Bridges on Proverbs 31:8-9
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 31:8-9
 
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8.  Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. {such...: Heb. the sons of destruction} 9.  Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
 
Very soundly does the wise mother inculcate mercy upon her royal son. This is one of the pillars of the king's throne. (Chapter 20:28.) He must be the Father of his people, employing all his authority to protect those who cannot protect themselves. (Psalm 72:12-14.) No case of distress, when coming to his knowledge, should be below his attention. Thus our law makes the judge the counsel for the prisoner who is unable to plead for himself — opening his mouth for the dumb. Thus should magistrates more carefully consider that no one should lose his just right from want of ability to defend it. Those who are, or appear to be, appointed to destruction, should have their fair and open course to plead, and save their lives.
This it was that made the difference between the prosperity of godly Josiah and the ruin of his wicked son. (Jeremiah 22:15-19.) How repeatedly did Jonathan open his mouth for his friend appointed for destruction! How effectively did Esther plead the cause of her helpless and devoted people! (Esther 7:3, 4.) To descend into lower ranks (for why should we restrict these wise injunctions within the narrow limits of royalty?) what a complete pattern of this mercy does Job exhibit! “Eyes as he was to the blind, and feet to the lame,” doubtless he perfected his character as “a father to the poor, by being a mouth to the dumb.” (Job 29:15, 16.) How was Ebedmelech honoured for this merciful advocacy of the condemned! How awful is the threatened vengeance for the neglect of this mercy! Alas! Jesus, though he had found an advocate in earlier times, yet stood as a sheep before his shearers —- dumb, appointed for destruction. None was found to open his mouth for the divine afflicted victim. And yet how does he reverse this picture of pitiless neglect, in his powerful effectual pleading in the cause of those, whom the voice of justice so loudly, so justly appoints for destruction! Let his representatives on earth study the character of their king in heaven, and be conformed more fully to his image of forgiveness and love.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 20:28
28 ¶ Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
 
 
Psalm 72:12-14
12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
 
 
Footnote:
Deuteronomy 16:18-20. Psalm 82:3, 4.
 

 
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
18 ¶ Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. {words: or, matters} 20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. {That which...: Heb. Justice, justice}
 
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.
 
 
Footnote:
Contrast 1 Kings 21:9-13, with John 7:51.
 

 
Contrast
1 Kings 21:9-13
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: {on high...: Heb. in the top of the people} 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
 
with
John 7:51
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
 
 
Jeremiah 22:15-19
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.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 19:4-7; 20:32; 22:14, 15.
 

 
1 Samuel 19:4-7
4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. {in times...: Heb. yesterday, third day}
 
1 Samuel 20:32
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
 
1 Samuel 22:14, 15
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?
 
 
Esther 7:3, 4
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. {to be destroyed...: Heb. that they should destroy, and kill, and cause to perish}
 
 
Job 29:15, 16
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 38:8, 9; 39:15-18.
 

 
Jeremiah 38:8, 9
8 Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying, 9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. {he is like...: Heb. he will die}
 
Jeremiah 39:15-18
15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 24:11, 12. Jeremiah 5:28, 29.
 

 
Proverbs 24:11, 12
11 ¶ If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
 
Jeremiah 5:28, 29
28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 53:7. Matthew 26:59, 63.
 

 
Isaiah 53:7
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
 
Matthew 26:59, 63
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.