Bridges on Proverbs 29:22
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 29:22
 
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22.  An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
 
Anger is not necessarily a sinful passion. Even furiousness — the overflowing of the torrent — is a property in God. (Nahum 1:2) We can readily conceive of its energy in the unfallen nature of man. Had Satan appeared to Eve in his own open hatefulness, her anger against him would have been a holy principle. But in a fallen nature, to preserve its purity is a rare and most difficult matter. It must be confined to points, where God's honor is concerned (John 2:15-17); and even on these points the rule must be observed — “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26.) The short period of the day is abundantly sufficient to express right motives, and to accomplish holy purposes.
The general tendency of anger is however here most truly described. Its active energy stirreth up strife.† It quarrels even upon trifles,† — or matters, which a forbearing consideration might have satisfactorily explained. (Acts 15:39.) And when suppressed, but not laboriously mortified, how often does it become more intense, and break out more furiously — abounding in transgression! Indeed it is difficult to take a full view of the mighty power of this mass of sin. It gives the impetus to every besetting propensity. It may be blasphemy! (Leviticus 24:10, 11.) It stops at nothing. How many murders do we owe to this paroxysm of the moment!† But for the divine restraints, the very foundations of society would be torn up!
Parents! Do we feel the responsibility of early checking this ebullition in our children? And do we diligently watch against the first rising in ourselves, incessantly praying for its subjugation? How beautiful are the instances of Almighty grace — such as Henry Martyn† — transforming the furious man into the likeness of his meek and holy Master!
But let us not be satisfied with the outward constraint upon passion. God condemns the deep-rooted principle that gives it birth. Wretched heart! filled with soul-destroying corruption. Every, even the least, indulgence operates fearfully. So much time spent in excitement! So much more in the unquiet waiting for the desired opportunity! And all given to the great Murderer! Oh! for the mystery and doctrine of the cross, to mold our temper into its genuine spirit and influence!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nahum 1:2
2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. {God...: or, The LORD is a jealous God, and a revenger, etc} {is furious: Heb. that hath fury}
 
 
John 2:15-17
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
 
 
Ephesians 4:26
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 15:18; 26:21; 30:33. James 3:16.
 
 
Proverbs 15:18
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
 
Proverbs 26:21
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
 
Proverbs 30:33
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
 
James 3:16
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. {confusion: Gr. tumult, or, unquietness}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Timothy 6:4. 2 Timothy 2:23, 24.
 
 
1 Timothy 6:4
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, {proud: or, a fool} {doting: or, sick}
 
2 Timothy 2:23, 24
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, {patient: or, forbearing}
 
 
Acts 15:39
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
 
 
Leviticus 24:10, 11
10 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 18:9, 10; 22:6-19. Matthew 2:16. Acts 7:54-59; 12:19.
 
 
1 Samuel 18:9, 10
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
 
1 Samuel 22:6-19
6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) {tree...: or, grove in a high place} 7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; 8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? {sheweth...: Heb. uncovereth mine ear} 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. {Here...: Heb. Behold me} 13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. {less...: Heb. little or great} 16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. 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.
 
Matthew 2:16
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
 
Acts 7:54-59
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
 
Acts 12:19
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Life, p. 8. Pref. to 10th edit.