We’re spending a lot of time in the first chapter of Proverbs because it is foundational to the entire book and also just full of treasures for the wise. Solomon is inspired to write these words to his son, and we’re benefiting from his desire to set his son on the right track in life and in devotion to the Lord. So, today, I’m sharing several verses of important guidance for all who will be going out into the world.
Be aware of the enticement of sinners
Solomon says:
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (Proverbs 1:10-19 ESV)
From the beginning of days, Satan, in his desire for deception, has been enticing men and women away from the foundational teaching of their parents and the Word of God and toward all that leads to destruction and death. What are we told to do?
DO NOT CONSENT.
How often did my parents tell me that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is a lie, a trap, a falsehood, a deception? But that’s how Satan works through sinners, isn’t it? He uses bright lights that blind us to the ugly reality of darkness beneath the sprinkles.
By refusing to walk toward the enticing crowd, we avoid the ambush, the pit, the destruction, and loss.
How are you saying no to sinners? What checks are you putting in place to keep you from falling prey to their traps?
The plans of sinners
Verses 11-14 lay out for us just what sinners are hoping to do.
- They are looking for a chance to do harm.
- They ambush or take advantage of the innocent, overwhelming them.
- They rob others of their precious goods and belongings.
- They hope to gain followers with the lie of sharing the loot.
The wise king makes it clear that you can spot the people who are bent on doing evil because they don’t proclaim their plans or do them in the light. They hover in the darkness and work to overtake those who are unsuspecting and naïve.
How can we wisely deal with those who would seek to draw us into their schemes or group? What brought them your way in the first place? Are they known to you, or did they suddenly appear at your doorstep or on your social media feed? Analyze their plans based on what they offer.
The final outcome for those who seek unjust gain
Much of the evil we see in the world today deals with gaining money and power through the extortion or abuse of the vulnerable and weak. Nothing good can come from those who seek to use others for their own purposes. This is the way of the evil one. Not only should we not consent to their pursuits, but we should protect others from their traps.
The final two verses of this section reveal the destiny of these sinners:
- They will be ambushed by their own plans.
- They will lose their lives to evil.
- They may gain stuff, but they will lose their lives.
Nothing good comes from walking in the way of sinners. Remember the wisdom from Psalm 1.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Nip the enticement of sinners in the bud—Do not consent.
Grace and Peace
If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start this Walking in Wisdom series from the beginning.
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