The Two Paths
Deer Creek Community Study- Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsAim: to look at two paths, one of wisdom one of the wicked
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Choices
Choices
We all have choices everyday. All choices have consequences, be them good or bad. Solomon wanted to provide wisdom so that his son would make wise choices.
Wisdom, we have seen over and over in chapters 1-3, and the importance of obtaining in here in chapter 4. This will continue in our passage today (Pro4:10-19)
We will flip around some in Proverbs today, so be ready for that.
A couple of reminders from chapter four before we get started.
Solomon says get wisdom and understanding.
Pro4:5 “5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”
Solomon also says wisdom in principle thing.
Pro4:7 “7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”
In our passage today we will see the illustration that Solomon uses to his son, two paths, and he wants his son to know the paths so can choose the right path.
We too, like Solomon’s son must know and must choose the path, choose the right path.
So, here is the plan and let’s see how far we get.
The two paths
Path of Wisdom
Path of wicked or folly
The metaphor of progressive brightness as noted in the passage.
Living life with Christ in progressive brightne
Well, just like at Westside, I want us to study the scripture, the word, in fact I think there is a bible verse about that
2Tim2:15 “15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Turn in your bibes to Pro4:12-19 Pro4:12-13 “12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.”
Pro4:14-15 “14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.”
Pro4:16-17 “16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.”
Pro4:18-19 “18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.”
Q- What sticks out to you in this passage?
Q - What do you see as the theme of this passage?
Q - Is this passage historical or instructive?
Q - There are some simple instructions on what he wants his son to do, can you find them?
Hear (v.10)
Accept (v.10)
Walk (v.12)
Run (v.12)
Take hold (v.13)
Guard her (v.13)
Do not enter (v.14)
Do not proceed (v.14)
Avoid (v.15)
Turn away (v.15)
Great these are some key words and in this instruction he gives much more information as we go and now look at the two paths.
Path of Wisdom
Path of Wisdom
The path of wisdom is the way of wisdom
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
Q- Who taught you, who led you in the way of wisdom?
The way of wisdom add’s years to your life
Pro4:10 “10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many.”
This has been said before if you were to look back at Pro3:1-2. Also that when on the right path, the way of wisdom it is more than likely to bless you, your body with good health (Pro3;7-8)
The way of wisdom will help you walk and your walk not be hindered.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble.
You can consider what was said before, a few weeks ago
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Look again at Pro3:5-6, who directs your path when you walk in the way of wisdom?
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
When you run, you will not stumble (see v.12) again
I think we can agree, life can be overwhelming at times, and sometimes decisions (running) have to be made quickly.
Those who choose the right path are more likely not to make the type of mistakes that those on the path of the wicked might make. For the ones on the right path have chosen the way of wisdom.
I think we can see the way of wisdom is a smart way to chose. Then Solomon gives an admonition (instructions)
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.
Take firm hold!
Q- what does it mean to take a firm hold of something? what is Solomon’s son to take a firm hold of?
Keep her for she is your life
Q-Think about this for a minute, who is “her?”
God wants us to choose the way of wisdom, so to add days to our life, so we can walk, run, and not be hindered. That we would take firm hold of her for she is our life.
Path of the wicked
Path of the wicked
Path of the wicked is the way of evil
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.
Solomon’s son, Israel, and now us can learn from the strong admonitions regarding path of the wicked, the way of evil. (I need to keep in context)
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.
Do not enter
Do not walk
Avoid it
Turn away
Now, reasons to do this, well to sin is easy, to live righteously takes a choice and determination.
Sin is addictive and enslaves man
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
Sin dulls the senses, numbs man to the effect of sin, requiring more and more to try to get the same satisfaction (i.e. drugs, alcohol)
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
Sin can easily become a life of wickedness and violence
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
Sin can be violent in every form, physically, spiritually, emotionally.
For it damages relationships, first with God, the with others, and yes, even yourself.
Would you agree with these verses, these strong admonitions, this is not the path God wants you to take, the way of the wicked? So avoid it!
Two paths contrasted
Two paths contrasted
In short want to show the two paths, the way of wisdom, way of wicked.
The way of wisdom (the just) is like the shining sun
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
think about this when the sun comes up over the horizon then as the day progresses it goes higher into the sky and most the time brings more light, heat to man until it reaches the zenith of the day, then it starts to fade into the sunset, back into the horizon now on the other side.
This is like the wise, the just, who when walking down the path of wisdom grow brighter and brighter and are progressively enlightened by God and God’s word and God’s people.
The way of the wicked is likened to darkness
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
Q- Have you ever stumbled around in the dark? - Well think of that as the way of the wicked, you don’t see what you are doing and it is easy to get caught up, stumble around in the dark.
Well, here is another passage to consider, this time from the N.T.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
One path leads to increasing lightness the other to blinding darkness.
The Metaphor of progressive brightness
The Metaphor of progressive brightness
The metaphor of the shining sun, well it describes a progressive brightness, not just simply brightness.
The metaphor describes, illustrates, the sun as it rises until it reaches its zenith “unto the perfect day, or full day.”
A Christian life is a life of progression. We start as babes
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
Then as a Christian we grow in grace and knowledge of the truth for Jesus is truth and He is the giver of grace.
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Now, if we are honest, this is not the way of all Christians, some do not grow, but we are designed and are called to grow.
Some their lives never change, there is no proof of the way of wisdom in their life.
Those who fail to grow, well, let me give you a scripture for that.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Don’t get spiritual amnesia! It can be deadly. Oh, yeah, don’t grow weary of doing good either (see Mal1:13).
Christians do not retire, there is no retirement age, but a retirement place, heaven, but look what Paul says here
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
Renewed daily, inner, though the outer may be decaying, falling apart, the inner man is being renewed day by day.
Paul encourage the church at Philippi to keep pressing on
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
The Christians that do not grow are like, well, let me put it this way, are not like the sun that shines brighter and brighter, they are like a meteorite, shine bright for a moment, then gone.
Q- what does your walk look like, progressive light, or a flashing meteor? You can change that today if you choose.
Simple suggestions for making a brighter, more progressive walk with Christ.
Simple suggestions for making a brighter, more progressive walk with Christ.
Remember that Jesus is the light of the world; so follow Him and not be in darkness.
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Love what Alexander Maclaren said.
“We must therefore remember that our path will brighten, not because of any radiance in ourselves, but in proportion as we draw nearer and nearer to the Fountain of heaenly radiance!”
Draw near, the closer we draw to Him, the more we shall shine.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Christ is the Sun, or the Son, and we are to be a reflection (like the moon) of the Son!
Q- How can we draw nearer?
Devotional bible reading
Diligent prayer, the practice, application of prayer. For that is one way we can draw near, consider
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Think about this, prayer ushers us into the throne room of God, to the throne of grace.
We draw nearer by keeping the commands of Jesus. Our obedience brings us into a closer relationship with God.
So, choose your path wisely
One leads to destruction
The other to live
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(Prayer)