Bridges on Proverbs 25:20
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 25:20
 
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20.  As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
 
What could be more inhuman than taking away a poor man's garment, or the coverlid of his bed, in cold weather? Such an act of cruelty was forbidden by the God of the poor. Again — what could be more unfitting than pouring vinegar upon nitre; which, instead of being serviceable, would only dissolve it with violent effervescence? Not less unseasonable would be the merriment of singing songs to an heavy heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:4.) “Give wine” — is the inspired rule — “unto them that be of heavy hearts.” But however great be the charms of music, they are ill suited to soothe the pangs of sorrow. A constrained song was a keen edge of the Babylonish affliction. And where no unkindness is intended, inconsiderate levity, or even excessive cheerfulness, is as “a sword in the bones.” The tenderness that shews a brother's tears; that knows how to “weep with them that weep,” as members of the same body; and directs the mourner to the mourner's friend and God — this is Christian sympathy — a precious balm for the broken heart. The outward expression of this sympathy may not be always needful. But oh! let its spirit be deeply cherished, specially by Christians of a buoyant or frigid temperament; most of all by the minister of Christ, that he may take his chair by the mourner's side, and “comfort him with the same comfort wherewith he himself is comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4-6.) Much may be done to correct a constitutional deficiency. Redundancy of feeling, no less than coldness, needs self-control. But never let us forget, that our divine Savior for this end “took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses,” that “he might be touched with the feeling of them.” Yes — “he knoweth our frame;” and his work is not to take away the garment from his child in the cold weather, but to cherish him with all the tenderness of his own bosom. Instead of unsuitably pouring vinegar upon nitre; like the good Samaritan, he “pours in his oil and wine for the healing of the wound.”
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Deuteronomy 24:12, 17. Job 24:7-10. Isaiah 58:7.
 

 
Deuteronomy 24:12, 17
12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger,
nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:
 
Job 24:7-10
7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
 
Isaiah 58:7
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? {cast...: or, afflicted}
 
 
Footnote:
The nitre of Scripture is not that salt that commonly goes by the name, but a soda or mineral alkali (the Roman natrum) which strongly ferments with all acids. Dr. Blayney remarks on Jeremiah 2:22 (the only other example of the word), ‘In many parts of Asia it is called soap-earth, because it is dissolved in water, and used like soap in washing.’
 

 
Jeremiah 2:22
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 3:4
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 31:6. Psalm 104:15.
 

 
Proverbs 31:6
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. {of...: Heb. bitter of soul}
 
Psalm 104:15
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. {oil...: Heb. to make his face shine with oil, or, more than oil}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 16:23. 2 Kings 3:15.
 

 
1 Samuel 16:23
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
 
2 Kings 3:15
15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
 
 
Footnote:
Job 30:31. Daniel 6:18. Compare Ecclesiasticus 22:6.
 

 
Job 30:31
31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
 
Daniel 6:18
18 ¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. {instruments...: or, table}
 
Compare
Ecclesiasticus 22:6
6 A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and instruction of wisdom are never out of time.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 137:1-4.
 

 
Psalm 137:1-4
1 ¶ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. {a song: Heb. the words of a song} {wasted...: Heb. laid us on heaps} 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? {strange...: Heb. land of a stranger?}
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 12:15. Compare Job 2:11-13.
 

 
Romans 12:15
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
 
Compare
Job 2:11-13
11 ¶ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 12:26. Hebrews 13:3.
 

 
1 Corinthians 12:26
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
 
Hebrews 13:3
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
 
 
2 Corinthians 1:4-6
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. {is effectual: or, is wrought}
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 8:17. Hebrews 4:15.
 

 
Matthew 8:17
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
 
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 103:14.
 

 
Psalm 103:14
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 40:11.
 

 
Isaiah 40:11
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. {that...: or, that give suck}
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 61:2, 3, with Luke 10:34.
 

 
Isaiah 61:2, 3
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 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.
 
with
Luke 10:34
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.