Bridges on Proverbs 29:27
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 29:27
 
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27.  An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
 
Here is the oldest, the most rooted, the most universal quarrel in the world. It was the first-fruit of the fall. (Genesis 3:15.) It has continued ever since, and will last to the end of the world. It is always kept up at the highest point. Each party is an abomination to the other. It is not only, that they are as contrary in character, as light is to darkness; but there is a mutual antipathy, that can never be softened down.
Let us look at each of the parties in this open opposition to each other. An unjust man is an abomination to the just. Is it then his sin to be at such contraries with his fellow-sinner? No rather — it is the very holiness of his character and profession. If he have any apprehensions of the holiness of God: if through grace he is delivered from the love and dominion of sin, is not the sight of sin hateful to him? And while he abhors it most of all in himself, yet does not the watching of the evil in his own heart deepen his abhorrence and detestation of it in those around him? He would not spare it in those most dear to him. He appeals to his God in the burst of holy indignation. “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”
Looking at the other party — the wicked hold the upright in equal abomination. (Verse 10.) “The carnal mind is enmity against God,” and cannot therefore bear his image in his children. (Romans 8:7.) Gladly would the wicked, were not their enmity restrained, “root them out of the face of the earth;” as they never rested, till they had nailed the Son of God to the tree. Here however is the main difference. The enmity of the just is against the sins, not the persons, of the wicked. How do they with all this principle love their souls, and pray for them! (Romans 9:1; 10:1.) How gladly would they win them to Christ and salvation! The enmity of the wicked is against the persons — the ways of the upright — all that belongs to them. ‘This is that strong poison in the serpent's seed,’ the murderous spirit of their father the devil!
The soul is wearied with the unceasing struggles with the enemies of truth. How can one forbear the wish for the “wings of a dove to fly away, and be at rest!” (Psalm 55:6.) And how could we hold on the contest, but for the blessed hope — Oh Lord! hasten it in thy time — when the woman's conquering “seed shall bruise the Serpent's Head,” and the head of all his seed, finally and for ever; and he shall reign King and Savior over his redeemed people.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 139:21, 22. Compare chapter 28:4.
 

 
Psalm 139:21, 22
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
 
Compare
Proverbs 28:4
4 ¶ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
 
 
Proverbs 29:10
10 ¶ The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. {The bloodthirsty: Heb. Men of blood}
 
 
Romans 8:7
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. {the carnal...: Gr. the minding of the flesh}
 
 
Footnote:
John 15:17-19. 1 John 3:12, 13.
 

 
John 15:17-19
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
 
Compare
1 John 3:12, 13
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
 
 
Romans 9:1
1 ¶ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
 
Romans 10:1
1 ¶ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
 
 
Footnote:
Leighton on 1 Peter 3:14.
 

 
1 Peter 3:14
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
 
 
Psalm 55:6
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 45:3, 4. Revelation 19:11-16.
 

 
Psalm 45:3, 4
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. {ride...: Heb. prosper thou, ride thou}
 
Revelation 19:11-16
11 ¶ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.