Daily Wisdoms: Proverbs 10:27-28

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Chapter 10

 

27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days:

 but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:

but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

 

                    When we are more concerned about what God’s desires are for us than anyone else’s we are walking in the fear of the Lord.  The Lord tells us in this verse that when we are mastered by a concern to please the Lord only we will have prolonged days.  One angle of this promise is that the stresses and wear and tear of being controlled by the expectations of others or ourselves won’t be there waring at our health and causing us to be on edge resulting in medical conditions brought on by such anxieties.

 

                        Another side of the fear of the Lord prolonging our days is that we won’t be making dangerous choices that have the potential for ending our lives early.  We won’t be in sexually promiscuous relationships that carry the threat of disease.  We won’t be taking in alcohol to the injury of our liver.  We won’t be controlled by food, starvation or gluttony, that will reek havoc on our systems and torment the balance of our body.

 

                        The hope of the righteous is a hope that is founded in the Lord.  We look to Him to move, comfort and provide.  Our eyes are fixed on Jesus and our expectation comes from Him.  When we hope in the Lord we are glad because we know that He has a plan and the best one for the situation.  We are not looking to others to perform or meet our expectations but, rather, we are hoping in the Lord and His ability to carry out deliverance in ways that have never entered our minds.  If we find ourselves in despair or depression, we might very well have put our hope in someone or something else.  This results in disappointment and must be remedied by transferring our hope back to the rock and under the shadow of His wings.

 

                        The expectation of the wicked is that which moves with strict codes and performance standards.  When our wicked nature is dictating what we expect from ourselves, the Lord or others, these expectations result in perishing hope and a wasteland of bitterness, disappointments and faint-heartedness.  Sister!  We must have our hope built in the consistent, faithful character of our God!  People will inevitably fall short of the glory of God.  The Lord says so in Romans 3:23.  Our expectations are so short-sighted and lack mercy and grace.  Hope is that which can look beyond performance to the One who works all things after the counsel of His will.  Won’t you repent of any expectations you have put on another today and rather enjoy those relationships you’ve been privileged to build?   Won’t you come before the Lord today with a heart anticipating all He can do?