Proverbs Study

The Foundations of Wisdom - Continued

(You can scroll down and read previous week's entries.)

1:15-16 “my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.” The (KJV ) says, “My son, walk not thou in the way with them” “Walk not!”

Very simple advice that Solomon gives his Son. “Don’t associate with them.” Now why? Well Solomon will give an answer to that in the following verses but I want you show you something first. Solomon didn’t learn all of his wisdom from experience.

In this context, Solomon is not only the example of the wise man, but also of a simple man who did exactly what he encouraging his son to do. That is learning from his father. I want to show you something that Solomon learned from his Dad. Turn with me to Psalm one.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” I read this verse from the King James Version because I memorized it years ago and I just like the way it reads. The (NIV) reads, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”

David, Solomon’s father wrote Psalm one. And just like Solomon in Proverbs, David begins the book of Psalms with instructions for avoiding the wrong kind of friends and in verse one he explains why. You will notice in that verse there are three points of posture. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”

And these three points of posture represent a progression. First he is walking, then he is standing, and finally he is setting. Now what’s the point? Well this represents the sequence of events in the life of a person who chooses bad companions. First he just walks occasionally with the wrong crowd. He’s just curious and sees no harm in accompanying them once in a while – just to see what they do and how they live. He remains loyal to his other friends, but begins to explore this new way of life.

But one time leads to another and another and another, and after a while, “occasionally” turns into “repeatedly”. And he finds himself no longer just walking in their presence once in a while. Now, he is standing with them continually. He has begun to adopt their ways. He still maintains some separation, but has begun to look upon them as more than just acquaintances. They are becoming friends, associates. His loyalties begin to shift. They are becoming his peer group.

Finally, after a time, he without even realizing it, takes the final step. He has begun to go where they go and do what they do, and think what they think. He has broken his relationship with his former friends, and perhaps his family. No longer is he an outsider looking in. Now he sets in their seat. He – has become one of them. David taught his son Solomon. Don’t associate with evil companions. Why? Because if you do, you will become what they are.

Now go back to Proverbs one and lets look at what Solomon adds to this. Why does he tell his son to “walk not” in the presence of bad companions? Notice what he says in

:17-19 “How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.”

Solomon explains that most of the time, the real victim of these criminal acts are the criminals themselves. He likens them to a man who sets a net to catch game birds, but becomes so anxious and so greedy that he rushes back and becomes entangled in his own trap.

There is an unwritten law that criminal behavior is self-defeating. Actually it is written. Jesus said, “They that live by the sword shall perish by the sword.” And even though this piece of wisdom is known full well, criminals persist in their destructive behavior.

Don’t you get amazed sometimes at the shear stupidity of brilliant criminals? It reminds me of a segment that Jay Leno does on the Tonight Show, called “What did you think was going to happen”, in which he shows a clip of some person doing some stupid thing that always results in calamity. And he concludes it by saying, “What did you think was going to happen?”

In that same vein I was thinking the other day about people like this Bernie Madoff the stockbroker and investment adviser who swindled family, friends, and clients out of 65 BILLION Dollars. And I thought that same thing.

How did he think he was going to get away with this? He had to know that eventually he was going to get caught. But kept on doing it. And now he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison. In the end, he’ll learn the hard way, the principle that Solomon is trying to teach his son. That crime doesn’t pay. Only the king wants his son and us to learn it by instruction and not experience.

Now I want you to notice one last thing. Solomon’s father also taught him this principle. Go back and look again at Psalm one. In verses 2 and 3, David expounds the blessings of the man who does not partner with evil companions, but instead loves and obeys the Word of God. But in verses 4-6 he tells of the end that will come to those who are “ungodly.”

“The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”