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!