Paul can exclaim (Romans 7:24), “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (comp. Many refer this sentence to the impatient longing for heaven which holy men feel, such as we may read in ‘De Imitatione,’ 3:48, 49, and in the hymns, “For thee, O dear, dear country ” and “We’ve no abiding city,” etc.Īnd St. Delay in the accomplishment of some much-desired good occasions sinking of the spirits, languor, and despondency. But spiritual blessings are chiefly intended.Īlso, see the meaning of Today Is the Day of Salvation in the Bible. The delay of what is anxiously hoped for, is very painful to the mind obtaining it is very pleasant. Wealth gotten by dishonesty or vice, has a secret curse, which will speedily waste it. Disputes would be easily prevented or ended, if it were not for pride.ġ1. All contentions, whether between private persons, families, churches, or nations, are begun and carried forward by pride. The light of the righteous is as that of the sun, which may be eclipsed and clouded, but will continue: the Spirit is their Light, he gives a fulness of joy: that of the wicked is as a lamp of their own kindling, easily put out.ġ0. Great riches often tempt to violence against those that possess them but the poor are free from such perils.ĩ. There are many fearing Christians, who are spiritually rich, yet think themselves poor by their doubts, and complaints, and griefs, they make themselves poor.

There are many hypocrites, empty of grace, who will not be convinced of their poverty. Some that are really rich, would be thought to be poor: in this there is want of gratitude to God, want of justice and charity to others. Some who are really poor, trade and spend as if they were rich: this is sin, and will be shame, and it will end accordingly. An honest desire to do right, preserves a man from fatal mistakes, better than a thousand fine-drawn distinctions.

Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentaryġ3:6. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.Īlso, see the meaning of Imitate Me As I Imitate Christ in the Bible. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. It is a powerful metaphor to say that a longing fulfilled is a tree of life, even if not the tree of life.Proverbs 13:12 reads, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” King James Version (KJV) Translation Those who are allowed to enter because of their faith in Christ will be given the right to partake of it, and so live forever. The tree of life will be firmly planted on the New Earth and its leaves will be for the healing of the nations. The source of eternal life, it was to prevent Adam from partaking of this tree, so living forever in his fallen state, that caused God to cast him out of Garden of Eden (Gen 3:23). Hope that is endlessly deferred is deadly, but hope that is eventually fulfilled is one of life’s greatest treasures. Those who searched for meaning instead of hope were the ones most likely to survive. That is because the heart sickness brought on by deferred hope was too great, and the sickness led to death. It has been said of those in World War 2 concentration camps that those who hoped the most, survived the least. To maintain hope is sometimes what is needed to survive a trial. Come, Lord Jesus! Breaking Down the Key Parts of Proverbs 13:12 As sick as our hearts may be as we wait, the sweetness of the longing fulfilled will be like nothing we’ve ever experienced in terms of joy and happiness. How wonderful it will be when he returns and with them our access to the literal tree of life (Rev 22:1-9). There is a sense in which our hope is deferred, and it is right for there to be a certain sickness of the heart, especially as we stop to contemplate the pain and suffering in the world corrupted by sin and darkness. Our great hope is that he will not tarry much longer. Now, we wait again, this time even longer from the time he promised to return until today. We remember how long the Jews waited in eager expectation for the first Advent of their Messiah from the time their prophets began to preach the good news of his coming. To apply this, it is wise to imagine our great hope, Jesu Christ. On the other hand, when one finally does receive that for which one has yearned and hoped for, the immediate pleasure evokes strong emotion. This is when the thing one deeply desires is slow in coming and makes the person desirous of it begin to despair of ever getting it. It is nearly self-evident that this verse is true for anyone who has experienced deferred hope. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Explanation and Commentary of Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred bible verse