◄ Proverbs 10:24 ►
What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Study Bible
What the wicked dread
The phrase "what the wicked dread" speaks to the deep-seated fears and anxieties that reside within those who live in opposition to God's ways. The Hebrew word for "wicked" is "רָשָׁע" (rasha), which denotes someone who is morally wrong or guilty. Historically, the wicked are often portrayed as those who reject divine wisdom and pursue their own selfish desires. Their dread is not just a fear of earthly consequences but also an innate fear of divine judgment. This dread is a natural outcome of living a life contrary to God's commandments, as their conscience bears witness to their guilt and the inevitable justice that awaits them.

will overtake them
The phrase "will overtake them" suggests an unavoidable consequence. The Hebrew root "בּוֹא" (bo) means to come or to happen, indicating that the fears of the wicked are not just possibilities but certainties. This reflects a biblical principle that actions have consequences, and those who sow iniquity will reap trouble. The historical context of Israel's covenant with God underscores this truth, as blessings and curses were clearly outlined based on obedience or disobedience (Deuteronomy 28). The wicked cannot escape the repercussions of their actions, as God's justice is sure and His word unfailing.

but the desire of the righteous
In contrast, "the desire of the righteous" highlights the hopes and aspirations of those who live in accordance with God's will. The Hebrew word for "righteous" is "צַדִּיק" (tsaddiq), referring to someone who is just or in right standing with God. The desires of the righteous are aligned with God's purposes, reflecting a heart transformed by His grace. Historically, the righteous are those who seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, trusting in His promises and living by faith. Their desires are not self-centered but are rooted in a longing for God's glory and the fulfillment of His plans.

will be granted
The phrase "will be granted" conveys a promise of fulfillment and divine favor. The Hebrew root "נָתַן" (natan) means to give or bestow, indicating that God Himself is the one who fulfills the desires of the righteous. This assurance is consistent with the biblical narrative that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The historical context of God's faithfulness to His people, as seen in the lives of figures like Abraham, David, and Daniel, serves as a testament to His unwavering commitment to grant the desires of those who walk in His ways. This promise inspires believers to trust in God's provision and timing, knowing that He is both willing and able to fulfill the deepest longings of their hearts.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Wicked
In the context of Proverbs, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's commandments and wisdom. They are characterized by their sinful actions and lack of reverence for God.

2. The Righteous
The righteous are those who live in accordance with God's laws and seek His wisdom. They are characterized by their faithfulness, integrity, and trust in God.

3. Solomon
Traditionally, Solomon is considered the author of Proverbs. He was the son of King David and known for his wisdom, which he received from God.

4. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical backdrop of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction.

5. The Fear of the Lord
A recurring theme in Proverbs, representing a deep respect and reverence for God, which is the foundation of wisdom.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Wickedness
The wicked live in fear of the consequences of their actions. Their dread is a result of their separation from God and His protection.

The Reward of Righteousness
The righteous can trust that their desires, aligned with God's will, will be fulfilled. This is a promise of God's faithfulness to those who seek Him.

The Importance of Aligning Desires with God's Will
True fulfillment comes when our desires are in harmony with God's purposes. This requires a heart that seeks after God's wisdom and righteousness.

Living in the Fear of the Lord
A life lived in reverence for God leads to wisdom and understanding, which guides us away from the path of the wicked and towards the blessings of the righteous.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the fear of the Lord influence the desires of the righteous, and how can we cultivate this fear in our daily lives?

2. In what ways do the consequences of wickedness manifest in today's world, and how can we guard against falling into wicked patterns?

3. Reflect on a time when a desire of yours was granted by God. How did this experience strengthen your faith and trust in Him?

4. How can we ensure that our desires align with God's will, and what practical steps can we take to seek His guidance in our decision-making?

5. Consider the principle of sowing and reaping as discussed in Galatians 6:7-8. How does this principle apply to the promises found in Proverbs 10:24, and how can it encourage us in our walk with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 37:4
This verse speaks about delighting in the Lord and receiving the desires of one's heart, similar to the promise given to the righteous in Proverbs 10:24.

