Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
Summary: How do you know before you go? The answer is that we don’t. Unless, of course, we know someone who does know and they are willing to warn us.
There are a lot of things in this life that sound simple. Take ice skating, for example. Professional skaters make it look easy, but when you actually strap on a pair of skates and step out onto the ice for the first time, you discover that there is a long distance between the first step and your first triple Axel.
A more common trap is the home improvement one. The people on the Home & Garden TV shows make it look easy to remodel a bathroom. (They always finish in less than an hour!) “I can do that!” thinks the unsuspecting do-it-yourselfer. Six months and thousands of dollars later, the job is still not finished, and there is no end in sight.
Wisdom is the ability to recognize where a path leads before we travel down it.
When we are out in the woods, a well-worn path is easy to spot. In the city, where every path is paved with concrete, it is harder to discern a particular “path.” Instead, we navigate by street signs and landmarks. In the world of wisdom, paths are not physical at all. Instead, a “path” is a metaphor for the choices we make.
We know from Proverbs 1:7 that godly people fear the Lord. The godly person embraces wisdom, repents of wrongdoing (Prov 1:23), and will give everything they have to gain understanding (Prov 4:7). Those who are evil take advantage of the innocent (Prov 1:11), are willing to shed their blood (Prov 1: 16) and are happy to plunder them (Prov 1:13).
The godly path is content with what God provides. The path of evil wants what God has given to others.
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) summarize God’s instructions for a godly life. The tenth commandment is the catch-all for all the leftovers; do not covet what belongs to your neighbor. The wicked do just that.
Application: Life and death are not just about whether your heart still beats. Eternal life and eternal death depend on your relationship with God. The only path that leads to our Father runs right through Jesus.
Food for Thought: Since we all tend to go down the wrong path (Isaiah 53:6), how can anybody be saved?
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ”
John 5:13
“I have written these things to you that you may know that you have eternal life, to you who believe into the name of the Son of God.” To be saved through Jesus Christ , you must be in a relationship with Him, you have to know and love Jesus, you’ll need to bring His teachings into your life. When you sin confess it through prayer and ask God for forgiveness. Then there is 1 Corinthians 12:3 “No one can say, Jesus is Lord! except in the Holy Spirit.” so say it out loud to ensure you have the Holy Spirit in you.
Tim,
Well said!! Amen brother!
Always a good question. And a great response T. The Romans 10: 9 – 10 passage T quoted above came to mind. The very fact that we all like sheep, go astray (Isaiah 53: 6) and we all sin (Romans 3: 23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6: 23) leads to our need for salvation and a Savior (Romans 6: 21 – 26; Romans 5: 8; John 3: 16 – 17; John 14: 6; 2 Corinthians 5: 21).
Thank you, Rich.
We are absolutely, positively, undeniably in deep doo-doo unless God himself saves us. Thankfully, he did.
02-22-2022, Proverbs 4:14, Since we all tend to go down the wrong path (Isaiah 53:6), how can anybody be saved?
Mr. T and Rich covered this well. Thanks Guy’s
Wisdom is seeing God’s perspective while I am still living on earth.
According to God’s thinking, wickedness is so ‘bad’ you dare not set foot on it’s path, while Evil is exposed along the way.
Wickedness is a heart issue, evil is a thought(wrong thinking) issue.
Anon –
Very interesting definition of wisdom!
By grace. Through faith. In Christ.
Well if you want to be short and sweet I guess that would be a good answer.
🙂