Homilist Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death. Three things implied in the death of the wicked are here set forth. I. A VERY SOLEMN CHANGE. He is "driven away." 1. Whence? (1) From all existing enjoyments; the beauties of nature, the circles of friendship, the pleasures of literature, etc. (2) From all secular engagements. The farmer, lawyer, statesman, etc. (3) From all means of moral improvement: churches, Bibles, teachers. 2. Whither? To the grave as to his body, to eternal retribution as to his soul. The death of the wicked implies — II. A GREAT PERSONAL RELUCTANCE. He does not go away, he is not drawn away; he is "driven away." 1. All the sympathies of his nature are centred in this life. They are all twined around earthly objects, as the ivy around the old castle. They are all more deeply rooted in the earth than the oak of centuries. He is in the world, and the world is everything to him. 2. The future world is terribly repulsive to him. Not a ray of hope breaks through his tremendous gloom; it is one dense mass of starless thunder-cloud. This being the case, with what tenacity he clings to life! He will not go, he cannot go, he must be "driven." His death is not like the gentle fall of the ripened fruit from its old branch in autumn, but like the oak, uprooted, and dashed into the air, by a mighty whirlwind. It is not like a vessel gliding to its chosen haven, but like a bark driven by a furious wind to a shore it shrinks from with horror. "Driven away!" The death of the wicked, as here indicated, implies — III. A TERRIBLE RETENTION OF CHARACTER. He is "driven away" in his wickedness. He carries his wickedness with him. This is the worst part of the whole. He carries his vile thoughts, his corrupt passions, his sinful purposes, his depraved habits, his accumulated guilt, with him. He will leave everything else behind but this — this adheres to him. He can no more flee from it than from himself. This wickedness will be the millstone to press him downward into deeper, darker depths for ever; the poison that will rankle in the veins for ever; the fuel that will feed the flames for ever. O sinner, lay down this wickedness at the foot of the atoning and soul-renovating Cross! (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.WEB: The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge. |
    |