Proverbs 2:12 “delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech”
Have there been times in your life that you have allowed others to convince you to take part in something that with hindsight was not a great outcome for you? Even as you were going along with them, a quiet voice in your conscience was whispering to you to stop. So many times as a young man, my desire to “fit in”, to be “one of the boys”, or to seem like I was “cool”, caused me to go along paths that led to very poor outcomes. I remember one time going with a group of other young men to a notoriously rough part of town, and it seemed like this group were looking to cause trouble.
Even as I went I knew it was a bad decision, but I did not want to be the one person who was going to not fit in with the group mentality. I wanted to belong. The end result was me fleeing for my life, being pursued through dark and narrow streets with bottles being thrown, and weapons being brandished. I made it that time but was not so fortunate other times. When I became a Christian that whole decision-making process was transformed by – The Holy Spirit.
KNOWLEDGE
The work that God establishes in us as we lean into his ways, as we follow his directions, is a rescuing work. There are so many actions that could have us heading into trouble, there are so many people who will talk us into going the wrong way. There are ways that will wear us down, habits that will harm us, conduct that will concern us, directions that will damage us and customs that will corrode us. Over and above all that there is a God who will guard us. He is able to snatch us to safety and guide us towards goodness.
We can trust God – he is always alert to the areas of life where we can stuff up. He is able to lead us in a different direction. As we follow Him and His ways, we may never really know the disasters we have avoided, what our life could have turned out like. He rescues us from the impending jaws of disaster, from people who will cause us harm or who intend us harm.
All these benefits are traced back to verse 4 – where we are instructed to seek and search. That’s our role – we become life-long seekers and God keeps us safe.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
This scripture opens with the active word – “delivering”. [nasal – used 213 times in the Old Testament]. It means, to be saved, or spared or rescued. So many times God saves, spares and rescues us from disaster.
WISDOM: what habits or people do you need to be rescued from in your life?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Restorative – “Houston, we have a problem” – this sort of situation, brings you alive!
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [we are spared from being trodden down by the harmful customs and habits of life, from anyone and everyone who brings confusion in the way they speak.]
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Help me today to be aware of those people that I should not allow to speak into my life, whose words and intentions are not in line with your ways.
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Thank you Allan. Amen to your prayers and I believe the same for my family too. What an awesome God we serve who protect us from the Fowler’s snare and rescue us from disaster and harm.
Amen Ps Allan 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 Crazy reminder reading this of the times God saved, rescured, protected, guided me out of the Jaws of impending danger even when I wasn’t in faith and had no idea he was even in my life, and how much more now he does the same through the holy spirit.
I can relate to today’s message. God has been my saving grace.
Wanting to fit in with the crowd is a lie from the devil which unfortunately ensnares many young people. I think most of us have experienced that. Belonging is something we all long for and it is so very important that we follow God’s direction. He knows us, he made us!! In that way we fit into the places we should be and with the people of his choosing
God has saved me many times. I also look at my parents lives that are by no means perfect but they have pursued wisdom and understanding and both love God. When I think of their stories and where they could
Have individually ended up … I give God the glory.
Hi Ps Allan
I have had moments where I doubted myself even in areas where I once was confident. Words spoken by someone you thought cared for you can easily derail you if you believe them more than what you already know is true about yourself.
God is so kind and is always watching over us even in our bad moments.
Establishing personal boundaries about who I allow to speak in my life, with many voices around, good habits are now more important than ever.
Thank God for the Holy Spirit, our guide always.
Thank you.
God’s wisdom applied in one’s life has certainly saved me from wicked men whose words have been perverse, often that man has been myself. Unfortunately the lack of application of wisdom has also been true. Through His son Jesus Christ’s life I have an example through which I have been able to apply wisdom more appropriately and effectively. His deliverance has saved me from myself. More of Him less of me.
So many times God saves, spares and rescues us from disaster. Isn’t that just the truth ! And there are many many times when we will not have not endured disaster because he has gone before us given us warning and saved us from that situation If we will obey and pay attention. Knowing that His protection we can call on daily and for every situation we have answered prayer is a comfort and gives me strength to do life for Him. It uncertain times He is certain to protect us AMEN
I think the older you become & look back over your life you realize how much God’s protection & saving grace came into play & as you say we will never know how many times God has protected us from evil influencers with evil intentions. Like you Pastor Allan my deep need for acceptance as a shy naive young girl I know put me in situations that could have caused me serious harm. Thank God for a praying mother who loved God & never underestimated the power of prayer over her children. As I grow in God’s wisdom & understanding I praise Him for giving me the discernment to choose who to allow to speak into my life for ‘you shall know them by their fruit.’
It’s interesting because when I first read this verse I immediately didn’t categorise myself as someone who speaks perversely.
I had this image in my head of those who’d speak in such a way but I felt the Spirit stop me and tell me not to judge others for without Him dwelling in my heart than I too have been guilty of speaking such ugly things.
In Galatians Paul speaks of the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit. Both are starkly different but demonstrate how if we are led by the Spirit then the fruits of this are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. So if the Spirit’s wisdom abides in our hearts what flows from our mouth will not be evil in comparison to what comes from the flesh.
“We can trust God – he is always alert to the areas of life where we can stuff up. He is able to lead us in a different direction.” This thought is so encouraging. It’s so true that God’s goodness and mercy follows us every day 🙏
God bless Ps Allan, thank you!
A “rescuing work” as we “seek and search” after the Father heart of God and voice of The Holy Spirit.
I am only young, but I can already look back over my life and see how the Lords hand has guided me away from situations or people who could have been detrimental to my calling. Gosh I am grateful for His hand at work in my life.
That truly is my hearts prayer today. Thank you Pastor Allan!
I was just today thinking about a time when I was younger and I stood up for myself and what I thought was right, despite knowing the reaction i was going to get from my ‘friends’.
Very timely reading this. Thanks Allan
God always watches over us ,and directs our path.
When we make poor choices,he doesent leave us but rescues us from disaster.
I’m so thankful that he has stepped in and saved me from disaster on many occasions .
He can be trusted.
His promises are always true
He never leaves us or forsakes us in our darkest moments
Temptations wait around every corner. We are often placed in dangerous situations where using discretion and understanding wisdom saved us from a disastrous end.
Listening to God’s voice in such situations, has saved me many times.
He will protect and guide us. He is my safe haven.
I Thank God for his Gospel his manual on life, Its amazing when you have the The Holy Spirit in you and you can sense so much, through the word and If Jesus isn’t the Centre of the situation you can bet its not Gospel…. Evil will sometimes manipulate the words to make you think differ but going back to pervious proverb knowledge and understanding will make you well aware.
The people we keep around us certainly impact the lives we choose to live. When I was much younger, I too found myself in the strangest unsafe situations trying to fit in and impress the people
around me. After I started to intentionally follow Jesus, I chose different friends and my circles changed. The change is so stark that I often appear ignorant of some ways people choose to live, I haven’t considered such paths in so long that they are quite unrecognisable to me.