Proverbs 2:22 “but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it”
There is real pain associated with this scripture. When I read it I think about the pain of being cut off. The loss of hope, the removal of any future.
I remember one-night particular when I was about 13 years old and had run away from home for the third or maybe fourth time. I was walking along the grassy verge of a long country road, several hundred miles away from home, the moonlight haloed through the low lying mist, making a cold pearly light that allowed me to just make my way. I had been walking most of the day and had not eaten for at least 24 hours. Tiredness was creeping over me as the cold air found every exposed part. No cars, it was around 2 am. No cars. I think at least when cars were passing there was always a hope that someone would take pity and stop to offer a lift.
When someone stopped to offer a lift, I would be warm for a short time, maybe even if it was a lorry I would doze in the warm cab as we trundled through the deepest hours. But there were no cars, no traffic, for a couple of hours now. I thought to myself that I was on the wrong road, and I guess I was thinking practically, but maybe this was more profound a thought than I realised at the time. I remember coming to a bit where the grassy bank widened and I was partly hidden from the road. I lay down in the short litter-strewn grass to try to sleep. It was too cold. I tucked my knees in and huddled as tight as I could. It was no good. Slowly I got back to my feet, I felt so sad at that moment. There was no way back, no way forwards and the moment itself held an emptiness that was heavy. I think in that flickering second I did feel cut off.
I know that this story is not really in line with the scripture, but I guess I wanted you the reader to maybe sense compassion for those that are cut off – it’s very easy to stand back and take a judgemental position. But I think this scripture today should stir our compassion to reach those who have lost hope and are working themselves further and further into a mess. What do you think?
KNOWLEDGE
Here is the flip side here to verse 21. The upright inhabits the land, and the wicked are cut off from the land. When our focus is self, when we play God and we decide what the moral compass should look like, the very thing we are seeking is taken away. The desire to possess overrides the heart to praise. We have a faithless furnace that’s forever void, seeking fuel that’s fantasy, it creates a vacuum, an emptiness, a never-ending lack, the roll-over shark-eyes of insatiable hunger for things that were never meant to satisfy.
Those with integrity remain in the land, (v21) and those who are treacherous will be rooted out of it. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Treacherous is the word the translators have chosen, and they could easily have added faithless. Without faith our grasp on our future is very uncertain, we have chosen the certainty of what we can see over the unseen, but this reaching for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, this being our own master, setting our own destiny, is hollow, its end is futile and its ways are a failure.
As we reflect on Chapters 1 & 2 there is such a weight of scripture given over in warning and clarification of the outcome of our choices. We hear the echo of Deuteronomy 30:15-20, where the writer concludes with “choose life”. We have a clear warning, the paths have been placed before us, it’s our choice now which direction we take, and the consequences of our choices have their outworking. The best choice we can make is to seek first [Matt 6:33], seek wisdom [Proverbs 1:7] if we lack wisdom then ask {James 1:5] – just keep searching in the right places [Proverbs 2:6] above all things.
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?
“treacherous” is not such a common word in today’s vocabulary. The original word is pronounced “bagad” and appears 48 times in the Olt Testament [ESV]. It is translated as, broken faith; treacherous; betrayed; faithless; and, traitor. Faithless in some ways sums this up – this is not someone struggling with faith, or someone who is in the middle of a desperate season becoming aware of their struggles with faith. Rather this person has wilfully chosen to adopt a lifestyle of deliberate treachery and betrayal as an intentional choice.
WISDOM: how many of my daily choices are faith-based? (Write them down to encourage yourself).
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Activator – consider the consequences before jumping to action, your risk-taking can lead to great innovation.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [those morally wrong people who deserve punishment will be chewed up and perish from the earth, and the faithless and deceitful people will be plucked away into destruction.]
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Please help me to stay close to you and to others who are strong in the faith and to look to be strengthened and to bring strength to others each day.
Thanks Allan. Looking forward to receiving chapter 3 please.
Thank you Allan. I love your thoughts on compassion today. It is a beautiful thing. It turns our hearts towards tenderness and receptivity to God and His plans and purposes – as it clearly has with you in all that you have overcome in your life to be who you are, doing what you’re doing.
This verse is so disturbing and heavy .I would not wish anyone to be in this position!
When decisions made in your own impulse and emotions without seeking the Lord and His ways (Mt6:33)… the enemy always takes advantage (John 10:10).
Thank you so much for expanding on this truth.
The heart of compassion is a gift from God that we must act it out with wisdom and love.
As Jesus said “love One another “…
Thank you for the life experiences shared.
Ps Allan, Thank you for the opportunity and privilege given in this study of proverbs.So amazed how much Efforts has been poured into the Proverbs 1&2.
Would you please include me in the next chapter?
My prayer is that this stories must be in movie form and the whole world to hear!
