Two Paths

Text

Proverbs 4:1–19 ESV

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Introduction

Walkways at airports...

Why don’t people use them? They are so much faster and so much more fun!

Imagine two airport walkways going in opposite directions.

-Whichever one you walk on will accelerate you down that chosen path

-One goes in the right direction and will take you where you need to be

-The other will go in the wrong direction and take you further from where you need to be with each passing moment

You would want to make sure you were on the right path so you don’t get lost and miss your flight!

Life is not different

Solomon is teaching that to his son in this 6th “heart to heart”

Big Idea

There are two paths to walk on in life and everyone will choose one.

Outline

1. The Way of Wisdom is the path of the righteous (v. 11-12; 18).

2. The Way of the Wicked is the path of darkness (v. 16-17, 19).

3. Get on the Way of Wisdom and stay on it! (v. 1-9, 13-15)

Context

This is the 6th “heart to heart” between Solomon and his son

There are ten in the first nine chapters of Proverbs

We will cover half of this 6th “heart to heart” today and half next week

This fatherly talk stands out because it will include Solomon quoting King David

1. The Way of Wisdom is the path of the righteous (v. 11-12; 18).

Key to Understanding Passage

The key to understanding the passage is found in v. 18-19

Two paths are presented:

The Path of the Righteous (v. 18)

The Way of the Wicked (v. 18)

These are our two airport walkways going in opposite directions.

This passage contrasts these two paths

Typical of Proverbs: Contrasting the Wise and the Fool/Forbidden Woman and Lady Wisdom

The Way of Wisdom = The Path of the Righteous

Verse 11: Solomon says he has taught his son the “way of wisdom.”

This is synonymous with the “path of the righteous.” (v. 18)

This is to be contrasted with the “Way of the Wicked” in v. 19

They are synonymous because wisdom always leads to righteous living.

God’s pure wisdom will never lead your feet astray

SO—if you are on the way of wisdom, you will be on the path of the righteous

Life in the Light

Those on this path live their life in the LIGHT

Described as the “Light of Dawn...”

“...which shines brighter and brighter until full day (noon)”

Let’s use the New Testament to interpret the Old Testament here!

When a soul is saved by Christ it is brought from darkness into light.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

They receive the Holy Spirit

They are baptized and become a part of the church

No longer in the “domain of darkness” but in the “kingdom of the beloved Son”

As the born again soul walks with Jesus, they have the light of life.

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

If you follow Christ, our Wisdom, you will always walk in the Light.

The Light of the World will never lead you back into spiritual darkness.

But we have a problem! Sometimes we want to veer into the darkness.

James 3:2 “we all stumble in may ways”

Romans 7 Paul laments that he still commits sin he doesn’t want to commit

Galatians: Paul writes about “gently restoring” the straying one b/c he assumes there will be sheep who lose their way

Those who have faith in Christ are declared “not guilty” by faith...Soul saved from sin

...But God is still changing the spiritual life to catch up to the spiritual status...soul being separated from sin

The theological term is sanctification.

Sanctification is progressively becoming more like Jesus.

David Mathis

As God makes you more and more like Jesus, the path grows brighter and brighter.

The Christian life is like the sun from dawn to noon.

Dawn = New Birth

Full Day/Noon = Sun shining at highest point—full brightness

The more God sanctifies you and makes you wise with His Word, the brighter the path shines!

As you walk on it, life may not always be easy

Labors

Trials

Temptations

Heartbreaks

But as you navigate them your steps are not hampered (v. 12)

As you run the race set before you, you will not stumble (v. 12)

If we are hampered or stumbling, it is because we veered!

But then Full Day will come...

...When our work is done and we are taken to the blinding glory of heaven where no sin will remain!

This is the sort of spiritual life described by v. 18.

This is how things work on the Way of Wisdom, which is the Path of the Righteous.

Application: How’s the Light in Your Life?

We just went through a period of cold, wet, icy days in January/February.

I didn’t love the cold and the wet, but it was the GRAY that really got me down!

I was desperate to see the sun! I needed light!

How is the light in your life?

Are you walking on the way of wisdom? The path of the righteous?

