Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days:
But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Is longevity a blessing? The ancient certainly looked upon it as such. For them, the very concept of death was very different than ours. Dying was in itself not as important as the way in which we died. Did we die in youth or full of years? Did we die a glorious purposeful death or did we die torn by a ravenous beast or a loathsome disease?
It is true that the contentment of heart, the peace of mind, and the overall prosperity that defines the life of the righteous contributes to a long life. It is the true secret to longevity. It is also true that the guilty soul, the internal contentions, and the overall vice that characterizes the life of the wicked shortens his chances to a long life. Sin is definitely the main death-contributing factor. But it is also true that the life of a righteous man is often shortened as he walks with God. God also allows the pious to be taken away from evil early in life, especially in case of martyrdom. So is our author merely reflecting on our passage in this life, or is he pondering something more?
In Hebraic terms, life and death are not just the union and separation of our body with our spirit. Life is union with God. Death is separation from God. This is the death of the wicked: to be separated from God forever. This is the life of the righteous: to live in the Temple of God, to enjoy Him in His courts, and to be partakers of the fullness of His blessed Spirit forever.
And what is to be learned from this: let us not exchange the temporal sinful seeming self-gratification of this day against the true joy and contentment that is to be ours forever.
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days:
But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Is longevity a blessing? The ancient certainly looked upon it as such. For them, the very concept of death was very different than ours. Dying was in itself not as important as the way in which we died. Did we die in youth or full of years? Did we die a glorious purposeful death or did we die torn by a ravenous beast or a loathsome disease?
It is true that the contentment of heart, the peace of mind, and the overall prosperity that defines the life of the righteous contributes to a long life. It is the true secret to longevity. It is also true that the guilty soul, the internal contentions, and the overall vice that characterizes the life of the wicked shortens his chances to a long life. Sin is definitely the main death-contributing factor. But it is also true that the life of a righteous man is often shortened as he walks with God. God also allows the pious to be taken away from evil early in life, especially in case of martyrdom. So is our author merely reflecting on our passage in this life, or is he pondering something more?
In Hebraic terms, life and death are not just the union and separation of our body with our spirit. Life is union with God. Death is separation from God. This is the death of the wicked: to be separated from God forever. This is the life of the righteous: to live in the Temple of God, to enjoy Him in His courts, and to be partakers of the fullness of His blessed Spirit forever.
And what is to be learned from this: let us not exchange the temporal sinful seeming self-gratification of this day against the true joy and contentment that is to be ours forever.
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