May the Lord give give you more vision and give you right resources to expand the Kingdom of God.
Thank you and appreciate you!
Pastor Allan
I feel what you said about placing ourselves in a place of judgement over others is correct, in that it can also cut us off. I was blessed to meet someone at Waterloo several years ago who challenged my thinking and displayed through the way they were living there life a total change as they accepted Christ as their lord and saviour.
A big AMEN, in Jesus name, to that prayer 🙏
I loved this sentence: “The best choice we can make is to seek first [Matt 6:33], seek wisdom [Proverbs 1:7], if we lack wisdom then ask {James 1:5] – just keep searching in the right places [Proverbs 2:6] above all things.” It’s a great piece of instruction & wisdom for attaining wisdom! I love that we can combine verses from different books of the Bible, and have a unified message for life.
Thanks Ps Allan for all the work and heart you’ve put into your writing. May God continue to use your blogs to impart wisdom and encouragement to people.
Wow…..this message and story really crushed in my heart…..
Thank you so so much to include me to your story and giving me the opportunity to study and learn about Proverbs.
I agree with Mary D, about to make movie of your story and your faith story. It has been amazing journey for me to learn, to explore and to strengthen my path and my faith.
Thanks so much for keep reminding us, and this chapter is about our compassion toward the cut off. This is very2 heavy and uneasy topic to practice as a believer but with the constant reminder like what you do here, praise God we will all learn and train our self to be more compassionate and full of love to the cut off ones.
Amen.
Great word Allan. When I consider the world and all it has agreed with (idolatry, anti christ morals and ethics etc) I do sometimes harden my heart to them. But i am reminded often by the Holy Spirit about individuals who appear one way (worldy) but what got them there ???? And I question have they even known the love of our Heavenly Father ??? And I am moved by compassion because the majority of times there is a reason they are where they are. His desire was that none would perish but we know many are called but few are chosen. That is a sad thought to me but the reality of the world
Dear Pastor Allan, thank you so much. I appreciate the effort you’ve taken to help us see all that God has in store for us. That all we have to do is believe and walk down the righteous path and allow God to guide us in all that we do. I look forward to Proverbs 3: please.
I whole heartedly agree with Mary! Thank you for the depth of wisdom and insight you have sought to invest into our lives through these devotionals. I am incredibly grateful!
I needed to be reminded to have compassion today. When you encounter and live in close proximity to someone running further away from faith, are more than happy to sit as a victim in the mess their life is becoming, yet won’t listen to your advice and do nothing in their own strength to change, its so easy to dust your hands of them and stand in judgement. Today I’m reminded that the Lord would have me still love them and pray, which is the best and most powerful thing to so. Thank you so much Alan! Looking forward to Chapter 3 🙂
Thanks Allen. Looking forward to see Chapter 3.
Hi Erosha – I don’t seem to have your number so I can add you to texts each day once we start Ch3? If you would like these you can email me your number at [email protected] and Ill add you to the daily text – no worries if not as the readings will be available on this website as well.
Thanks Allan – what a great approach to the scripture, thanks for taking the time to unpack the proverbs really appreciate it
Today’s verse speaks about consequences of disobedience ,
Very clearly our choices have consequences,
Therefore he tells us to be wise in our choices we make daily ,
And not to be selfish in how we chose to live.to have faith in Jesus,
To trust him even in the impossible,
To believe that all things are possible through him
Thanks again Pastor Allan!
This verse is a good reminder of how grateful & thankful we need to be to God for the precious gift of our salvation for only by His grace there go I ….
As Christians we can’t afford to be self righteous & judgemental of others in situations such as in this verse since we don’t know what circumstances & choices people have made to arrive there! Wisdom & prayer are so important for the lost souls which we may encounter along our journey that they may see their need for God & for the Holy Spirit to do what’s required to draw them to Him. God’s heart & priority in sending our beautiful Saviour Jesus is always for the lost soul & so the more we come to know our Father God the more we will know His nature of compassion mercy & love for ourselves & others especially the one who is lost! Otherwise the consequences are dire!!
Thank you Pastor Allan for this message with your own experience. Our lives would be nothing without our Father to guide us. How blessed we are to have a loving Father to lead us always. But we need to spare a thought about the ones who do not yet know Him, who are caught in the vice of sin. Their desperation is very real.
I pray that I may never become self righteous or judgmental.
A huge thank you for including me in Chapters1 and2. They have taught me valuable lessons in life. Please include me in learning Chapter3.
Wow such a huge raw passage
I read it repeatedly
Those words
Pain , loss of hope , lost hope
Compassion for those cut off
Had me questioning myself on so many levels
…..too many thought for commenting on
This daily blog is THE best start to the day
Very blessed to have them
Allen thank you for your endeavours