Proverbs 11:23 Commentary and Bible Study

The proverb describes the outcome of the lives of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous receive what they desire, while the wicked can expect only the anger of God which they most certainly do not desire. For this reason, the Hebrew should be translated ‘expectation’ not ‘hope’ in connection with the wicked: all their hopes will be dashed, but nevertheless they have a sure expectation – the punishment of God upon their wickedness. Here then is a deeply significant difference between the righteous and the wicked: God is for the one and against the other even in regard to their unseen wishes and desires. Let the believer explore in his mind all the glory that will be revealed and desire it strongly; he will not be disappointed. But the wicked do battle with God in their desires and he will defeat them. What a terrible thing it is to have God as our enemy! This is no small blessing on the righteous. Having learnt to deny ungodly lusts and to align their desires with God’s will, putting to death the desires of the flesh and of the unregenerate mind, they desire what God desires and within that sphere they have tremendous freedom. Where they are unsure of his will then, as Lawson says, they ‘wish that nothing may be granted them inconsistent with the will of God who knows infinitely better than his people what is good for them.’ Solomon says the desire of the righteous is only good. How much good? Who can estimate its worth? It far exceeds the imagination of the believer to measure how much is reserved in store for him. All he need know is that his desires will be met with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17), and that desires limited by his finite mind and earthly perspective will be translated into answers that are far greater than his current desire can conceive.