We pick back up with our work through the Proverbs. In Proverbs 10:27-29, there are three parts to which Solomon delves into. Proverbs 10:27 deals with the physical days. Proverbs 10:28 deals with the emotional hope. Lastly Proverbs 10:29 is the hopeful direction. 

We see the fear of the Lord, again, showing itself to prolonging life. It is God who gives life and we see this in the Psalms (Psalm 9:11; 21:4, etc.). This fear is what is the beginning of wisdom and wisdom is what brings this extended life. We have delved into this several times, and we also have worked through how the blessing that comes from that life and life more abundantly. 

But notice what it says in Proverbs 10:27 about the wicked. The wicked will be shortened in life. We can consider such passages as Psalm 55:23, the life is only half way. Even in Luke 12:20, the rich man was going to die before he even had a chance to enjoy the fruit of his labor. Wickedness never pays off, regardless of how it looks to our eyes today.

Now we turn to the emotional side of hope. The righteous has hope. This hope is vital to help us move forward in our faith in Jesus Christ. There are many different passages that talk about this. We can have hope, but we can grow tired in waiting for that hope (Psalm 73:24-26). When we lose that hope, we must remember that our hope is not based on our flesh and strength, but Paul tells us that it is in God Himself (Romans 5:2). When we look at Proverbs 10:28, the result of this hope is gladness! Hope, when it is seen and realized does bring gladness. But the wicked is not given this. The expectation, the things they look for, without God, it will perish. We have not gotten to this yet, but we can look at Proverbs 11:7. The Psalmist also says the desire will perish (Psalm 112:10). The only way to have the fulfilled joy and gladness is when it is found in Jesus Himself. 

Lastly, we look at Proverbs 10:29 with the hopeful direction. When someone walks in the way of the Lord, there is strength. It may not feel like it, nor may it look like it. But there is a power and a strength that comes for those who are walking in the light. No verse sticks out better than Isaiah 40:31 with the Lord renewing their strength. Zechariah 10:12 God says He will strengthen them in their name.  But the wicked will be destroyed. There is a strong picture pained in Psalm 36:12. They are unable to get up. This pictures ultimate distruction from which they will never be able to their way forward again. 

So, the question that should sit on each of us as readers, which side are we on? Solomon reveals that in all aspects of life, the righteous will receive and rest in God's protection, strength and guidance, and a fuller longer life (not necessarily here on this earth, but eternity begins for believers now). The wicked will not receive these things. As we have been dealing with in this entire chapter of Proverbs, we have found the lesser state which the wicked are in compared to the righteous. My dear friend, if you do not know Jesus as your Savior, you are loved by Him. Why continue rebelling against His call to find forgiveness and move from wickedness to righteousness? It is through the sacrifice of Jesus that we are given the ability to have a right standing before God and covering of God's righteousness. Dear friend, you are loved by God. His longsuffering is for you to come to Him and find forgiveness of sins.