Bridges on Proverbs 26:11
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 26:11
 
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11.  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. {returneth to his folly: Heb. iterateth his folly}
 
And is this the picture of man — “made a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:5) — yea — “made in the likeness of God”? (Genesis 1:26.) Who that saw Adam in his universal dominion, sitting as the monarch of creation; summoning all before him; giving to each his name, and receiving in turn his homage (Ib. 2:20) — who would have conceived of his children sunk into such brutish degradation? The tempter's promise was — “Ye shall be as gods.” (Ib. 3:5.) The result of this promise was — ‘Ye shall be as beasts.’ The vilest comparisons are used to shew man's loathsomeness in the sight of God. ‘Do any feel disgusted at the allusion? Let them remember, that the emblem is far less filthy than the thing denoted by it; and that the whole race of animals does not afford anything so debasing, as not to be far outdone by the excesses of libertines, drunkards, and gluttons.’ We naturally turn away with sickening from this sight. Would that we had the same disgust at the sin which it so graphically portrays! Would that we might abhor ourselves for that which God infinitely abhors in us!
The Apostle uses this “true proverb” to describe the awful condition of apostates (2 Peter 2:20-22) — temporary conviction, unaccompanied with real conversion of heart, and falling away to desperate hardness. Many reasons may produce disgust in the sinner's mind to his folly. He may loathe, and for a while relinquish it. It has proved so fraught with misery (Chapter 13:15); its very pleasures so impregnated with poison; that no wonder if he make an occasional, or even a strong effort to be rid of it. But when the sickness has passed away, the sweetness of the forbidden fruit again comes to mind; the heart and affections are again clasped around the world, and, as a dog returneth to his vomit — to the food, which had caused his sickness; so a fool returneth to his folly — to that which had been his hurt and shame.
Thus greedily did Pharaoh return from his momentary conviction; Ahab from his feigned repentance; Herod from his partial amendment; the drunkard from his brutish insensibility — all to take a more determinate course of sin; to take their final plunge into ruin. Even a superficial knowledge of Christ is no preservative to an unrenewed heart. The “house may be swept” of outward sin, “and garnished” with external holiness; but if it be “empty,” if the Divine inhabitant be not heartily welcomed, the former possessor will quickly return, and tenant it as his fixed home with sevenfold destruction. (Matthew 12:43-45.)
Is not sin then justly termed folly? Does not the God of Truth pronounce it to be so now? Will not every fool confess it to be so at the end, when its wages shall be fully paid in “shame and everlasting contempt”? (Daniel 12:2.) Child of God! hearken to thy Father's voice of “peace.” But ponder also his solemn warning “to his people and to his saints — Let them not turn again to folly.”
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 8:5
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
 
 
Genesis 1:26
26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
 
 
Genesis 2:20
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. {gave: Heb. called}
 
 
Genesis 3:5
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
 
 
Footnote:
Scott.
 
 
2 Peter 2:20-22
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
 
 
Proverbs 13:15
15 ¶ Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 22:11. Jeremiah 5:31. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Galatians 1:7. 2 Peter 2:17-19. Jude 12-16.
 

 
1 Kings 22:11
11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
 
Jeremiah 5:31
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? {bear...: or, take into their hands}
 
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
 
Galatians 1:7
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
 
2 Peter 2:17-19
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. {clean: or, for a little, or, a while, as some read} 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
 
Jude 12-16
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 ¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 21:27-29; 22:8, 37.
 

 
1 Kings 21:27-29
27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
 
1 Kings 22:8, 37
8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. {was brought: Heb. came}
 
 
Footnote:
Mark 6:20-27.
 

 
Mark 6:20-27
20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. {observed him: or, kept him, or, saved him} 21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, {an...: or, one of his guard}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 23:35.
 

 
Proverbs 23:35
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. {I felt...: Heb. I knew it not}
 
 
Matthew 12:43-45
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
 
 
Daniel 12:2
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 85:8. Compare John 5:14; also Ecclesiasticus 21:1.
 

 
Psalm 85:8
8 ¶ I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
 
Compare
John 5:14
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
 
also
Ecclesiasticus 21:1
1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy former sins.