,

Matthew 26:35, 56

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Job 5:6

6 ¶ Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; {affliction: or, iniquity}

Matthew 10:30

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Numbers 21:4, 5

4 ¶ And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. {discouraged: or, grieved: Heb. shortened} 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

Footnote:

‘Be of good heart,’ said Ridley to his brother Latimer, with a wondrous cheerful look running to him, and embracing and kissing him — ‘for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.’ — Foxe, vii. 548.

Footnote:

Chapter 3:12. Isaiah 48:10.

Proverbs 3:12

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Isaiah 48:10

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. {with...: or, for silver}

Footnote:

Rutherford's Letters.

Isaiah 40:29

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Colossians 1:11

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Isaiah 61:3

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Hebrews 11.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.