THEN your life should be growing increasingly brighter like a clear summer morning

You should be growing in love and obedience toward God

You should be growing in love and mercy to your neighbor

You should be growing in selfless, sacrificial love to your fellow church member

IS this happening?

Have things grown stagnant? Cloudy? Wet and cold, even?

Look back over the last year of your life—can you see how you have grown in righteousness as you submit to wisdom?

Can you say that God’s Word and God’s Spirit have made a difference in your life?

Usually if someone experiences stunted growth instead of increasing brightness, it is because they stopped doing the basic things God told us to do.

Study the Word.

Pray.

Attend worship.

Sing to Christ.

Fellowship with other Christians.

Meditate upon God’s truth.

Give to God’s work.

These are like windows for your soul.

Draw back the curtains in obedience and light will flood in.

Cast off the shades.

Let in the light of God’s wisdom and grace.

Romans 13:12 ESV

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2. The Way of the Wicked is the path of darkness (v. 16-17, 19).

The Way of the Wicked = Path of Darkness

Proverbs 4:19 ESV

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Way of the Wicked is to be contrasted with the Path of the Righteous

Path of Righteous = Brighter and Brighter unto glory

Way of the Wicked = Darker and Darker unto destruction

Derek Kidner says that the “deep darkness” is meant to convey a sense of growing uncertainty

It also conveys hopelessness —> those who are in it don’t even know what they are stumbling over

Life in the Darkness

The way of wickedness is the “airport walkway” that is going in the other direction.

It runs opposite of the Path of the Righteous.

Life on this dark path is miserable.

We get a sense of it in this passage.

Verse 16: It is hard to sleep on the Way of the Wicked.

Can’t sleep unless the itch to do evil has been scratched

Ex. Think of someone in the throes of addiction unable to sleep without a fix

Can’t sleep unless they have done harm to someone

Verse 17: Doing wickedness and being violent is their food and drink

It is a part of everyday living

It sustains them

It has become their duty

It is not even pleasurable anymore

What a miserable and dark way to live.

Everyday you wake up plotting harm and ducking justice to make ends meet

Every night you approach the bed with no clue as to whether you flesh has been fed enough to actually sleep

Quoting the prophet Isaiah, Paul wrote about a life like this:

Romans 3:15–17 ESV

“Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.”

Application: The Plight of Lostness

Blind and Not Realizing It

A passage like this should cause us to have grief in our souls over the state of the lost.

Not all lost people are described by v. 16-17.

v. 16-17 are about people who are not good citizens

Most lost people ARE good citizens

But verse 19 still has something to say to us about the state of all people who do not know Christ as Lord

The thing that should grieve us the most about v. 19 is that those in darkness don’t even realize what causes them to stumble.

Sick with diseases they do not understand

Imagine a man who hears a noise in his house.

He gets up to check on it.

He figures he doesn’t need a light because he knows the layout of his home so well.

But he doesn’t realize that his wife pulled down a bunch of boxes from the attic.

You can imagine what would happen next.

This is an image of the spiritual state of the lost

Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 4.

He is defending his ministry.

He is saying if anyone doesn’t understand the Gospel he preaches, it is due not spiritual blindness—not lack of clarity.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The lost stumble because they are spiritually unable to see the truth.

They reject wisdom because they are blind to its value.

And as they stumble, they don’t even realize why.

Rich Young Ruler

I am convinced that most lost people in our lives are like the Rich Young Ruler.

Here it is:

Wealthy young man comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life —

He claims to have kept all the commandments since childhood

THIS GUY IS A GOOD CITIZEN!

Jesus says sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and follow Me

Mark 10:22 ESV

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Do you see how the man thought his eyes were wide open?

He thought that he was good to go with God because of some perceived righteousness.

But all the while, he was lost a goose.

BLIND to the value of the One in front of him

STUMBLING over the idol of wealth

For the Believer Today:

Pray for your lost friends, family, co-workers, neighbors

Pray for the lost in the nations and the missionaries reaching them

Pray for more churches that preach and win souls

Ask for the heart of Christ for people who don’t know Jesus:

Matthew 9:36 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Pray they will have their eyes opened and they will turn to the Good Shepherd!

