Bridges on Proverbs 28:15-16
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 28:15-16
 
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15.  As a roaring lion, and a ranging* bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16.  The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
 
A godly ruler is to a land the clear sunshine of an unclouded morning; the fruitfulness of the springing grass after the rain. But what a curse is a wicked ruler, where arbitrary despotism takes the place of right! We might as well live among the savage wild beasts of the forest. The lion roaring for the prey, and the bear ranging in hunger — the terror of their weaker race — are apt emblems of this tyrant over a poor people. ‘No sentiment of pity softens this bosom. No principle of justice regulates his conduct. Complaint only provokes further exactions. Resistance kindles his unfeeling heart into savage fury. Poor and miserable indeed are the people, whom divine anger has placed under his misrule.’
Thus indeed injustice is suffered to reign upon a wide scale. A whole nation is afflicted by the ruthless tyranny of one man. Perhaps the scourge extends from the wicked ruler downwards, through all its gradations, to the petty minions of his caprice, delegated with the sword of power. The wise man, in pondering all the material that makes up a world of vanity, could not but take this desolating curse into his account. And so bitter was the view to his own mind, that he would have preferred even death itself or non-existence to the alternative of all virtuous sensibilities crucified by the contemplation of this remediless misery. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3.)
The princely oppressor may justly be charged with wanting understanding. (Isaiah 3:12.) Even if he had established a previous reputation for wisdom, yet abused power, with all its alluring corruptions, is enough to infatuate his judgment. The struggle of the love of rule with the better principle often shakes the sound balance, till step by step his conduct loses all traits of wisdom, and exhibits a man — if not wholly deprived of understanding — yet — what is near akin to it — swayed by the tumult of passion. As one proof of his want of understanding, often does his foolish choice of wicked ministers alienate the affections of his people from his person, probably to the shortening of his rule. (1 Kings 12:12-19.) And thus his perverted power fearfully recoils upon himself.
Widely opposite is the character of a considerate ruler, hating covetousness, and living only for the good of his people. (Exodus 18:21.) He may usually be expected to prolong his days. ‘He may hope to reign long and happily, having his throne erected in the hearts of his subjects.’
What need then have rulers to seek for understanding, that they may rule as the fathers of their people! (1 Kings 3:6-9.) And what cause have we to bless God for our mild and happy government; preserved as we are from wicked despots, who would not stop at any tyranny, that might subserve their selfish purposes!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 23:3, 4. Compare Ecclesiasticus 10:4.
 

 
2 Samuel 23:3, 4
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. {He...: or, Be thou ruler, etc} 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
 
Compare
Ecclesiasticus 10:4
4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.
 
 
Footnote:
The name seems to be given from his growling noise when hungry.
‘Nec vespertinus circumgemit ursus ovile.’
 
[“Nor does the evening bear moan around the flock.”]
 
Hor. Epist. 16:51.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 29:2. Zephaniah 3:3. 2 Timothy 4:17.
 

 
Proverbs 29:2
2 ¶ When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. {in...: or, increased}
 
Zephaniah 3:3
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
 
2 Timothy 4:17
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
 
 
Footnote:
Paxton's Nat. Hist. Of Script. p. 333. Compare 1 Kings 21:1-7. Nehemiah 5:15.
 

 
1 Kings 21:1-7
1 ¶ And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. {seem...: Heb. be good in thine eyes} 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 5 ¶ But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
 
Nehemiah 5:15
15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 4:1-3
1 ¶ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. {side: Heb. hand} 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}
 
 
Isaiah 3:12
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. {lead...: or, call thee blessed} {destroy: Heb. swallow up}
 
 
1 Kings 12:12-19
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; {roughly: Heb. hardly} 14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. {made...: Heb. strengthened himself} 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. {rebelled: or, fell away}
 
 
Exodus 18:21
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
 
 
Footnote:
Scott.
 
 
1 Kings 3:6-9
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. {mercy: or, bounty} 7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? {understanding: Heb. hearing}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 22:17-19. Daniel 3:6, 19.
 

 
1 Samuel 22:17-19
17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. {footmen: or, guard: Heb. runners} 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
 
Daniel 3:6, 19
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
 
 
Footnote:
Of Tyndal's celebrated work — ‘The obedience of a Christian Man.’ — Henry VIII. declared — ‘This book is for me, and for all kings to read.’ He probably only adverted to those parts, that he might turn to accredit his own selfish rapacity. Well would it have been, had he pondered such important instruction as — ‘The king is but a servant to execute the law of God, and not to rule after his own imagination.’ He is brought to the throne — ‘to minister unto, and to serve his brethren, and must not think, that his subjects were made to minister unto his lusts.’
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
e-Compiler's Footnote:
Here – and also in the first paragraph (fourth sentence) – the book had “raging,” whereas the King James and other versions have “ranging.” Both occurrences were changed to match the translation. It is not known if this is a printer's error, if originally Mr. Bridges wrote “raging” by mistake, or if he felt “raging” was a legitmate translation or paraphrase. There is a footnote at this second occurrence, which seems to be explaining “raging” rather than “ranging.” [?]