These passages say, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. The one who despises the Word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.”
There are three Proverbs in these passages. The first Proverb speaks of unfulfilled and fulfilled desires during a person’s life. During our lifetime we may desire many things. Not all of these them will be fulfilled. The Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When we delight in the Lord, our desires will be for things that God approves. He will grant those desires. When this happens, it will be life for us. Our heart will be glad.
The second Proverb indicates that those who reject God and His Word will still be held accountable for their transgressions. Ignorance of God’s Word will not give a person a pass to sin. God will still judge them according to His Word. However, the person who believes in God and lives by the Word of God will not be in debt to God’s Word. These people have a healthy fear of God and realize that God will punish them for their sins. Therefore, they avoid sinning and are rewarded.
The third Proverb speaks of following wise counsel. Wise counsel is counsel that is based on the Word of God, the Bible. Following such counsel will lead to Eternal Life. However, rejecting wise counsel will lead to both physical and spiritual death.
