Proverbs 2 10-22

Proverbs 2 10-22

v.10 Before we are saved God’s wisdom is not something we desire. It is anything but pleasantto us. God’s wisdom is contrary to the lost person’s desire. When the wisdom of God enters the heart of the redeemed person then God’s commands are pleasant to him. As his heart and soul are filled with wisdom they are also filled with a feeling of delight.

v.11 Discretionmeans “to think, meditate, to plan”. Wisdom gives us the ability to think about a situation and make the right decision concerning it. Watch over means “to protect”. Our wisdom protects us from the consequences of foolish decisions.

Our understanding of the things of God guards us against evil. These are benefits of wisdom. God’s wisdom is very practical. It enables us to live free from the traps of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

v.12-15 Verses 12-15 describe the evil man. He will try and turn people away from God’s wisdom. Verses 16-20 describe the strange woman. We need to be delivered from both people.

The evil man described:

*His speech is perverted. To pervert means to turn away from that which is right or good. The evil man has turned away from what is right. As seen in 1:11 he wants to convince others to follow his ways.

* He has left the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness (13). The evil man has made a deliberate choice to leave what is good and cleave to that which is evil. He has left the light for the darkness. Darkness symbolizes immorality. The evil man loves sin and hates righteousness by choice (John 3:19).

* He rejoices to do evil and delights in evil (14). The evil man enjoys his lifestyle. He finds happiness in what angers God. His pleasure comes from indulging in sin (this is in contrast to the wise in verse 10). Paul spoke of this in Romans 1:32.

* His ways are crooked and his ways are devious The way of the righteous is straight. The evil man walks in which ever direction he feels like. He is on the broad road and has plenty of room to go his own way. He has forsaken the path of the Lord for his own perverse way of living.

The wisdom of God will deliver us from the evil man. Without God’s wisdom we will end up as he is: perverse, wicked, and condemned.

v.16 Wisdom will also deliver us from the forbidden woman. The book of Proverbs is applicable to all people. There are many portions of it, however, that speak more specifically to the temptations that young men face. Such is the case of the strange (forbidden) woman passages in the book.

* She is an immoral woman. The word is “zur” in Hebrew and it means “to turn away from”. It describes an adulterous woman here. She is sexually immoral and will seek to seduce young men.

* She flatters with her words. Men are often suckers for anyone who will stroke their egos. The strange woman does just that. Whether it be in recognizing the man’s physical appearance or some ability he may have. The strange woman seeks to become desirable to the man by flattering him with her words. Men and women alike should beware of those who constantly compliment them.

* She forsakes the companion of her youth (17). This is her husband. She has no concern for what she is doing to him. There are fewer ways a wife can hurt her husband more deeply than by being unfaithful to him. If she is willing to treat her present husband so terribly, she will do the same with her partner in adultery.

*She forgets the covenant of her God (17). The woman is obviously an Israelite. Pagan women often were openly immoral. Their gods often promoted immorality. This woman had a covenant with God that forbade adultery. This is consistent with the seventh commandment. Adultery is strictly forbidden by the God of Israel. This woman chose to forsake that covenant. We should remember that not everyone in church is living out the commitment they have made. The strange woman is in the church as well as in the world.

* Her house sinks down to death (18). The entering of the house suggests that the man has entered into sexual sin with the woman. Involvement of such sin leads to death. Primarily we are speaking of spiritual death, God’s judgment. However, there are many physical consequences that may occur because of adultery. Physical death (the husband may kill you), disease, ruined marriage, destroyed relationships with children, marred character, financial ruin, unintended pregnancy, etc. Entering her house will lead you to the grave both physically and spiritually.

* None that go unto her return again (19). Sexual sin is very enslaving. Once certain lines are crossed it is difficult to return to the place of righteousness. The strange woman has taken many men captive who have never stepped foot back on the way of life again. The warning is real. She should be shunned at the point of flattery before we give the devil a foot hold. Repentance and restitution are possible with Christ, however.

v.20-21 In using God’s wisdom to resist temptation we walk in the way of righteousness. Our security is revealed in verse 21. “Land” probably refers to the promise land. This was the land of Canaan. It symbolized prosperity and blessing. “Integrity” refers to the blameless character of the wise. “Inhabit the land” is a benefit of wisdom. It signifies God’s continual blessing in the life of the wise and the stability they enjoy in Him.

v.22 God will remove the wicked from the earth. They will be torn from the land and judged for their godless ways. “Rooted out of it “refers to the fullness of their judgment. They will be completely removed from the land of promise, roots and all, and cast into the lake of fire.

Thoughts To Consider

1. The wicked are good evangelists, don’t be one of their converts.

2. The wise and the foolish are discerned by their actions.

3. Understanding the word of God can deliver us from many sins.

4. Wisdom will lead us to righteousness and eternal life; wickedness will lead us into sin and eternal judgment.