You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.”
                    –Donald L. Robertson  (Stranger with a Star)

       “Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.”
                    –Colossians 2:8 (NLT)
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Hold fast!  That’s the admonition of Proverbs 4:13.  This morning we’ll finish through Proverbs 4:17.  But doesn’t that challenge sound like Paul?  Hold fast!  Stand firm!  It is a good warning that should be heeded in this, the 21st century.  In these times of confusion, pseudo-ideologies, and false religions we must hold fast and stand firm in the doctrine of God’s Word.

          13 — Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life. (NKJV)

The ESV says, to “guard her.”  Therefore it is implied that there are going to be other false instructions and doctrines that will try to remove God’s standards.  One writer puts it this way, “Fasten and do not let slack.”  “This is the way, walk in it,” come the words of Isaiah.  Jeremiah implores us to “walk in obedience.”  It is only when we walk in obedience to our Father’s instruction do we have life.  He is saying that your education is your life–guard it well.  Know the Word of the Lord, hold fast to it.

          14 — Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.
          15 — Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.  (NKJV)

Stay far from the path of the wicked!  Avoid it, stay away, man is prone to evil, therefore do not even consider going down that wayward path.  It is a path that may look inviting and most often will, that is why we stay away, we don’t tempt ourselves by even placing one foot on that path.  Charles Bridges warns us, “How often does fellowship with the wicked loosen the fast hold of instruction.  Their path is so contrary to the way of instruction, that the very entrance into it is forsaking the way of God.”  
     There is the atmosphere of contagion along this false way.  Do not think you are strong enough to hold fast to God’s Word if you decide to travel along this wicked way.  As Bob Beasley writes, “The depth of wickedness of the heart of people is unsearchable.”  Man is wicked and there is no depth to which his depravity will not go.  We cannot pray, “lead us not into temptation” when we purposely travel down this way.  Listen to the warning of Charles Bridges, “It is far more easy to shun the occasion of sin, than the sin when the occasion presents it; to resist the beginning, than the progress of sin.”

          16 — For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
          17 — For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.  (NKJV)

These are evil men.  They smirk and smile when they see you joining them on their way.  Listen, we need to “recognize the kind of world in which we live.” (J. Vernon McGee)  It is not a tip-toe through the tulips kind of walk, but one that would lead to disaster should you follow the way of the world.  The glow of evil and all that it offers is not all hunky-dory, but  the way of misery and eventually will lead to the pit.  All evil, all sin leads to hurt, and quite often it will lead to ruin.  “To pretend to dread sin without fearing temptation, is self-delusion.” (Bridges)  The Prophet Micah sends out a warning, “Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds!  At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.” (2:1, NKJV)  
     We are to abhor evil, we are to stay away from the wicked person.  David warns us in Psalm 36:4 about this person and their schemes, “He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil.” (NKJV)  This person will take you by the hand and lead you down the road that is crooked and perverse and will eventually take you to perdition.  Listen, “God doesn’t guide His children when they’re walking in darkness.” (Wiersbe)
     To sum up the advice of the father (Father) — Walk closely with God!

Their generation is beyond my understanding. They have developed something new. They are eliminating right and wrong. They have no respect for their parents, and so far as I can see very little affection. They have a positive hatred for all restraint. They will not stand to be controlled. They have no faith in our old standards. As a rule they have no religion.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Lost Pueblo)

       “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
                    –Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
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In this next section of Proverbs 4, we see again the faithful father giving instructions to their son (child).  Oh, that we had more faithful fathers, but we know that our heavenly Father is faithful in His instruction.  

          10 — Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. (NKJV)

There is much foolishness that abounds in the hearts of youth.  Some have a death-wish it seems, while others love the dare-devil lifestyle.  The ESV puts it this way, “Hear…accept my words.”  No matter how much instruction there is; no matter how good and proper instruction is given; it must be accepted and obeyed.  Implied here is the concept of not being foolish or simple, but being serious about the journey of life.  Listen and heed to the good instruction.

