Prov 2:18 for her house sinks down to death and her paths to the departed
I would have been around 14years old and staying in a children’s home. We could come and go as we please for much of the time. I hardly went to school, most days heading into the city, especially in the summer months and then would hang around in the parks and shopping malls, where I would connect with other like-minded 14year old’s. We were known to the police (as they knew we should be at school) and we recognised the regular beat police and were skilled at melting away when they showed in our peripheral vision.
One of the boys in the same home had an older brother that I knew, he would have been in his early twenties I think. He was always in trouble for fighting and was in some sort of poorly organised gang I think. One day I bumped into him in the city and he said for me to hang out with him. I was a little flattered I guess as he had quite a status and was well known in the circles that I travelled in. At one point he went into a clothes shop and I went with him. While we were in the shirt area he grabbed a shirt and stuck it under my jersey and then he stepped towards another area of the shop. There he started to put a jersey under his shirt.
A customer saw him and raised the alarm to the shop staff and he sprang into action running through the shop and eventually out the front door and I saw the back of his head as he weaved his way, fleeing the chasing shop staff. The same customer then told the remaining shop staff that I had been with the thief and they took hold of my arm and called for the police.
The police came and took me to their nearest police box, where they had me sit as they questioned me and verified where I was from. The whole time all I could hear was the crinkling of the plastic wrapping on the shirt that was stuck halfway down my pants and a half up my jersey. I could not believe that they could not hear it. Eventually, the police warned me about my behaviour – instructed me to head to school and let me go. I knew two things for certain, I was not keeping the shirt and I was not going to hang out with that guy ever again. His choices might seem right to him, but I had already seen what the inside of a youth remand centre looked like and I had no desire to end up back there.
KNOWLEDGE
If verses in Proverbs Chapter 1 seemed to focus on naivety, deception, greed and violence, then in Chapter 2 we find the spotlight is moving on to immorality, adultery, and unfaithfulness. It would not be too far a stretch for us to move from literal physical adultery to also consider spiritual adultery. We can be so sure of ourselves, so entrenched in our thoughts, and setting foot on the wrong path, that within a very short time we find ourselves in depression, or ruin, losing our hope, losing our courage, tottering and wavering. As the old saying goes – on the slippery slope. There is a sure and certain cure – seek wisdom and insight like silver – never let go of this mindset, stay teachable and help others find their way. There will be temptations in life – that’s a certainty – we will come to Proverbs 4:23 later on – the guarding of the centre of your being – Wisdom, insight – listening to your heavenly father is the greatest decision we can ever make.
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?
The word the author uses for “sinks” is “sahah”, which appears 18 times in the Old Testament ESV. The translators have used bowed; crouch; sink down; brought low; humbled; bring down; bending low; and sank low, to capture the essence of what meanings sit in this word. So as we read this scripture we can get the sense of the inevitable trajectory, regardless of status or position, that this person’s choices have them on, as well as their end that is in sight.
WISDOM – which voices in life get your attention and how do you respond?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Focus – stay aware of alternatives, and set your own direction
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [her home where she has built her palace is brought low to destruction, as she totters and wavers towards calamity and ruin].
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Please help me to see the choices before me associated with my decisions and to choose wisely each day.
Thank you Pastor Allan, for this message and especially for your experience. We learn that we cannot be enticed into that first step of sin, no matter how thrilling it may be. It can only lead downwards into destruction and heartbreak for the ones who love us.
At my stage of life it is my duty to teach younger minds to stay on the path.
In life there is always a choice to be made. Often the correct choice is the less exciting one (why is that!!) and it is often the more difficult choice but the rewards of choosing wisely are way better! That’s why we need to seek Gods guidance and stay close enough to Him to hear his voice. The road is a slippery one and once on it, it can be hard to get off so better to seek God’s counsel at all times
Thanks once again Pastor Allan for your wisdom & insight.
This verse stresses how important it is to daily seek God for our direction & focus in life & positioning ourselves in & under the Word. The choices we make will ultimately determine whether we have good or bad outcomes. Staying in close fellowship with & choosing spiritually mature believers to be our friends who will speak truth to us when needed will help also with staying the best path & walking God’s plan out for our lives.
I whole heartedly agree that listening to the voice of The Father is the greatest decision we can ever make. There have been times in my life where I’ve ignored his voice and gone against the still small check in my spirit and lived to regret it.
I look back however and am grateful that the Lord allowed me to learn the hard way as now my greatest hearts desire is not to go against His voice again in life. I’ve learnt that if He says no it’s for my best interests. Thanks so much!
“seek wisdom and insight like silver” is one I’d like to pray for each day. Where does insight and wisdom come from? From God Himself speaking to each one of us in the Holy Bible. Staying close to God is the best remedy for staying out of trouble. Taking this journey of discovery with you Pastor Allan in Proverbs is a blessing for me.
I love the key messages of Proverbs chapter 1&2 those key points as stated in Knowledge section.
It seems that a subtle progression to evil.
This truth is that be always be teachable, humble and listening to the Father’s voice as His children and to stay the path.
Love the Strength thoughts that sum up the way forward!
Thank you Ps Allan!
Allan
I went through a very similar experience at a young age. My mother was very disappointed as she had already warned me about the company I was keeping.
I did learn from it and I think that’s the key.
Pastor Allan thank you for great insight . This is a sad reminder for me to think about.
I know I’ve watched friends make decisions that have ended in calamity and ruin . It’s brought low their household .It’s ruined their marriages , friendships . For others, it’s ruined their position in ministry and some have walked away from God altogether and turned to an ‘alternate life’ of the world. All seemed to have been tottering and waivering in their faith and moral convictions. I‘Ve seen the consequences of all those decisions and it really is heart breaking to have watched and known the devastation. The warning signs were all there.
God’s word is profound and rich in truth if we will only surrender to that truth that guides us and leads us. Protects us from the worst of situations.
I know also that our God can turn our mourning into joy and can give us beauty for ashes. But we must be willing . Willing to surrender , willing to yield to God and His perfect word. Be Willing to ask forgiveness and ask Him to do a deep work in us. Reconciling ourselves to him.
Thanks Allan
Focus – Let us stay aware of alternatives and set our own direction.
Seek, wisdom and insight like silver – never let go of this mindset, stay teachable and help others find way.
I feel this verse is highlighting how positioning yourself on a sinful trajectory can cause you to walk alongside death to the point you are dead spiritually.
I also read a good analogy which said a train can go nowhere except where its tracks lead. Sin’s tracks lead to death. While it may be relatively easy to stop a train that has just begun to move forward, once it is speeding down the tracks it becomes almost impossible to stop.
I felt this also related to what you were speaking about with our thoughts Allan.
“ We can be so sure of ourselves, so entrenched in our thoughts, and setting foot on the wrong path, that within a very short time we find our self in depression, or ruin, losing our hope, losing our courage, tottering and wavering. As the old saying goes – on the slippery slope. There is a sure and certain cure – … the guarding of the centre of your being – Wisdom, insight – listening to your heavenly father is the greatest decision we can ever make.”
I feel I needed this word today and am so grateful God uses those around me to gently put me back on track when the track ahead becomes foggy and I begin losing vision !
We are faced with many different voices in life.
But the choice which voice to listen to is totally up to the individual.
It is wise to have insight and good council before making hasty desitions in life which will take you in a path of destruction if listened to ungodly council