Bridges on Proverbs 29:26
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 29:26
 
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26.  Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD. {the ruler's...: Heb. the face of a ruler}
 
Therefore seek God to be your friend. “In his favor is life.” (Psalm 30:5.) Confidence in man is no less sinful† and dangerous† than the fear of man. Yet with what diligence will men seek earthly advantage! Many seek the ruler's favor† more than God's, and sacrifice their consciences, and hazard their souls, to obtain it. But when they have bought it at such a price, what is it? — as easily lost, as it was hardly gained. The caprice of an hour may destroy the hard-earned object. (Genesis 40:1, 2.) And then what have they to live upon? All this is forgetting, that every man's judgment cometh from the LORD. Here then is the solid ground of faith. First, begin with God; all judgment is in his hands. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.”† Let him choose and dispose our lot.† Consider everything that passes as coming from him. In everything, great and small, deal with him. Ponder with him. His favor, unlike the changing favor of the ruler, “is without variableness, or shadow of turning.” And when, through the fickleness of man, earthly prospects are fading, then rest in quiet — “Surely my judgment is with the LORD.”† ‘As thou wilt, what thou wilt, when thou wilt.’† This is the shortest, the surest, way of peace — “Only believe.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 30:5
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. {his anger...: Heb. there is but a moment in his anger} {for a night: Heb. in the evening} {joy: Heb. singing}
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 146:3. Isaiah 2:22. Jeremiah 17:5, 6.
 
 
Psalm 146:3
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. {help: or, salvation}
 
Isaiah 2:22
22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
 
Jeremiah 17:5, 6
5 ¶ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1-3.
 
 
Isaiah 30:1-3
1 ¶ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
 
Isaiah 31:1-3
1 ¶ Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. {call...: Heb. remove} 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 19:6.
 
 
Proverbs 19:6
6 ¶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. {him...: Heb. a man of gifts}
 
 
Genesis 40:1, 2
1 ¶ And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 37:5, 6. ‘He needeth not to flatter the ruler; for what God hath appointed, that shall come to him.’ – Reformer's Notes. ‘The determination concerning a man is from Jehovah.’ – Bp. Lowth's Prelim. Dissertation to Isaiah.
 
 
Psalm 37:5, 6
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. {Commit...: Heb. Roll thy way upon} 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 47:4. Chapter 16:33.
 
 
Psalm 47:4
4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
 
Proverbs 16:33
33 ¶ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 49:4. Job 34:29.
 
 
Isaiah 49:4
4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. {my work: or, my reward}
 
Job 34:29
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
 
 
Footnote:
Thomas à Kempis.