Bridges on Proverbs 30:15-16

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 30:15-16


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15. The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: {It is...: Heb. Wealth} 16. The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

Agur describes in an artificial mode of expression,† but with forcible imagery, the cravings of human lust. If viewed in reference to the last generation, they form an admirably finished picture of the merciless and avaricious tyrant. They are like the horseleech, which hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. They are like the three and four things, the grave, the womb, the earth, and the fire.† But with a more general reference the figures are graphically instructive. The horseleech with its two-forked tongue like two daughters, sucks the blood with an insatiable appetite.† The grave opens the mouth for fresh victims.† The barren womb eagerly covets the blessing.† The parched earth, after large supplies, still thirsts for more. The fire, when the spark first kindles a coal, or lights upon combustible matter, never ceases to burn as long as fuel is supplied, and in many a disastrous conflagration, leaves us to cry out in fearful wonder, “Behold! how great a matter a little fire kindleth.” (James 3:5.) And yet these are scarcely adequate representations of that insatiable thirst within, that never says — It is enough. The greater the portion, the greater the lust. Every indulgence provokes the appetite.† ‘The horseleech hath but two daughters. But we have’ — says Bishop Sanderson — ‘I know not how many craving lusts, no less importunately clamorous than they; till they be served, incessantly crying, Give, give; but much more unsatisfied than they. For they will be filled in time, and when they are filled, they tumble off, and there is an end. But our lusts will never be satisfied. Like Pharaoh's kine, when they have eaten up all the fat ones, they are still as hungry and as whining as they were before.’†

How blessed then is the state, to which the Gospel brings us — “Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content”! What a merciful-deliverance from that “destruction and perdition,” the certain end of lawless lust. (1 Timothy 6:6-10.) Happy child of God! — weaned from his old indulgence! disciplined under his father's yoke! satisfied abundantly with his father's love. Whether “he abound or suffer need” — he can say — “It is wealth — I am full, and abound.” (Philippians 4:12, 18.) Has he not found that, which answers every demand, supplies every need, and satisfies every desire? What but God can fill the soul, which God hath made, and made for himself?

Footnote:

See Verses 21, 24, 29; 6:16. Amos 1:3, 6, 9; 2:1, 4.

Proverbs 30:21, 24, 29

21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 24 ¶ There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: {exceeding...: Heb. wise, made wise} 29 ¶ There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

Proverbs 6:16

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: {unto...: Heb. of his soul}

Amos 1:3, 6, 9

3 ¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: {and...: or, yea, for four} {turn...: or, convert it, or, let it be quiet} 6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: {away captive...: or, them away with an entire} 9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: {the brotherly...: Heb. the covenant of brethren}

Amos 2:1, 4

1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: 4 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:

Footnote:

Holden. Compare Psalm 59:12, 14, 15.

Psalm 59:12, 14, 15

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. 14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. 15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied. {for meat: Heb. to eat} {and grudge...: or, if they be not satisfied, then they will stay all night}

Footnote:

Reformer's Notes.

‘Non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris hirudo.’

Hor. De Arte Poetica, 476.

Footnote:

Chapter 27:20. Habakkuk 2:5.

Proverbs 27:20

20 ¶ Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. {never: Heb. not}

Habakkuk 2:5

5 ¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: {Yea...: or, How much more}

Footnote:

Genesis 30:1. 1 Samuel 1:6, 11.

Genesis 30:1

1 ¶ And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

1 Samuel 1:6, 11

6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. {provoked: Heb. angered} 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. {a man...: Heb. seed of men}

James 3:5

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! {a matter: or, wood}

Footnote:

See Augustine's Confession, Lib. iii. c. 1.

Footnote:

Sermon on Philippians 4:11. ‘By the daughters of the horseleech may be understood covetousness and prodigality. Both then cry, Give – give. The former cries – Give, to keep; the latter cries – Give, to spend. Neither of them saith – It is enough.’ Caryl on Job 20:20.

Philippians 4:11

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Job 20:20

20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. {feel: Heb. know}

1 Timothy 6:6-10

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced}

Philippians 4:12, 18

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. {I have all: or, I have received all}