Bridges on Proverbs 25:25
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 25:25
 
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25.  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
 
What were the cold waters to Hagar and her child in the wilderness; to Israel at Rephidim; to Samson at Lehi! Such is the cordial of good news from a far country. Solomon had before spoken of the “refreshment of the messenger” (Verse 13); here of the message. This Proverb, like many others, was probably familiar to his own experience. The return of his fleets sent to a far country for precious merchandise were doubtless (like our own merchant ships) welcomed with no common delight. (1 Kings 9:26-28.) The exile from his country, or one that has interests in a foreign land — near and dear relatives, from whom the separation has been long — will fully realize this lively illustration. Had Joseph's brethren brought to their sorrowing father as many pieces of gold as grains of corn, it would have been nothing to the good news from a far country — “Joseph is yet alive.” Distant intelligence is naturally more cheering, than tidings in themselves equally interesting, nearer home. The long interval of anxiety necessarily excited by want of intercourse; the uncertainty of his welfare and prospects — all combine to make these cold waters specially refreshing to the thirsty soul. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
Reader! if thy light vain heart has ever leaped within thee at the news of some earthly advantage, hast thou heard and welcomed the good news from the far country? Dost thou know thy need, thy danger of perishing? Then what refreshment can compare with the “good tidings of great joy” brought to thee from heaven — “Unto you is born a Savior”? (Luke 2:10, 11.) Yet in vain would be these joyous tidings, unless faith could hear their repeated proclamation as from the Seraph's lips, or from the Savior's cross. But such influence do they bring to the opened heart, as melts away the mass of sin in the glowing splendor of this grand work of God — Yes — sinner — mountains of gold could never have purchased the blessing now brought to thine ears, yea — to the door of thine heart, “without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1.) Does not then thine heart spring in the song of praise — “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him, that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!” (Ib. 52:7.) Most grateful also are the messengers’ tidings from a far country, of the welcome reception of their message. The angelic harps strike up the song. Even the bosom of God is filled with adorable joy!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 21:16-19.
 

 
Genesis 21:16-19
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 17:1-6. Compare Numbers 20:11.
 

 
Exodus 17:1-6
1 ¶ And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 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? 4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel
 
Compare
Numbers 20:11
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
 
 
Footnote:
Judges 15:18, 19. See Virgil's beautiful image, Ecolg. v. 46-48.
 

 
Judges 15:18, 19
18 ¶ And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? 19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. {Enhakkore: that is, the well of him that called or, cried} {the jaw: or, Lehi, as called in this chapter}
 
 
Proverbs 25:13
13 ¶ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
 
 
1 Kings 9:26-28
26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. {shore: Heb. lip} 27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 45:25-28. Compare 43:27-30.
 

 
Genesis 45:25-28
25 ¶ And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. {Jacob's: Heb. his} 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
 
Compare
Genesis 43:27-30
27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? {welfare: Heb. peace} {Is your...: Heb. Is there peace to your father?} 28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. 30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 13:12. Compare 15:30. Contrast Nehemiah 1:2-4.
 

 
Proverbs 13:12
12 ¶ Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
 
Compare
Proverbs 15:30
30 ¶ The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
 
Contrast
Nehemiah 1:2-4
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
 
 
Luke 2:10, 11
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
 
 
Isaiah 55:1
1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
 
 
Isaiah 52:7
7 ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
 
 
Footnote:
Acts 15:3. Compare 11:18, 23.
 

 
Acts 15:3
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
 
Compare
Acts 11:18, 23
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 15:7, 10.
 

 
Luke 15:7, 10
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 15:20-24.
 

 
Luke 15:20-24
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.