Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death. I. THE CHARACTER OF THE RIGHTEOUS. The peculiar distinction between the righteous and the wicked lies in the heart, not in the understanding. II. THE TRUTH ASSERTED IN THE TEXT. The assertion is true, though there may be some apparent exceptions There is nothing preceding, attending, or following death, which can destroy the foundation of the hope of the righteous. 1. A clear and just sense of their guilt and ill desert in the sight of God cannot destroy their hope in Christ. 2. There is nothing in the thoughts of leaving this world which can destroy their hope. 3. There is nothing in the prospect of having a more constant and realising sense of the Divine presence which can destroy their hope. 4. The prospect of being for ever united with perfectly holy creatures cannot destroy their hope. 5. Nor in the prospect of the holy employment of heaven. 6. Nor in seeing the displays of Divine justice upon the vessels of wrath after death. 7. Nor in seeing all the Divine purposes completely accomplished and unfolded. 8. Nor the prospect of existing for ever. Improvement of the subject:(1) If the righteous have hope in their death, then they are essentially different from the wicked. (2) If only the righteous have hope, then multitudes will be fatally disappointed in their dying hour. (3) The death of the righteous may be peculiarly instructive and beneficial to the living. (N. Emmons.) Parallel Verses KJV: The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.WEB: The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge. |
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