For the Unbeliever Today:

If you are hearing this, you have an opportunity to respond right now.

You live in God’s good world.

You have broken God’s good Law.

Even if you consider yourself a good person, you are guilty before Him.

Christ died for your sin.

Christ rose again.

Agree with God that you are a sinner and ask the resurrected Savior to forgive you and grant you eternal life.

You can’t earn it.

He did.

Turn to Him now and be blind no more.

3. Get on the Way of Wisdom and stay on it (v. 1-9, 13-15)!

Intro to Point (v. 1)

So then, understanding the contrast between the Way of the Wicked and the Path of the Righteous, what do we do?

We get on the Way of Wisdom and we don’t leave it.

This is the main thrust of what:

David said to Solomon

What Solomon wants his sons to understand

I say “sons” because that is who the 6th “heart to heart” is addressed to

Some say Solomon is talking to Rehoboam in the first five and now opens it to all his sons

More likely he is meaning to speak to all of the sons of Israel as he relays the words of King David

Solomon’s concern is for the whole next generation of Israel

Nothing New (v. 1-2)

These opening verses don’t contain anything new

Hear, my son (1:8)

My son, if you receive (2:1)

My son, do not forget my teaching (3:1)

My son, do not lose sight of these (3:21)

Solomon has been repeatedly been calling for the son’s attention on wisdom for five “heart-to-hearts”

The call to “be attentive” repeats the command of 2:2 (Making your ear attentive to wisdom)

The goal of gaining insight is repeated from 1:2

Solomon’s statements about giving good precepts tracks with what he said about how his words should be received at the beginning of chapter 2

These are the wise precepts that put you on the path of the righteous

And the call to not forsake teaching echoes the start of chapter 3

Why is Solomon repeating himself?

Because the importance of wisdom is something worth emphasizing

Repetition = Emphasis in Jewish culture

God called holy, holy, holy--repeated three times; communicates significance and weightiness.

Revelation—The 2nd Coming is described from 7 different angles to emphasize the monumental importance of the event

Solomon’s repetition = Listen young men of Israel—I don’t want you on the Way of the Wicked, which is a path of darkness...therefore don’t miss out on the Way of Wisdom!”

Hear

Pay attention

Don’t forsake

Relaying David’s Teaching (v. 3-9)

Solomon’s next tactic for emphasis is not to repeat himself, but his father.

It just so happens that when Solomon quotes his dad, he quotes the greatest king who ever lived

This is one of the most amazing parts of Proverbs—getting firsthand testimony of David’s fatherly words!

It turns out that David’s words are just like Solomon’s

Solomon is passing on what he has heard

Reminder to Dads: our sons remember what we tell them, for better or worse

The main message of David’s lesson is this: Get wisdom! Get insight!

He says it in v. 5

He says it in v. 7

“Let your heart hold fast my words” (v. 4)

“Keep my commandments” (v. 4)

“Do not forget...Do not turn away from the words of my mouth” (v. 5)

“Do not forsake her” (v. 6)

“Love her” (v. 6)

“Prize her highly” (v. 8)

These are all different ways to speak of getting wisdom and getting insight and holding on to them.

Getting Wisdom and Insight

Wisdom is the skill of applying the knowledge God reveals to us in our lives.

Insight is the ability to see things from wise perspective and to act on it.

David told Solomon to GET these things.

Hebrew word used to talk about “buying”/financial transactions

Word that would have been used to describe the paying dowry price for a bride

The message is clear:

Pay whatever you have to in order to get wisdom and insight

Give up your time

Give up your hobbies

Give up your pet sins

Give up your excuses

Get serious about wisdom and insight

Go after them

Whatever it takes!

That is why so many actions words have been used:

Hear

Be attentive

Gain

Hold fast

Keep

Prize

It is an urgent call to pull out all the stops and chase down God’s wisdom

Don’t End Up on the Wrong Path (v. 13-15)

Why is it so urgent? Why all these action words?

Because David and Solomon don’t want their sons to end up on the wrong path.

They don’t want them on the Way of Wickedness that is a path of darkness

They want them on Way of Wisdom that is the Path of the Righteous!