Matthew 6:33
Jesus teaches about seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you, echoing the idea that the desires of the righteous are fulfilled.

Galatians 6:7-8
Paul discusses the principle of sowing and reaping, which aligns with the idea that the wicked will face consequences for their actions, while the righteous will receive blessings.
Sermons
A ContrastJ. Harrington Evans, M.A.Proverbs 10:24
Fears Realised and Hopes FulfilledW. Arnot, D. D.Proverbs 10:24
Look to the End a ContrastH. Stowell, M.A.Proverbs 10:24
The Desire of the RighteousProverbs 10:24
The Desire of the Righteous GrantedProverbs 10:24
The Service of Speech, EtcW. Clarkson Proverbs 10:8, 10, 11, 14, 18-21, 31, 32
Life SeekersE. Johnson Proverbs 10:22-25
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Desire, Dreads, Evil-doer, Fear, Feared, Fears, Granted, Meeteth, Overtake, Righteous, Upright, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 10:24

     5484   punishment, by God
     5916   pessimism

Library
The Two-Fold Aspect of the Divine Working
'The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.'--PROVERBS x. 29. You observe that the words 'shall be,' in the last clause, are a supplement. They are quite unnecessary, and in fact they rather hinder the sense. They destroy the completeness of the antithesis between the two halves of the verse. If you leave them out, and suppose that the 'way of the Lord' is what is spoken of in both clauses, you get a far deeper and fuller meaning. 'The way …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Folly of Slander. Part 1.
"He that uttereth slander is a fool."--Prov. x. 18. General declamations against vice and sin are indeed excellently useful, as rousing men to consider and look about them: but they do often want effect, because they only raise confused apprehensions of things, and indeterminate propensions to action; which usually, before men thoroughly perceive or resolve what they should practise, do decay and vanish. As he that cries out "Fire!" doth stir up people, and inspireth them with a kind of hovering …
Isaac Barrow—Sermons on Evil-Speaking, by Isaac Barrow

The Folly of Slander. Part 2.
"He that uttereth slander is a fool."--Prov. x. 18. I have formerly in this place, discoursing upon this text, explained the nature of the sin here condemned, with its several kinds and ways of practising. II. I shall now proceed to declare the folly of it; and to make good by divers reasons the assertion of the wise man, that "He who uttereth slander is a fool." 1. Slandering is foolish, as sinful and wicked. All sin is foolish upon many accounts; as proceeding from ignorance, error, inconsiderateness, …
Isaac Barrow—Sermons on Evil-Speaking, by Isaac Barrow

