Bridges on Proverbs 25:11-12

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 25:11-12


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11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. {fitly...: Heb. spoken upon wheels; upon a revolving, turn or season; i.e., seasonable} 12. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

The allusion is to the curiously wrought baskets of silver network, in which delicious fruits were served up. The beauty of the texture sets off the fruit with additional charms. So does a lovely medium enhance the attractiveness of truth.† “The preacher should strive to find out acceptable words”† — words fitly spoken — giving to each their proper meat — and that “in due season,”† suited to their ages and difference of temperament. “How forcible are right words!” (Job 6:25.) Our Lord witnessed of himself, as “gifted with the tongue of the learned, that he might know how to speak the word in season” (Isaiah 50:4) — a word upon the wheels — not forced or dragged, but rolling smoothly along, like the chariot-wheels. His discourses on the living water and the bread of life† arose naturally out of the conversation,† and therefore were full of arresting application. Paul powerfully charged superstition on the Athenians by an inscription on their own altar; and strengthened his reasoning by quoting from one of their own poets. (Acts 17:22-28.) To a corrupt and profligate judge he preached “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.” (Acts 24:25.)

In general intercourse much depends, not only upon the word spoken, but upon the occasion and spirit of speaking. We must not only lay ourselves out to do good, but to watch the fittest seasons of doing it. Under affliction, or tender impressions of conviction, a word fitly spoken might be as the descent of our gracious Lord to the soul, “like rain upon the mown grass.” (Psalm 72:6.) The plough enters most effectually, when the earth is softened. Under all circumstances our “lips should know what is acceptable.” (Chapter 10:32.) Unseemly language makes wholesome truth more unpalatable. As far as possible, let reproof be introduced naturally, without formality or constrained effort. Many, who feel strongly the impulse of being “instant out of season,” neglect the not less Christian obligation of being “instant in season.” (2 Timothy 4:2.) We may think to relieve our conscience by speaking our mind. But to do it rudely and harshly, may put a stumbling-block in our brother's way. The apples of gold in their beautiful cover, evidently imply good sense, and good taste with good things. A well-meaning absurdity rather brings contempt than conviction. (Chapter 31:26.)

All of us are bound to rebuke broad and palpable sins (Leviticus 19:17); yet on more doubtful individual cases the duty is far more restricted. Some Providence will direct into it. There must be intimate connection, full knowledge of the case, some right from age or station to warrant it. From its extreme difficulty, no duty calls for a more delicacy of feeling, and more “meekness of wisdom.” Yet where reproof is well-timed and well-taken, a wise reproof to an obedient ear is an earring of gold, and an ornament of gold set out to the best advantage. Such was Eli's word to Samuel;† Abigail's and Nathan's to David;† Isaiah's to Hezekiah.† We see the good fruit in Jehoshaphat, whom, instead of producing revulsion, it stimulated to higher service of God.† The Apostle's probing reproof to the Corinthian Church worked so efficiently, that “in all things they approved themselves clear in the matter.”† What a triumph of grace is it, when the kindness of reproof is acknowledged,† and the motive of love appreciated!† Faithful indeed is the blessing, when the gift of an obedient ear prepares the Lord's children for a profitable hearing of his reproof.†

Footnote:

See Bishop Lowth's beautiful exposition. Praelect. xxiv.

Footnote:

Ecclesiastes 12:10. Chapter 15:23.

Ecclesiastes 12:10

10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. {acceptable...: Heb. words of delight}

Proverbs 15:23

23 ¶ A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! {due...: Heb. his season}

Footnote:

Luke 12:42. Compare 2 Timothy 2:15.

Luke 12:42

42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Compare

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Job 6:25

25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Isaiah 50:4

4 ¶ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

Footnote:

John 4:6.

John 4:6

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Footnote:

Compare Luke 14:15, 16.

Luke 14:15, 16

15 ¶ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

Acts 17:22-28

22 ¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. {Mars' hill: or, the court of the Areopagites} 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. {devotions: or, gods that ye worship} 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts 24:25

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Psalm 72:6

6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

Proverbs 10:32

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. {frowardness: Heb. frowardnesses}

2 Timothy 4:2

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Proverbs 31:26

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Leviticus 19:17

17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. {and...: or, that thou bear not sin for him}

Footnote:

1 Samuel 3:11-18.

1 Samuel 3:11-18

11 ¶ And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. {when...: Heb. beginning and ending} 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. {For I...: or, And I will tell him} {vile: or, accursed} {restrained...: Heb. frowned not upon them} 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. {more also: Heb. so add} {thing: or, word} 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. {every...: Heb. all the things, or, words}

Footnote:

1 Samuel 25:31-34. 2 Samuel 12:1-13.

1 Samuel 25:31-34

31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. {no grief: Heb. no staggering, or, stumbling} 32 ¶ And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. 34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

2 Samuel 12:1-13

1 ¶ And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. {meat: Heb. morsel} 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: {shall...: or, is worthy to die, or, is a son of death} 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Footnote:

2 Kings 20:14-19.

2 Kings 20:14-19

14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. 15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. 17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? {Is it...: or, Shall there not be peace and truth, etc}

Footnote:

2 Chronicles 19:2-4.

2 Chronicles 19:2-4

2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers. {he went...: Heb. he returned and went out}

Footnote:

1 Corinthians 5:1. 2 Corinthians 2:1-3; 7:11.

1 Corinthians 5:1

1 ¶ It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 Corinthians 2:1-3

1 ¶ But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

2 Corinthians 7:11

11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Footnote:

Psalm 141:5. Compare chapter 9:8.

Psalm 141:5

5 ¶ Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. {me; it shall be a...: or, me kindly, and reprove me; let not their precious oil break, etc}

Compare

Proverbs 9:8

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Footnote:

Chapter 27:5, 6.

Chapter 27:5, 6

5 ¶ Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. {deceitful: or, earnest, or, frequent}

Habakkuk 2:1-3

1 ¶ I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. {tower: Heb. fenced place} {unto me: or, in me} {when...: or, when I am argued with: Heb. upon my reproof, or, arguing} 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Proverbs 20:12

12 ¶ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

Proverbs 15:31

31 ¶ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.