Bridges on Proverbs 25:17
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 25:17
 
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17.  Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. {Withdraw...: or, Let thy foot be seldom in} {weary...: Heb. full of thee}
 
No code of laws enters, as the Bible does, into minute regulations for the courtesies of life. Yet surely we do not mar the sanctity of religion, by spreading it over the face of human society. Daily life is evangelized by the pervading influence of its wholesome principles. This rule illustrates one of our own proverbs, which has lost nothing of its significancy by traditionary usage. ‘Familiarity breeds contempt.’ This maxim was however never intended to give a chill to the flow of neighborly love, or to restrain its practical exercise. It only suggests that kindly intercourse cannot be maintained without a considerate feeling. An ordinary acquaintance would give just umbrage in claiming the free and unrestrained intercourse of intimate friendship. And the intruder would probably receive a plain intimation that he was an unwelcome guest. To withdraw the foot is an useful rule to prevent so mortifying a result. “Make thy foot precious”† to thy neighbor, by not giving it too often. It is far safer to err on the side of reserve, than to incur contempt by the opposite mistake.†
Nay — even the closer band of friendship requires its measure of prudent restraint. It is worth all our care to preserve this invaluable blessing from interruption. It is the sweet of life. And yet in this honey (Verse 16) there may be a surfeit. Without mutual respect it may nauseate. Unseasonable interruption to our friend's time; frequent visits without call or object;† interference with his necessary engagements, or family comforts; inconvenient tax of expense — perseverance in this course might produce weariness, if not disgust, or even hatred.
Blessed be God! There is no need of this caution and reserve in our approach unto him. Once acquainted with the way of access, there is no wall of separation. Our earthly friend may be pressed too far. Kindness may be worn out by frequent use. But never can we come to our heavenly Friend unseasonably. Never is he weary of our importunity.† His gates are always open; “blessed are they that are watching and waiting there.” (Chapter 8:34.) The more frequent the visits, the more welcome, and the more fruitful. What with man would be intrusion, with God is confidence. Earnestly does he invite to his closest and most endearing fellowship. (Song of Solomon 5:1.) And does his child presume upon this most gracious privilege? Far from it. While he has the “boldness of access;”† he seeks for “grace, whereby he may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Hebrew. See Holden. Compare 1 Samuel 3:1 — precious in both cases, because rare.
 
 
1 Samuel 3:1
1 ¶ And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
 
 
Footnote:
Compare Ecclesiasticus 21:22. Livy observes, that ‘the perfection of behavior is for a man to retain his own dignity, without intruding on the liberty of another.’
 
 
Ecclesiasticus 21:22
22 A foolish man's foot is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man of experience is ashamed of him.
 
 
Proverbs 25:16
16 ¶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
 
 
Footnote:
See a valuable paper, On the Robbery of Time, in “The Idler,” Vol. I. No. 14.
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 11:5-9; 18:1.
 
 
Luke 11:5-9
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? {in...: or, out of his way} 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
 
Luke 18:1
1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
 
 
Proverbs 8:34
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
 
 
Song of Solomon 5:1
1 ¶ I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. {yea...: or, and be drunken with loves}
 
 
Footnote:
Ephesians 3:12. Hebrews 4:16; 10:19, 20.
 
 
Ephesians 3:12
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
 
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
 
Hebrews 10:19, 20
19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {boldness: or, liberty} 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; {consecrated: or, new made}
 
 
Hebrews 12:28
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: {let...: or, let us hold fast}