Sanctions of Moral Law, Natural and Governmental.
In the discussion of this subject, I shall show-- I. What constitute the sanctions of law. 1. The sanctions of law are the motives to obedience, the natural and the governmental consequences or results of obedience and of disobedience. 2. They are remuneratory, that is, they promise reward to obedience. 3. They are vindicatory, that is, they threaten the disobedient with punishment. 4. They are natural, that is, happiness is to some extent naturally connected with, and the necessary consequence of, …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the state of a man's heart known by his desires. The desires of the righteous are the touchstone or standard of Christian sincerity--the evidence of the new birth--the spiritual barometer of faith and grace--and the springs of obedience. Christ and him crucified is the ground of all our hopes--the foundation upon which all our desires after God and holiness are built--and the root …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Lii. Trust in God.
15th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matt. vi. 31. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." INTRODUCTION.--We read in ancient Roman history that a general named Aemilius Paulus was appointed to the Roman army in a time of war and great apprehension. He found in the army a sad condition of affairs, there were more officers than fighting men, and all these officers wanted to have their advice taken, and the war conducted in accordance with their several opinions. Then Aemilius Paulus …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles and of this Miracle of Miracles - views of Negative Criticism on this History
From listening to the teaching of Christ, we turn once more to follow His working. It will be remembered, that the visit to Bethany divides the period from the Feast of the Dedication to the last Paschal week into two parts. It also forms the prelude and preparation for the awful events of the End. For, it was on that occasion that the members of the Sanhedrin formally resolved on His Death. It now only remained to settle and carry out the plans for giving effect to their purpose. This is one aspect …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Christian's Hope
Scripture references: 1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27; Psalm 130:5; 43:5; Proverbs 10:8; Acts 24:15; Psalm 71:5; Romans 5:1-5; 12:12; 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:18; Philippians 1:20; Colossians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:19; Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; Psalm 31:24; 71:14,15. HOPE IN THE PRESENT LIFE That which a man ardently hopes for he strives to realize. If he desires fame, office or wealth he will seek to set forces in motion, here and now, which will bring him that which …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Letter xxxi (A. D. 1132) to the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York, from which the Prior had Departed, Taking Several Religious with Him.
To the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York, from Which the Prior Had Departed, Taking Several Religious with Him. [50] 1. You write to me from beyond the sea to ask of me advice which I should have preferred that you had sought from some other. I am held between two difficulties, for if I do not reply to you, you may take my silence for a sign of contempt; but if I do reply I cannot avoid danger, since whatever I reply I must of necessity either give scandal to some one or give to some other a security …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' A kingdom is held the acme and top of all worldly felicity, and this honour have all the saints'; so says our Saviour, Theirs is the …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven:
TOGETHER WITH THE WAY HE RUNS IN, THE MARKS HE GOES BY; ALSO, SOME DIRECTIONS HOW TO RUN SO AS TO OBTAIN. 'And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.'--Genesis 19:17. London: Printed for John Marshall, at the Bible in Gracechurch Street, 1698. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. About forty years ago a gentleman, in whose company I had commenced my …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

How the Simple and the Crafty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 12.) Differently to be admonished are the simple and the insincere. The simple are to be praised for studying never to say what is false, but to be admonished to know how sometimes to be silent about what is true. For, as falsehood has always harmed him that speaks it, so sometimes the hearing of truth has done harm to some. Wherefore the Lord before His disciples, tempering His speech with silence, says, I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now (Joh. xvi. 12). …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Letter xv (Circa A. D. 1129) to Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin
To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin He praises the fatherly gentleness of Alvisus towards Godwin. He excuses himself, and asks pardon for having admitted him. To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin. [18] 1. May God render to you the same mercy which you have shown towards your holy son Godwin. I know that at the news of his death you showed yourself unmindful of old complaints, and remembering only your friendship for him, behaved with kindness, not resentment, and putting aside the character of judge, showed yourself …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Jesus Heals Multitudes Beside the Sea of Galilee.
^A Matt. XII. 15-21; ^B Mark III. 7-12. ^a 15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew ^b with his disciples ^a from thence: ^b to the sea [This was the first withdrawal of Jesus for the avowed purpose of self-preservation. After this we find Jesus constantly retiring to avoid the plots of his enemies. The Sea of Galilee, with its boats and its shores touching different jurisdictions, formed a convenient and fairly safe retreat]: ^a and many followed him; ^b and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

How the Silent and the Talkative are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 15.) Differently to be admonished are the over-silent, and those who spend time in much speaking. For it ought to be insinuated to the over-silent that while they shun some vices unadvisedly, they are, without its being perceived, implicated in worse. For often from bridling the tongue overmuch they suffer from more grievous loquacity in the heart; so that thoughts seethe the more in the mind from being straitened by the violent guard of indiscreet silence. And for the most part they …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You. "
Matth. vi. 33.--"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The perfection even of the most upright creature, speaks always some imperfection in comparison of God, who is most perfect. The heavens, the sun and moon, in respect of lower things here, how glorious do they appear, and without spot! But behold, they are not clean in God's sight! How far are the angels above us who dwell in clay! They appear to be a pure mass of light and …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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