He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Benefits Of Possessing Wisdom – (3) Safety From Evil Influences:  Prov 2:12-15 

12) To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man], from the man that speaketh froward things;

13) Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14) Who rejoice to do evil, [and] delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

15) Whose ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward in their paths:

INTRODUCTION:

In our previous devotional, we saw that the Lord’s blessings of protection could be had by learning and applying His teachings of wisdom.  One of the most significant areas of divine protection involves keeping us from the evil influences in the world.  In our next two installments, we will be looking at this wonderful protection that is afforded to us through the application of wisdom…

EXPOSITION:

12) To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man],…
What is an example of an evil, worldly, influence that opposes the cause of Christ?  Men who are morally wicked and harmful to the spiritual well- being of others.

“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.  Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.”  (Psalms 17:4-5)

Characteristics of these men include…

… from the man that speaketh froward things;
1.  speaking with an intent to defraud others (to deceive others for personal gain)
Their lifestyle centers upon selfishness.

“For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.   They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.” (Isaiah 59:3-5)

13) Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
2.  departing from the way of integrity and morality (do not live honest, upright lives nor keep God’s laws)
3.  choosing a lifestyle of sinful attitudes, motives and submission to the instructions of the powers of darkness.
Their lifestyle follows a path of opposition to the Lord’s revealed will.

“They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.  The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.  The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth [his] face.  In the dark they dig through houses, [which] they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.”   (Job 24:13-16)

14) Who rejoice to do evil, [and] delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
4.  finding encouragement and inward happiness by willfully disobeying God
5.  outwardly displaying their pleasure in the stubborn twisting of God’s laws for personal gain
Their lifestyle is motivated by carnal happiness.  This happiness is not spiritually fulfilling, but on a carnal level does exist and encourages their continued wickedness.

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  (Romans 1:32)

15) Whose ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward in their paths:
6.  their life’s road is bent, twisted and  a perversion of what life was designed to be by God.
7.  their life’s road is motivated by a desire to selfishly profit from others.
Their lifestyle perverts God’s design for life.

“They have corrupted themselves, their spot [is] not [the spot] of his children: [they are] a perverse and crooked generation.”  (Deuteronomy 32:5)

SUMMARY:

It is through the wonderful gift of wisdom that the Lord can warn us of those who seek to hurt us; show us the path of avoidance from them; as well as open opportunities of witness to them.   He does all of these through the use of a knowledge of His Word, understanding it and then, applying it to our daily walk.

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”   (Philippians 2:15)

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

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