          11 — I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. (NKJV)

Proper teaching has been given, what will you do with it?  You have been taught properly, now what?  Warren W. Wiersbe states, “The will of God isn’t for the curious; it’s for the serious.”  Over the years I have seen so many young people go their own way, putting aside the teaching of parents, wise instructors, and the church.  They ignore and turn from sound teaching and advice such as Paul gave Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” (2 Timothy 3:14, NKJV)  
     Proper instruction is the teaching of the truth, which is knowledge.  Direction is the guiding for duty, putting into practice the things you have learned.  If you are told to not touch the stove because it is hot, then proceeding to do so is foolishness, not understanding.  Ralph Wardlaw said, “To teach duty without truth is to teach action without motive–virtue without its principle.  To teach truth without duty is to teach motive without the practice to which it should lead.”

          12 — When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. (NKJV)

If you do God’s will, you will have God’s guidance.  The way will be open, you will see what is in front of you.  The ESV says, “your step will not be hampered.”  If we listen to the words of wisdom and obey in faith then we will not stumble or be hampered along the way.  It is when we get things out of order, such as zeal before knowledge that we can end up stumbling.  There must be the proper mixture of zeal and knowledge and in the right order.  There must be godly wisdom that we adhere to; a wisdom of unity of principle.  We learn from the past, but we do not live there.  We do not step into the future simply because it is impossible; we can’t live in tomorrow with today’s knowledge and wisdom.  Augustine put it this way, “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.”
     This morning we are encouraged to walk the path of faith and wisdom.  To obey the instruction of our parents and God.  This way is straight, safe, and unencumbered.  It is a path in which the way is well lighted and leads to promise, not only of long life, but of eternal life.  Tomorrow we will look at the other path.  The other choice that is before us in this life.

Morons don’t develop.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Lost Pueblo)

       “Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight…”
                    –Exodus 33:13 (HCSB)
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Since Memorial Day put me a little off schedule I will resume Psalm 143 this morning.  Have you ever brought an urgent need to the Lord?  One that needs an answer immediately?  This Psalm finds David in that situation; he needs the Lord, he needs an answer, he needs help.

          7 — Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails!  Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
          8 — Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
          9 — Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.
        10 — Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land of uprightness.
        11 — Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!  For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
        12 — In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.  (NKJV)

     If God hides His face from us, especially in our dire circumstances, all that is left for us is the pit.  David realizes it and cries out to the Lord; he needs and wants God’s lovingkindness, or unfailing love.  This should be part of our prayer every morning.  The night is dark, as may be our soul, and we long for a new morning.  When the dawn comes he not only sees a new day, but there is a new dawning in his spiritual life.  Look at that prayer–show me the way I should walk.  In other words, he wants each step he takes to be ordered and guided by the Lord.
     But there is more to it than just a prayer.  Praying that God shows us the way, we then have to take the step.  If we pray for God’s lovingkindness upon us, we then must show kindness during the day.  Vincent Alsop said, “Knowledge without obedience is lame.  Obedience without knowledge is blind; and we must never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and the lame to God.”  If sin has led us astray and we know it, then we must repent and obey.  If we know the path before us, then we must obey and walk in it.
     Verse 10 is a powerful lesson that we should take to heart.  David cries for the Lord to teach him the right way, teach him to do his will.  However, when we know the will of God, when we have been properly taught and trained, we must then do His will.  If we truly want to be led by the Lord, if we really want to be His disciple we must understand that discipleship implies apprenticeship.  James Merritt proclaims, “You don’t just learn facts from a teacher; you pattern your entire life after them.”  To be relieved from the pit, from the agony of despair we must realize that “genuine happiness is to be found in following the pathway of obedience.” (Alistair Begg)
     Look at those last three verses again.  David understands that his “confidence lies not in his own strength but in the fact that he is the Lord’s servant.  To attack God’s servant is to attack God.” (Steven Lawson)  Think of this.  When we are attacked for one reason or another it is really an attack on our heavenly Father.  To attack His child is to attack Him and He will defend His family name.  George Wood repeats David’s plea in a prayer, “Lord Jesus, unless You act for me, I will be destroyed, my enemies will prosper and justice will be trampled on…”  If not for the Lord intervening the devil would have his way with us, we would also be agents of our own destruction.  Oh, how we need the Lord!

               “When doubts and fears arise,
               Teach me thy way!
               When storm clouds fill the skies,
               Teach me thy way!
               Shine through the wind and rain,
               Through sorrow, grief and pain;
               Make now my pathway plain,
               Teach me thy way!”
                       –B. Mansell Ramsey

My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.  My marks and scars I carry with me, to be witness for men, that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder.”