Death - to the righteous and the wicked

(George Lawson, "A Practical Exposition of the Book of Proverbs" 1821)

"The wicked will be cut off from the land - and the unfaithful will be torn from it." Proverbs 2:22

Must not the righteous leave the earth too?
Yes! But the earth is a very different thing to the righteous, and to the wicked.

To the righteous - this world is a place of preparation for Heaven.
To the wicked - this world is all the Heaven they will ever have.

Death is a kind messenger sent to the righteous by their heavenly Father - calling them to the possession of their eternal inheritance!
To the wicked, death is a messenger of wrath - summoning them to the abodes of misery!

Death is the beginning of happiness to God's people.
Death is the final conclusion of all that the wicked counted their happiness.

To the righteous - death is a translation to a glorious eternity!
To the wicked - death is everlasting destruction and woe!

"If only they were wise and would understand this - and discern what their end will be!" Deuteronomy 32:29

"So teach us to number our days - that we may gain a heart of wisdom!" Psalm 90:12