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35. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. {shall be...: Heb. exalteth the fools}
This is the last contrast drawn to restrain our envy at the prosperity of the wicked. (Verse 31.) It carries us forward to the coming day, when all shall “discern” in the full light of eternity. (Malachi 3:18.) The wise — the heirs of glory — are identified with the lowly (Verse 34; 11:2) — the heirs of grace. Self-knowledge — the principle of lowliness — is the very substance of wisdom. Their inheritance also is one — grace and glory. (Psalm 84:11.) For what higher glory can there be than the grace, which “hath redeemed” a vile worm of the earth, “and made him a king and priest unto God”? (Revelation 5:9, 10.) Oh! let the redeemed cherish honourable thoughts of their present glory. Be careful to clear it from the defilement and degradation of the world's dust, and enjoy it in adoring praise to Him, who hath chosen thee to this so undeserved grace. (Ib. 1:5, 6.)
But who can tell the glory of the after inheritance — not like this world's glory — the shadow of a name; but real, solid; ‘an infinite gain, in the exchange of dross for down-weight of pure gold.’† All occasion of sin and temptation is shut out for ever. ‘The tree of knowledge shall be without enclosure. There shall be neither lust, nor forbidden fruit; no withholding of desirable knowledge, nor affectation of undesirable. The glorified spirits touch nothing that can defile, and defile nothing they touch.’† But after all, the glory of this glory will be communion and likeness with our Lord — “to be with him — to behold his glory.” (John 17:24. 1 John 3:2.) We need not pry too minutely. This much is clear. The value of our inheritance is beyond all price; its happiness unspeakable; its security unchangeable; its duration eternity. The wise shall inherit glory. “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3. Matthew 13:43.)
Oh! will not the fools then discover the vanity of this world's glory, too late to make a wise choice? Shame is their present fruit. (Chapter 13:18; 10:9.) Honour even now sits unseemly upon them. (Chapter 26:1.) But “what fruit will eternity bring” of those things, whereof they will “then be ashamed?” (Romans 6:21.) Truly shame will be their promotion. Their fame will be infamous, their disgrace conspicuous; lifting them up, like Haman upon his elevated gallows (Esther 7:9) — ‘a gazing-stock to the world.’ How solemn and complete will be the great separation for eternity! “Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2.)
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