Deceptive Directions of Disobedience

Proverbs 16:20, 25  
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.    20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

There is our way, and then there is God's... One leads to good and to life, the other to death.  Why do people choose their own way, not counting the cost of the way that only seems right as they want to see it?  How far better to trust God and take His way, finding life and peace? 

Deceptive Hearts or Directed Steps?

Proverbs 16:4, 6, 9 
4 The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.  6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.  9 A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

God has chosen us and called us out who are His, but also has chosen those who are not in order to show His greatness and sovereignty.  We must then choose to do right and not evil to please Him, knowing Jesus atoned for our sin by taking our due death penalty - this is fear of God and loving thankfulness.  Above all, we are responsible for our choices which we must make, yet also knowing He guides and sets the path for us.  Walking by faith! 

Our Thoughts and Speech

Proverbs 16:1-3  
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.  2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.  3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

Looking at these three verses, there is a need to plan what to do and say, but we who are His need to trust Him for the right words to speak.  Then our answer is from God and not of ourselves.  We think that we do good enough as we see it, but He tests our hearts and words.  Therefore we need to put all we do in God's hands, and our thoughts and so our words will follow. 

Listen to Godly Counsel

Proverbs 15:22, 32 
Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.  32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

We all learn from God, but He chooses to teach through others.  This is why we need to be teachable, finding Godly counsel (more than just one person) to find His way.  We need God to show us His word and what it means, and how to live by it; but counsel keeps us in check with the truth as we sharpen each other. 

Understanding by God’s Word

Proverbs 15:14
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

Acts 17:11  These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

To avoid error and know what God truly says, we need to seek out what the Bible says, not just blindly believe what others teach us.  Trust Him and verify all others by His word and with the help of His Spirit, who is God within you.  This is wisdom.

2 Timothy 2:14-16  14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

2 Peter 3:16-18  as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.  17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 

God’s Ways of Repentance and Pardon

Isaiah 55:6-9  
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God calls us and asks us to seek Him and call on Him who is nearby.  Turn from your ways and thoughts to His - and find compassion to forgive you.  He gave His Son in your place, something we would not think of nor fully grasp, and this action to redeem us who are at odds with Him does not make sense to us.  But it does to the One who loves us that much. 

Hearts, Hell, and Destruction

Proverbs 15:11
Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

God sees Hell and the destruction of the rebellious (sinful) angels and people who are rightfully heading there...yet He also sees their hearts, for we are made in His image (unlike angels).  God loves us and offers us a way to be with Him and not to continue to destruction - that one and only way to be righteous enough to stand before Him is not found in religion or church organizations, but in Jesus Christ and in no other. 

True Witnesses Confident in Fear

Proverbs 14:25-27 
A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.  26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.  27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

Do we who know God in Christ really fear Him?  If we do, then we can have confidence and life in Jesus Christ as we let others see how they too can be reconciled to God in Him, finding life in place of death that we all deserve by His standards of perfection.  This is why Jesus died as if He were each of us - to make a way to the Father of perfection in our sinless imperfection by taking our death penalty punishment for eternity.

Ways that Seem Right

Proverbs 14:2, 12, 15 
He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.   12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.  15 The simple believes every word,But the prudent considers well his steps.

Our goal must be to live right in God's eyes.  Not doing so shows we hate Him.  Our way and the way of society around us ("the world") says evil is good, but this only leads to death and separation forever from our Creator.  So we need to read the Bible, knowing these are God's own words that must be examined for truth to live by, and not blindly take others' word for what we should do or how to live. 

Cut to the Heart of Repentance

Acts 2:36-39 
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “ Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  38 Then Peter said to them, “ Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This is what we must do with Jesus Christ when we hear that He died in our place for what we deserved and could never earn before God ourselves - turn from sin to Him (repent), believing, and be identified with His death and resurrection in baptism.  Then He makes us new, lives in us as His Spirit, all because He called us to Himself. 

