As with Gladness, Men of Old...

(Proverbs 10:28 KJV)  The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

What a great verse for the Advent season.  This is the time of year when “hope” (8431) and “gladness” (8057) should be percolating to the top of our demeanor.  It is time for us to turn from the successes and failures of a political season and look to the fulfillment of the promise that we are living out as we follow the One who came in the fullness of time.

This is a hope for believers, not the pagan world, although they have been piggy backing on it for a long time.  Notice that the promise is for the “righteous” (6662), not the “wicked” (7563).  If you follow down through the next few verses you see other words used to expand our understanding of who these people are.  You see them called “upright” and “just.” 

So?  Can you claim the promise of Advent?  Have you been touched by the incarnation?  Do you have reason to hope?  I do.  You can.  Why not enter the door marked “Hope” if you have not already done so.  Merry Christmas.