Instruction in the Way (Proverbs #17)

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Notice in these verses the path, the way, and the steps; all of these determine the course of one’s life. After encouraging his son to listen to his instruction in verses 10-13, Solomon gives the instruction that has to do with avoiding wicked people.

Avoid evil company (vss 14-17)

enter not, go not, avoid it, pass not, turn from it…
But what about the gospel? Well, take it from a guy who died preaching the gospel. Paul said, 1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
It only takes one bad apple to ruin a zeal for gospel preaching. It only takes one companion to ruin the joyous spirit that light from God’s word brings.
Take it from a dad who’s been down that road. When you’re invited to the party and dad says, No, there is nothing good going on at that party.
Even their rest is evil. How terrible of a person do you have to be to go sleepless because you haven’t been able to cause someone trouble? People are addicted to drama and strife and fighting.
- There are wicked souls that cannot sleep until they’re drunk, until they’ve committed adultery, until they’ve lied about someone else, etc.
- Ladies are especially prone to the need for companionship in rebellion. I mention this because it’s true first of all. The creation of women was based on companionship so she’s naturally more social. Now, you add a criminal element to that and find that nearly every lady criminal has a criminal companion. And she learned from an older wicked woman.
- God’s remedy is found in Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
They feed on wickedness. Jesus said, My meat is to do the will of my Father. These people say, Our meat is to do the will of our father the devil.
The word that’s associated with this is “FUN.” The Bible word is “PLAY”-rose up to play.

Righteousness is a well lit path (vs 18)

nature of light is that it must be blocked or hindered in order to stop its work
God is light the Bible says. In Him is no darkness. Many times God gets the blame for our unclear path when the reality is we’ve blocked the light and our confusion is not God’s fault, but our own.
Not only that, but the path of the just is as the shining light. It’s a testimony to those around you.
That path is lit by spiritual qualities of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc.

Blind leading the blind (vs 19)

The wicked never come to understand why they have trouble.
They are unaware of the sin that keeps putting them in the same position.
As frustrated as the wicked soul may get with his life, he keeps returning to the same pig pen and getting the same mud on him over and over again. Yet continues to wonder why he’s dirty.