Seek Wisdom in Godly Company

Proverbs 13:10, 14, 16, 20 
Pride only breeds quarrels, But with ones who take advice is wisdom.  14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, To turn from the snares of death.  16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge, But a fool exposes folly.  20 One who walks with wise men grows wise, But a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs has many related truths here:  Pride versus being willing to listen and learn (teachability).  Learning from wise teaching by seeking God's way of life.  Learning truth and then acting on it, not always pointing out errors, but knowing which battles to engage in.  Finding others seeking God and His wisdom (who aim to live by His word (Heb.13:7), not hanging out with foolish people who drag you down.  Selah. 

Confident Endurance in Obedience

Hebrews 10:35-36   
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Reminder from God to not give up, to trust Him and take at His word based on His proven character.  There is great reward in holding firm and confidently walking on with Him in the midst of everything!

   Confidence or boldness:  παρρησια, an attitude of openness that stems from freedom and lack of fear; (1) in speech boldness, plainness, outspokenness (AC 2. 29); (2) in public work openness; παρρησια publicly (JN 7. 13); (3) in the presence of high- ranking persons courage, confidence, boldness (AC 4. 13); (4) in relation to God confidence, boldness, joyful sense of freedom (HE 10. 35) 

Anxiety’s Cure is God’s Word

Proverbs 12:25 
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Why worry or be anxious?  Instead look at God's word, and tell it to others.  This makes hearts glad, hearing from God. 

Stupid or Wise?

Proverbs 12:1, 15, 17, 23  
1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid... 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.  17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.   23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

How we must learn from God all He teaches us!  His way is right, and Godly counsel shows this.  So we must speak truth, but know when to speak and when it is prudent in God's eyes to keep quiet.  Speaking the truth in love, doing no harm to our neighbor is the second greatest commandment. 

Wise Witness of Grace and Mercy

Proverbs 11:30-31 
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.  31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

God demands righteousness and witness.  We need to live as Jesus to please the Father, and we have been called out in order to tell others what God has done for them in Christ.  If they do not hear, their end is Hell.  But God offers love and grace 

Wisdom of Restraint

Proverbs 10:19, 31-32  
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.    31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.   32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Wisdom means choosing words that matter, not speaking many that do not have understanding based on knowledge - God's wisdom from His word.  These verses in Proverbs show God looks at our unnameable tongue and tells us to guide it with wisdom.  This is our challenge and victory is found in walking with Christ, being transformed into ever increasing glory by His mercy and grace. 

Love in Understanding Conquers Hate

Proverbs 10:12-14 
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.  13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.   14 Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Love and understanding cover sin and lead to real wisdom.  Wise people also learn and speak of those things learned from God; foolish ones do not learn and want nothing to do with His love or wisdom.  This is seen throughout the Bible, especially explained in the New Testament. 

Integrity is Wisdom

Proverbs 10:8-9 
The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.   9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.

According to these verses, if we are wise, it is because we listen and do what God says; those who just talk will not stand before God.   Also, those who have no integrity to do what is right even when nobody is looking will be revealed.  So we need to listen to God and live out what He says at all times to be wise and pleasing to God. 

Collect Wicked Things or Pursue Righteousness?

Proverbs 10:2-5 
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.   3 The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.   5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

People can keep collecting wicked things, those opposed to the goodness of God, but the end of that is death and starvation of body and soul - unlike life and provision promised to those who choose His ways.  Doing right also means realizing the harvest is here as Jesus said, and being about our Father's business in telling others the hope He offers freely. 

Wisdom Before God’s Face

Proverbs 9:12

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”

Wisdom begins between each of us with God.  So is foolishness.  If we reject His wisdom and scoff at what He says, we will bear the consequences; likewise, no one can be wise for us - no "priest" or other person can assume our responsibility, so we must individually and wisely follow Christ. 

Fearful Wisdom in Knowing God

Proverbs 9:10-11   
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.   11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

The number one thing is to fear God - this is where real wisdom begins.  Add knowledge of God who is holy and commands us to be holy because He is, and understanding begins.  God honors wisdom and understanding with a life that is full, no matter how long it is.