The Path of Life

A distinguished painter was conducting a class for aspiring artists. He was speaking on the subject of artistic composition. He emphasized that it was wrong, for example, to portray a woodland, a forest or a wilderness, without painting into it a path out of the trees. When a true artist draws any kind of picture, say a landscape, he always gives picture an “out”. Otherwise the tangle of trees and the trackless spaces depress and dismay the onlooker.

6836 Always The Path Out

Reflection Questions:

How would you describe your life using the path metaphor?

Do you feel that your path in life has been basically straight or crooked? What makes it so?

Where is your path heading?

The path is a rich metaphor for one’s actions in life. It implies a current point of origin (where you are in life now), a destination, and key transitional moments (forks in the road).

How to Read Proverbs The Path … of Life

In summary, Proverbs 1–9 teaches that there are two paths: one that is right and leads to life, and one that is wrong and leads to death. The son is walking the path of life, and the father and Wisdom are warning him of the dangers he will encounter as well as the encouragement he will find. We have named a number of both already: traps, snares, stumbling, enemies on the dark side; God on the side of life. But the most important people encountered along the way—and this explains why we need to understand that the addressee is a man—are two women: Woman Wisdom and the dark figure of Woman Folly. We will turn our attention first to Woman Wisdom.

BEHAVIOR IS A PATH ()(1) 1. MANY PATHS or ways of behaving 2. TWO PATHS (ways of life or ways death)

BEHAVIOR IS A PATH is the ground metaphor of

There are two distinct forms: MANY PATHS and TWO PATHS.

It implies that an action leads somewhere. There are two distinct forms: MANY PATHS and TWO PATHS.

(1) some leading to life, others to death, others to nowhere in particular.It implies that an action leads somewhere.

The innocence in the heart of the righteous man will make his path—his behavior—straight (11:5). Only when one’s life course is made straight will it be a “Way of Life.”

(2)The path that wisdom teaches, the one the righteous take, is the WAY OF LIFE; The opposite path is the WAY OF DEATH.

teaches that there are two paths: one that is right and leads to life, and one that is wrong and leads to death. The son is walking the path of life, and the father and Wisdom are warning him of the dangers he will encounter as well as the encouragement he will find. We have named a number of both already: traps, snares, stumbling, enemies on the dark side; God on the side of life. But the most important people encountered along the way—are two women: Woman Wisdom and the dark figure of Woman Folly.

Note: It requires wisdom to recognize which path leads to which end.

Proverbs 1–9 teaches that there are two paths: one that is right and leads to life, and one that is wrong and leads to death. The son is walking the path of life, and the father and Wisdom are warning him of the dangers he will encounter as well as the encouragement he will find. We have named a number of both already: traps, snares, stumbling, enemies on the dark side; God on the side of life. But the most important people encountered along the way—are two women: Woman Wisdom and the dark figure of Woman Folly.

THE CHOICE

culminates in a choice that the reader must make before proceeding in the book. With whom will you dine, Woman Wisdom or Woman Folly? We now know that the choice is really between Yahweh and the false gods of the nations.

Wisdom tells us: Life is from God ; ; Life is precious , Life is to be lived for God ; ; ; ;

Wisdom tells us: Life is temporary ; ; ; ; Life is short ; ; ; ;

; ; ; ;

The fullness of life: God has shown you the path to walk in order to experience the fullness of life (v. 11).

It is abundant life ; ;

(NKJV) 11You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

11You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(NKJV) 8For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

8For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

(NKJV) 3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

(NKJV) 10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

c. The joy of eternal life (v. 11).

The path of life begins on earth, but it does not end on earth, not at death’s door. Life triumphs over death and marches into the very presence (paniym, Hebrew for face) of the Lord Himself in heaven.

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