Bridges on Proverbs 26:1
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 26:1
 
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1.  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
 
THE richest blessings lose their value when unsuitably bestowed. Snow is the beauteous wintry covering of the earth; preserving the seed from the killing cold. But in summer, it is out of season. Rain in its season is a fruitful blessing. But in harvest it is an unsuitable interruption to the reaper's work, and often a public calamity. (1 Samuel 12:17, 18.) Just so, honor, unsuitably bestowed on a fool, is not seemly for him. ‘He neither deserves it, nor knows how to use it.’ Honor bestowed on Joseph and Daniel, suitably to their wisdom, was seemly to themselves, and a blessing to the land. But when a fool, sometimes a scoffer at religion, is promoted to a public station, how ungracefully does his honor sit upon him? In Haman it was only the display of his pride and vain-glory, the occasion of his more public disgrace.
Learn then to adorn our profession with consistency. Seek that heavenly wisdom, which will make us worthy of any honor that may be appointed for us. “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much.” (Luke 16:10.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Job 37:6.
 

 
Job 37:6
6 ¶ For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. {likewise...: Heb. and to the shower of rain, and to the showers of rain of his strength}
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 55:10.
 

 
Isaiah 55:10
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. Job 38:26, 27. Psalm 65:9-13; 104:13, 14. James 5:7.
 

 
Isaiah 55:10
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
 
Job 38:26, 27
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
 
Psalm 65:9-13
9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. {and...: or, after thou hadst made it to desire rain} 10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. {settlest: or, causest rain to descend into} {makest...: Heb. dissolvest it} 11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. {with: Heb. of} 12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. {rejoice...: Heb. are girded with joy} 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
 
Psalm 104:13, 14
13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
 
James 5:7
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. {Be...: or, Be long patient, or, Suffer with long patience}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Samuel 12:17, 18
17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
 
 
Footnote:
Poole. Chapter 19:10; 30:21, 22. Ecclesiastes 10:5-7. Compare Psalm 12:8.
 

 
Proverbs 19:10
10 ¶ Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
 
Proverbs 30:21, 22
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
 
Ecclesiastes 10:5-7
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: {from: Heb. from before} 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. {in great...: Heb. in great heights} 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
 
Compare
Psalm 12:8
8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. {men: Heb. of the sons of the men}
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 41:38-40. Daniel 6:1-3.
 

 
Genesis 41:38-40
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. {be ruled: Heb. be armed, or, kiss}
 
Daniel 6:1-3
1 ¶ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
 
 
Luke 16:10
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.