Bridges on Proverbs 29:14
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 29:14
 
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14.  The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
 
This maxim has often been repeated in substance. (Verses 4, 7; 20:28.) The writer of this book was a king. He was naturally led to write for his own benefit, while the Divine Spirit guided his pen for the use of rulers to the end of time. May every king — specially may our own beloved Sovereign — place this picture of a godly ruler constantly before the eyes! It is natural for the king to desire the establishment of his throne; but not natural for him to seek it in God's own way. Jeroboam sought it by wickedness; Rehoboam by worldly policy; Ahaz by worldly alliances. The far more sure mode is the faithful administration of justice, not neglecting the rich, but specially protecting the poor, who from their weakness were in the greater need of a covering. David appears to have been a poor man's king, giving the lowest of his people familiar access to him for judgment. (2 Samuel 19:8.) Solomon, and many of his godly successors, ordered their kingdom in the same principles of justice, and were abundantly honored of their God. The maladministration of the rulers never failed to bring a curse upon the government. “Them that honor me, I will honor; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” (1 Samuel 2:30.)
When our Great Savior King walked upon earth, his enemies bore testimony, whether in flattery or conviction, to his righteous character. (Matthew 22:16.) Not less beautiful than accurate is this description, as applied to the principles of his government, in the connection with the promise of the establishment of his throne.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 29:4, 7
4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. {he...: Heb. a man of oblations} 7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
 
Proverbs 20:28
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 11:26.
 

 
1 Kings 11:26
 
26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Chronicles 11:22, 23; 12:1.
 

 
2 Chronicles 11:22, 23
22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives. {many wives: Heb. a multitude of wives}
 
2 Chronicles 12:1
1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 28:16-20.
 

 
2 Chronicles 28:16-20
16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. {captives: Heb. a captivity} 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. 19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. 20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 31:9. Psalm 82:3, 4.
 

 
Proverbs 31:9
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
 
Psalm 82:3, 4
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. {Defend: Heb. Judge} 4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
 
 
2 Samuel 19:8
8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 3:16-28. Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 19:5-11; 20:30. Josiah – Jeremiah 22:14-19. Compare Daniel's advice to Nebuchadnezzar, 4:27.
 

 
1 Kings 3:16-28
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. 17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. 19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. 22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. 23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. {yearned: Heb. were hot} 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. {in him: Heb. in the midst of him}
 
Jehoshaphat –
2 Chronicles 19:5-11
5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. {in...: Heb. in the matter of judgment} 7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. 8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. 11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good. {Deal...: Heb. Take courage and do}
 
2 Chronicles 20:30
30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
 
Josiah –
Jeremiah 22:14-19
14 That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. {large: Heb. through-aired} {windows: or, my windows} 15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD. 17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. {violence: or, incursion} 18 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! 19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
 
Compare Daniel's advice to Nebuchadnezzar,
Daniel 4:27
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. {a lengthening...: or, an healing of thine error}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 3:13, 14; 10:1. Jeremiah 22:13-19. Zephaniah 3:3.
 

 
Isaiah 3:13, 14
13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. {eaten: or, burnt}
 
Isaiah 10:1
1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; {that write...: or, to the writers that write grievousness}
 
Jeremiah 22:13-19
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; 14 That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. {large: Heb. through-aired} {windows: or, my windows} 15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD. 17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. {violence: or, incursion} 18 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! 19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
 
Zephaniah 3:3
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Samuel 2:30
30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
 
 
Matthew 22:16
16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 72:7, 11, 15. Isaiah 9:7; 11:4, 9.
 

 
Psalm 72:7, 11, 15
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. {so long...: Heb. till there be no moon}
11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually;
and daily shall he be praised. {shall be given: Heb. one shall give}
 
Isaiah 9:7
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
 
Isaiah 11:4, 9
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. {reprove: or, argue} 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.