It is a matter of life and death for their souls

Nothing is more radically necessary for their boys than wisdom and insight

They don’t want them stumbling around in the dark, tripping on idols they don’t even know are idols

God does not want us on that path.

This is why He is calling YOU to action in this passage.

David called Solomon to action.

Solomon called the sons of Israel to action.

God the Father calls YOU to action.

We are to keep hold of instruction and not let it go (v. 13)

We are to guard wisdom — don’t let anything come into your life and steal it away

Don’t let go of wisdom for any:

Relationship

Amount of money

Job

Pleasure

On one hand we are called to hold onto wisdom.

On the other hand, we are called to steer clear of the Way of the Wicked.

Verse 14: Do not enter

Ever seen one of those DO NOT ENTER signs hanging on an old abandoned creepy house.

Common sense says TURN BACK!

You don’t go in there and you don’t go on the Way of the Wicked either.

If you have gained insight, spiritual sense should say TURN BACK!

Those who know the Way of Wisdom should not be found walking in the way of evil again.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Verse 15: We shouldn’t even go near it.

Avoid it.

Turn from it and just keep on going.

It is like when a parent sees a child looking at something harmful and they say, “Don’t even think about it.”

When it comes to the Way of the Wicked—don’t even think about it.

Just keep it moving.

Stay off that moving walkway.

It will only drag you into the misery described in v. 16-17...

...And the darkness described in v. 19

The Profit of Gaining Wisdom and Insight

But here is the thing about obeying God and adhering to His wisdom...

It doesn’t just help you avoid the bad and the evil, it immerses you in blessing and the kindness of Heaven.

We have seen that all throughout Proverbs and we see it again in this passage.

There is great profit in gaining wisdom and insight.

Here is what you will find is true on the Way of Wisdom/Path of the Righteous:

Not only does it shine brighter and brighter...

There are three other promises here:

Where wisdom is kept, there is life.

Verse 4: Keep my commandments and LIVE

Verse 10: Accept my words, that the years of your LIFE may be many

Verse 13: Guard her, for she is your LIFE

Wisdom often has the effect of prolonging physical life because it leads us away from dangerous things

God’s wise words are the instrument the Spirit of God uses to bring life to the soul

Where wisdom is kept, there is exaltation.

Verses 8-9: When wisdom is prized (cherished/esteemed), the one who prizes it will be exalted.

They will be honored and embraced.

This is similar to what we saw in Proverbs 3:34

Proverbs 3:34 ESV

Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

The one humbled low before God’s wisdom is the one who is favored by Him.

They are also honored by others for the wise life they lead.

And then, in the end, the greatest exaltation and honor will come to the soul.

For what lies at the end of the Way of Wisdom and the Path of the Righteous is graceful garland and a crown of victory.

The New Testament speaks of this crown in a number of ways:

2 Tim 4:8—The Crown of Righteousness

James 1:12—The Crown of Life

1 Peter 5:4—The Crown of Glory

In the ancient world, crowns communicated victory and authority.

Victorious kings and athletes.

Champions and warriors.

Get on the Way of Wisdom and stay on it.

At the end of that path is the crown of victory for the one who overcomes in Christ Our Wisdom

Revelation 2:10 ESV

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Conclusion

You are not in the airport this morning but you are at a moment of decision.

Which path will you be found on?

One of these walkways is moving toward the brightness of the noonday.

At the end there is an unfading crown, unending life and a glorious Lamb to be worshipped and loved

The other is barreling deeper into darkness.

And at the end is unrelenting darkness, nothing good and an eternity cut off from the Light of God’s love

Which path will be for you?

We know what Solomon wants for you

We know what God wants for you

But what will you choose?

It seems easy.

Of course you choose wisdom and light, right?

Then why are so many in the darkness?

Because they don’t actually fear God or believe His wisdom is what they need.

Verse 7 says it all.

This is is where wisdom begins.

You must fear God enough to believe that laying your hands on His wisdom is a matter of life and death.

And once you are on that path—plant your feet, grab the handrails and ask for the grace to hold on all the way to the end.