Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. Proverbs 28:15

Oppression of the poor by a wicked ruler - that sounds like a modern day headline in one of our newpapers - or in a report that we would read online.  Unfortunately oppression has been going on every since the fall of man - and the beginning of politics.  When the sinfulness of man combined with the treachery of politics - it was not going to be long before men learned how to oppress the poor and helpless for their own benefit.

We read in today's proverb that a wicked ruler over a poor people is like a roaring lion or a rushing bear.  A roaring lion scares the other animals in the forest.  The lion roars to establish his territory and his authority.  Thus when a wicked ruler acts like a roaring lion - he is establishing that he has the power and authority over the poor ones he is oppressing.  We've seen it again and again in history.  The powerful oppress and dominate the poor - even resorting to attacking them with the army to establish their power.  They will use the secret police to kidnap them and torture them to silence anyone's opposition and threat to their power.  It is a sad thing to see - but unfortunately it will continue until the day that Jesus Christ comes to establish a  kingdom based upon justice and righteousness. 

Those who dare to stand against such a wicked ruler will find themselves quickly attacked and often silenced for good.  They may be thrown into prison - or summarily executed for their boldness to oppose the ruler - or threaten their absolute stranglehold on power.  However it is done, the poor quickly learn to hide any desire for freedom and justice, because these things can cost them their lives.  This is why it is so vital for those who have the freedom to choose their leaders, to choose wise and godly ones.  To do otherwise will cost us far more than just a wrongly cast vote - it could cost us our freedoms - and in some severe cases - even our lives.

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.  Proverbs 14:17

One of the most often repeated mistakes in life is reacting in anger quickly and because we do, making very foolish choices.  That is what today's proverb warns against.  We are told that a quick-tempered man acts foolishly.  This quick-temper means to have a temper that is hasty in what it says and does.  It is a man filled with impatience and has what a Hebrew would refer to as a "short spirit."  The idea behind this concept is a man who is not truly in control of his spirit.  When something happens that irritates him - he reacts quickly.  He is weak in his moral disposition - and therefore will be prone to outbursts of anger and temper. 

The real problem this poses is that the man who is so "quick-tempered" is unable to make wise decisions.  Wise decisions are made because we can step back from things and see them from God's perspective.  The quick-tempered man cannot do this.  He reacts quickly to problems and irritations in life.  The quick knee-jerk reactions he makes gets him into a world of hurt.  A fool does not think through what he is about to say or do.  A wise man considers his words and steps and often resists saying or doing things that wisdom counsels against doing and saying. 

The second half of this proverb says that a man of evil devices is hated.  The words "evil devices" is the Hebrew word, "mezimmah" which means a plan or thought.  This term is used to describes the evil plans, schemes, and plots of humanity that are contrary to the will and Word of God.  How is this related to the first half of this proverb?  The plans and schemes that arise out of anger and rage are more than you can ever imagine.  So often a person who has committed a murder or some other heinous crime did so because he or she was acting in anger.  Someone has deeply offended them - or hurt them deeply - and instead of acting with wisdom and tempering their reaction - they want to act.  Some grab a gun and shoot someone, killing them in the heat of their passionate outrage.  Others blow their stack and then simmer in their anger until it moves them to hatch a horrible plot that they will wind up regretting for the rest of their lives.  Just as the proverb says, the one who acts on this evil plot or scheme is hated.  It does not matter what originally motivated them to these actions, others hate the outcome of their hatred, anger, and evil devices. 

We are reminded in this proverb that patience IS a virtue!  We are to be slow to anger - and rich in mercy - just like our God and Father.  These things will keep us from reacting in our anger and doing something truly foolish.

To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; Proverbs 2:12-15 

Why is wisdom needed?  Well for many in the modern mindset, maybe it isn't.  They contend that the basic nature of man is good.  Yet the very reason for wisdom is the fact that evil exists.  But we are not being told about evil in theory - we are being told here that evil men exist.  The battle with evil in theory is one only in our minds - but a battle with evil that actually involves evil men - that is another story altogether.  

The first thing we learn is that there is a "way of evil" that exists in our world.  We are facing those who have developed lifestyles that embrace evil.  The facts are in - and those facts clearly deliniate for us that man is fallen.  The facts also indicate that being fallen, man has developed a whole way of life that is contrary to the will of God.  If we are not careful and wise - we will find ourselves following that path - that way of evil.  According to Solomon, we need to be delivered from the way of evil.  Maybe this is why we hear John telling us, "Do not love the world or the things of the world, if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him."  

The way we are drawn into this way of evil is by men who speak perverse things.  This perverse speech involves saying things that distort and deviate from what God has said and what God wants.  It is deceptive, corrupt speaking that either denies the Word or twists it until it suits our fallen appetites.  That's why we need wisdom and discretion - the ability to distinguish between things godly and ungodly.  We need to know when an "evil man" is trying to decieve us and lead us astray.

The evil man leave the paths of uprightness to walk in their darkness.  Here it is again - the fact that there is an entire walk and path that is ungodly.  But we also learn that there is a corresponding walk that is upright and godly.  The evil man leaves God's ways and chooses those that are dark instead.  We learn again from John that the ungodly hate the light and does not come to the light.  That is the way of the evil man.  That is also why we need wisdom and understanding - to remind us that fellowship with the evil man means fellowship with darkness.  It seems that God is trying to get us to see that there is a light/darkness - good/evil - godly/ungodly situation in life.  

The evil man leave the paths of uprightness to walk in their darkness.  Here it is again - the fact that there is an entire walk and path that is ungodly.  But we also learn that there is a corresponding walk that is upright and godly.  The evil man leaves God's ways and chooses those that are dark instead.  We learn again from John that the ungodly hate the light and does not come to the light.  That is the way of the evil man.  That is also why we need wisdom and understanding - to remind us that fellowship with the evil man means fellowship with darkness.  It seems that God is trying to get us to see that there is a light/darkness - good/evil - godly/ungodly situation in life. 

