Bridges on Proverbs 10:28
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 10:28
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6-7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20-21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 31-32 
 
28.  The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
 
The fear of the LORD, so far from being opposed to, is often connected with, the hope of the righteous. (Psalm 33:18; 147:11.) And well may this hope be gladness; for it is ‘accompanied with sweet patience, joyful hope, and crowned with a happy issue.’† It has its origin in eternity. (Titus 1:2.) Its substance is Christ and heaven. (Romans 5:2. 1 Peter 1:3, 4. Colossians 1:27.) The foundation is the work of Christ. (1 Peter 1:3, 21.) The security, the unchangeable engagements of God. (Hebrews 6:17, 18.) Who then but must see it to be “a hope that maketh not ashamed; sure and steadfast”? (Romans 5:5. Hebrews 6:19. 2 Thessalonians 2:16.) Instead of, as is commonly supposed, bidding farewell to gladness, it brings the only sunshine of the soul. Beaming from the precious cross, how does it dry up the penitent's tears. (Isaiah 12:2.) Or, if the gladness be withheld for a time, yet it is sown; and the “sheaves of joy shall doubtless” follow the “weeping.” (Psalm 97:11; 126:6. Isaiah 35:10.) And then — carrying as it were heaven in and about us (Hebrews 10:34) — how refreshing is this hope in its clear insight into eternity! as Bunyan describes, in one of his beautiful touches, his feelings on witnessing Christian and Hopeful's welcome into the heavenly city — ‘which when I had seen, I wished myself among them.’ Oh! there must be a reality in that hope, which bears us away from earth, and makes its meanest heir richer and happier, than if he were the sole possessor of this world's glory. Let me hasten towards it, longing, yet not impatient. For how can I but desire to change my traveller's lot for my home; my toil for rest; my sorrow for joy; my body of sin for the likeness to my Lord; “the tents of Kedar” for “the innumerable company of angels, and the church of the first-born”? (Psalm 120:5, with Hebrews 12:22, 23.) Do I grasp this hope? Then — as a godly man exclaimed — ‘Let who will be miserable; I will not — I cannot!’
But the wicked —they too have their expectation. For none have a stronger hope than those, who have no ground for hope. (Deuteronomy 29:19.) And this dilusion often reaches to the moment of eternity (Matthew 25:10) — nay, even to the “day” of the Lord (Ib. 7:22, 23); expecting the door to be “opened to them,” after it has been “shut” for ever (Ib. 25:11); dreaming of heaven, and waking in hell! The expectation of the wicked shall perish.†
Christian! make sure the ground of your hope. (2 Peter 1:10.) Then set out its gladness, as becomes an heir of glory. Let not a drooping spirit tell the world the scantiness of your hope. But show that you can live upon its gladness, until you enter into its perfect and everlasting fruition. (Psalm 16:11.) Doubtfulness leaves believers and infidels nearly on the same level. A clear apprehension of its infinite joy stimulates our “diligence to make our calling and election sure.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 33:18
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
 
Psalm 147:11
11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
 
 
Footnote:
Diodati.
 
 
Titus 1:2
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; {In: or, For}
 
 
Romans 5:2
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
 
1 Peter 1:3, 4
3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {abundant: Gr. much} 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, {for you: or, for us}
 
Colossians 1:27
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: {in: or, among}
 
 
1 Peter 1:3, 21
3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {abundant: Gr. much} 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
 
 
Hebrews 6:17, 18
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: {confirmed...: Gr. interposed himself by} 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
 
 
Romans 5:5
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
 
Hebrews 6:19
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
 
2 Thessalonians 2:16
16 ¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
 
 
Isaiah 12:2
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
 
 
Psalm 97:11
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
 
Psalm 126:6
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. {precious...: or, seed basket}
 
Isaiah 35:10
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
 
 
Hebrews 10:34
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. {in yourselves...: or, that ye have in or, for yourselves}
 
 
Psalm 120:5
5 ¶ Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
 
with
Hebrews 12:22, 23
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, {written: or, enrolled}
 
 
Deuteronomy 29:19
19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: {imagination: or, stubbornness} {drunkenness...: Heb. the drunken to the thirsty}
 
 
Matthew 25:10
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
 
 
Matthew 7:22, 23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
 
 
Matthew 25:11
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
 
 
Footnote:
See the hope of the worlding, Psalm 49:6-14. Luke 12:19, 20. Of the wicked, Job 11:20; 18:14. Of the hypocrite, Ib. 8:13, 14; 27:8.
 
 
See the hope of the worlding,
Psalm 49:6-14
6 ¶ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. 10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. {all...: Heb. generation and generation} 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. {approve...: Heb. delight in their mouth} 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. {beauty: or, strength} {in the grave from...: or, the grave being an habitation to every one of them}
 
Luke 12:19, 20
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? {thy...: Gr. do they require thy soul}
 
Of the wicked,
Job 11:20
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. {they shall...: Heb. flight shall perish from them} {the giving...: or, a puff of breath}
 
Job 18:14
14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
 
Of the hypocrite,
Job 8:13, 14
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. {web: Heb. house}
 
Job 27:8
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Peter 1:10
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
 
 
Psalm 16:11
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.