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32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
We cannot judge men by their outward condition, for “there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked.” (Ecclesiastes 9:2.) Such a judgment would often throw the balance on the wrong side. (Psalm 73:12.) The standard of the world is not less erroneous. While men rarely give an unqualified commendation of their neighbours in mutual intercourse; yet — as respects God — all are good enough for heaven. A hope is entertained of the most criminal, that they will be taken to mercy at last. And thus the distinctive terms — righteous and wicked — are so confounded, and brought so near each other, that there is little meaning in either.
But now let us turn to this striking picture before us, which sweeps away all human standards. Eternity is here realized before us — the wicked and the righteous — each “going to his own place.” (Acts 1:25.) Let us ponder the sight with deep-toned solemnity. O my soul, “make thy calling sure!” The wicked includes a diversified mass of character. Many are amiable, useful, and in a variety of ways exemplary. Others are absorbed in vanity; or they wear themselves away by the lamp of study; or they are given up to selfish indulgence. But whatever be the external shape or feature, the stamp is every way broad — “forgetfulness of God” — and the condemnation sealed — “turned into hell.” (Psalm 9:17.)
Truly is the wicked pictured as driven away in his wickedness. He is dragged out of life, like a criminal to execution; torn away from his only heaven here, with no joyous heaven beyond. (Job 18:18; 27:21.) Dreadful beyond imagination to be thus forced out of the body, to die a violent death. Fain would he stay. But he cannot. He cannot live. He dares not die. Sometimes he departs with a horror that no words can paint. Hell is manifestly begun on this side eternity. (1 Samuel 28:15.) He is driven out of a world, which has cheated and damned his soul for ever. And even where he has “no bands in his death, but his strength is firm” (Psalm 73:4), where do we hear of “a desire to depart”? (Philippians 1:23.) Though he may fall asleep as softly as lambs, he will wake to live for ever “with the devil and his angels.” His few moments of peace are only the respite from hopeless, never-ending torments. His wickedness was his element in life. It will cleave to him still, the sting of the undying worm, the fuel of unquenchable fire.
But is the righteous driven away? He dies by his own consent. It is a glad surrender, not a forcible separation. (Psalm 31:5.) The tabernacle is not rent or torn away, but “put off.” (2 Peter 1:14.) He can take death by his cold hand, and bid him welcome. ‘I can smile on death’ — said a dying saint — ‘because my Savior smiles on me.’ There is courage to face “the King of terrors,” and delight in looking homeward to his God.† There is loveliness and sunshine in his death, such as flashes conviction upon the most hardened conscience. (Numbers 23:10.) The righteous hath hope in his death. His death is full of hope. Job pierced his dark cloud of sorrow with this joyous hope.† David rested his way-worn spirit upon the Rock of salvation.† Stephen anchored within the vail, undisturbed by the volley of stones without.† Paul triumphed in the crown, as if it was already on his head.† And hear we not daily “the voice from heaven,” assuring to us the “blessedness of them that die in the Lord”? (Revelation 14:13.) Praise to our Immanuel! ‘When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.’† By thee as the way to the Kingdom we go freely, gladly, out of life. We go to what we love, to our native home, to our Savior's bosom, to our rest, our crown, our everlasting joy. “Now, Lord, what wait I for? I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.”†
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— undaunted boldness. 
— we are well pleased.