Blog - Proverbs 1:15

  • By Pastor Chad Wagner
  • on Friday, December 2, 2016
If you like this blog, then you will like Get Wisdom, Get Understanding which is Pastor Wagner's commentary on Proverbs chapter 1 which is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. Find out more here. For all the blogs in this series, click here: Proverbs Commentary. Proverbs 1:15 "My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:" (Pro 1:15)
Solomon here shows himself a wise teacher by first warning his son to consent not when enticed by sinners (v.10), then giving him a detailed example of what the enticement might sound like (vv.11-14), next reiterating his warning to walk not with them and refrain from their path (v.15), and finally telling him why to steer clear of such sinners, for their end is destruction (vv.16-19). An important lesson can be gleaned from the order in which Solomon instructed his son: it is essential to do what God commands us before we endeavor to understand why He commanded it. Once we do what God commands, then we can seek to know the Lord's reason for issuing the instruction. For example: it is not necessary for a Christian to understand exactly why God commands him to not fornicate (1Co 6:18), before he decides to keep himself from premarital and extramarital sex. After he has done what God said, he then is free to philosophize about why God may have given that precept. Children of God too often act like the children of parents who question the reason for their father's command before consenting to do it. God doesn't put up with that type of rebellion and neither should parents. Delayed obedience is disobedience. After describing the sinister method by which these socialists attempt to lure the unsuspecting into following them, Solomon issues a stronger and more lengthy warning to his son than he did previously: walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. These bloodthirsty communists (vv.11,14) are so dangerous that a man dare not even walk with them, nor put his foot on their path. Solomon later warned his son to not so much as get near the wicked, but to turn from them and pass away.

Pro 4:14 - Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Pro 4:15 - Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Pro 4:16 - For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. Pro 4:17 - For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Jay Adams wisely wrote, "To keep from falling over the edge of the precipice, one should move as far back from that edge as possible." If a Christian is to stay on the strait and narrow way which leadeth unto life, he must be very careful who he follows; for, as our Lord Jesus Christ exhorted, there are many that walk the broad way that leadeth to destruction.

Mat 7:13 - Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Mat 7:14 - Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Be careful who you follow. It could cost you your money, your wellbeing, or even your life.

Pro 16:29 - A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Pro 12:11 - He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Pro 28:19 - He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
Isa 9:16 - For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Mat 15:14 - Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
3Jn 1:11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.


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