The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.   Proverbs 10:28

The word "hope," as used in the Scriptures, means to have a confident expectation of something.  The way the concept of hope is used in the rest of the world has nothing to do with Biblical hope.  Worldly hope has to do with wishing for something and hoping that you get it.  Biblical hope is not vain wishing - it is a confidence in something or someone that lets you know that you WILL be receiving something.  With this definition in mind let us look at today's proverb.

The hope of the righteous is gladness.  What is the "hope of the righteous?"  That hope is that God, Who has spoken and revealed Himself and His ways in the Scriptures, will be true to His Word.  The first and foremost area where this is true is in our salvation and the confident expectation that we have of being able to stand before God in the judgment.  God has done what is necessary to pay for our sins.  In the time of the Old Testament this was through the covenant promise that God made to Abraham.  Abraham was made righteous before God by faith - as He believed God.  This is what Paul presents to us in both Galatians and Romans.  Those promises were further defined as the sacrificial system was put into place under Moses.  The blood of those bulls, goats, and lambs were a sign of a more perfect sacrifice to come.  Jesus Christ fulfilled that sacrifice when He died on the cross and paid the price for sin - forever!  As a result of what God has done - the confident expectation of the righteous (those made rightreous by faith) is gladness!  We are overjoyed at God's grace given to us in Jesus Christ.  We are delighted at the salvation God has given to us in Him. 

The second half of this proverb reminds us of the wicked - and their ignoble end.  The expectation of the wicked perishes.  Two things we should see here.  First the wicked does not hope, the expect things.  Their expectation is based on what they think they have earned.  The wicked rely on their works or their religious system - which will be based on a false understanding of God.  They feel that they have worked hard for their salvation - and therefore they deserve something for it.  But their expectation will fade and die.  There is nothing to it - and nothing they will gain from it.  This is the second thing we need to see here.  Their expectation perishes.  That is because their expectation is in themselves.  They will perish - becasue what they have done will never stand before a holy God.  It is a sad reality - but it is a sure one.

What are you relying on for your eternity?  Are you looking to yourself and your own religious works?  If you are - both your works and you will perish.  There is no hope for such a person, because they remain in their wickedness.  All they will see in the day when they stand before God's judgment is His wrath.  The wise man finds his righteousness not in himself - but by faith in Jesus Christ.  That person will know a gladness that will never end.  Hope in Jesus Christ - for that is a hope that will never disappoint.

A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath. Proverbs 21:14

Some of the proverbs are instructional while others are observational.  In no way is the Bible endorsing giving bribes to subvert justice - but God, the One who has inspired the Scriptures, is also not blind to the observation that bribes do exist and they are used to turn away anger and wrath.  In understanding this proverb we do need to focus on the fact that what is being said here deals with the issue of those who are angry and filled with wrath toward another.  This is not a proverb dealing with wanting to pervert justice - it is about dealing with those who come to a court situation and who are very angry.  It is written with truth that will help those who are wanting to lessen that anger before they get to court.  So what is this proverb telling us - and what observation is it giving to us?

When facing anger and wrath from someone - it is helpful in subduing it to offer a gift or a bribe.  Bribes do exist - and unfortunately the rich use them to subvert justice.  When a situation arises when someone is very angry and they are considering acting in the wrath of the moment - a bribe will help tone down the anger.  Is this righteous?  Most likely in the case of the bribe it is not.  Is it effective in the world?  Unfortunately it probably is.  But there is another way of looking at the statement that a gift in secret subdues anger. 

Those who know of court proceedings know that many cases are "settled" out of court.  What is often done is that lawyers offer a "settlement" to make a case or a person's anger go away.  The injured person is willing to have a sum of money - a gift given in secret if you will - subdue their anger and move them to drop the suit in court.  These settlements usually involve fairly large amounts of money.  They are meant to pacify the anger of the one who is bringing the suit or threatening to do so.  When this gift is given in secret - the case goes away.  For those who know that they are in trouble and guilty, yet do not want a court or a jury deciding the award in the case, a settlement may save them millions of dollars.  For the person injured or wronged, it saves them the difficulty of the court case itself - and the risk of getting nothing.  In the end, though everyone may not be completely thrilled, it does subdue the anger and settle the dispute. 

Remember though, this is a proverb that is observatory.  It is observing what happens in life - not dictating what should happen.  In this regard it is good to know these things - and to know that God knows too.  God knows that often these things will happen - but one thing to remember is that they will never happen at His bar of justice.  When we stand before God, there is no amount of money or works that will speak for us subduing His wrath.  The only thing that speaks in that day is the blood of Jesus Christ shed to pay for our sins in full.  There will be no bribes or gifts passed under the table.  God Himself has made the way of payment for sin - but know this - it is the ONLY payment accepted.