Worldly wisdom equates the best of thinking and acting to mankind.  That is why they are shocked with evil rears its head.  They want to think the best of man - when the truth is man IS capable of the worst attrocities.  Proverbs tells us that there are those men who "delight in doing evil and rejoice in perversity."  We almost shrink from these statements - yet that is what is said here.

If there has been a "fall" of mankind into sin that has corrupted them utterly - then it really isn't that much of a stretch that man rejoices in evil and perversity.  To fallen man - evil is good and good is evil.  Isn't that what we see today?  In our world evil is called good and good evil.  They consider the things of God strange and His commandments as burdensome.  They see freedom as bondage and their current state of bondage as freedom.  Delight in doing evil then becomes the norm - and it should not be all that strange to see them devoting entire programs on television and articles in writing to rejoice in how they pervert the straight paths of God.  

Look at the sexual revolution of the 60's as an example.  The morals of the past were thrown off (possibly the biggest lie of that period was to deny that such things had always been happening - just that they were done far more secretly).  But I think that the shock was not that morals were cast aside, but that now those actin immorally were rejoicing openly in their perversity.  The movement was not just a desire to set aside what is right - it was a rejoicing in what heretofore was considered evil.  What is even more amazing to me is that several generations of this behavior has led to soceity adopting such actions as normal - and now even certain segments of soceity say we should rejoice in evil.  NOW we get why we need to cry out to God for wisdom, discretion, and knowledge to escape such a fate.

The final statement about the way of evil is that their direction in life becomes like their heart.  Their paths (again the word for lifestyle) are crooked.  Crooked is the Hebrew word 'iqqesh'.  It means something that is morally, religiously, and socially perverted.  This perversity comes from the source of an evil, deceitful, perverse heart.  No longer are certain actions perverted - but the whole direction and path of their life runs counter to the truth of God.

Their lifestyle is finally described as being devious.  This is the last straw.  It describes a person who has followed their perverse and wicked ways to the point where they now despise and reject God's ways.  They find them abhorant.  What is worse is that they are utterly blind to their condition.

What we have described for us is the natural degradation of fallen men.  They may begin with the remnants of God's image within them - but as they continue in their perversity they soon scald their conscience and harden it to the point where they no longer feel any shame in their sin.  By the way, this is exactly what is taught to us in Romans chapter one.  We learn that man begins with denying God and being ungrateful, but ends with those who cheer on the wickedness of man - preferring their own perversity to anything God has to offer.  In light of such an ignoble end - we see why Solomon impresses on his son the importance of crying out to God for wisdom and understanding.  There is too much at stake here to live and let live.  The fall of man guarantees that what starts as a mere snowflake will become a massive ball of snow that destroys all in its path.  May such a vision of the destrutive power of our core perverseness motivate us to a passionate cry for God's wisdom and a desperate search for His ways and paths.

The wicked man desires the booty of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit. Proverbs 12:12

Two ways of living and two ways of getting gain are presented to us in this verse.  One chooses to profit from the misery of others - from catching and snaring them.  The other profits because the very root of how he lives his life is productive and bears fruit.  Let's take a look at these two "ways of living" and see that by embracing one we will gain much wisdom.

First we are introducted to the wicked man.  He seeks to profit from his evil devices.  He always has a con going - always has a plan or a scheme whereby he will get the money he wants.  It is interesting the word that is used here for "booty" or "spoil."  it is the Hebrew word "matsod" and it refers to a hunting implement - most often a net or a snare.  Thus, the wicked man is said to desire the net or snare of evil men.  He delights in and takes pleasure in what an evil man gains from an ensnared person.  The wicked man sets the snare - he baits the net and waits for the unwitting fool to step into it.  Once caught - that person becomes the gain for the wicked.  He has nothing profitable himself to offer - just a life filled with another wicked plan or another snare laid out for the unsuspecting one who steps into it. 

The righteous to the contrary, leads a life that is profitable in itself.  He has a root that bears fruit of its own.  He sees no need of setting traps for others - wanting to take what is not his own for his profit. He is engaged in some godly trade that meets the needs of others - rather than wicked pursuits where he is only seeking to exploit the weaknesses of others for the purpose of fleecing them.  His desire is to bless and build up - and from such endeavors to produce fruit. 

These two men have very different pursuits, concerns, and ends from what they seek in life.  The wicked man is pursuing profiting from other's misfortunes - while the righteous man wants to bless them.  The wicked man is concerned that he may be caught and exposed as he sets traps and snares.  He has to use camouflage to hide the true intentions of his plans from those who see him.  He is also cautious because the majority of the time his path is contrary to the laws of men.  If caught he will be punished - something he definitely seeks to avoid.  The righteous man does not have to worry about what he is doing.  His concern is to bless others in the end.  He therefore is concerned about the needs of others - what it is they truly need or want.  He then gives himself to meeting those needs - and profiting from it thereby.  If, in the end, they want something harmful to themselves, he will not exploit their flesh.  That would not be producing fruit, but pain, suffering, and in the end, ungodliness (which will never truly bless anyone).  His concern therefore is matching the will of God with the way that he plants and cultivates things in his life.  This will always produce fruit that will last more than just a moment - it is the kind of fruit that lasts for eternity.  The end of these two men is much different too.  The wicked man is cursed by those he has trapped and netted.  They hate him for what he has done.  There is also no long term blessing for this man because the things he does are conrary to God's will.  In the end, God will curse him and bring punishment upon him.  The righteous man, though, is blessed now and for eternity.  Though his work may be harder and not as instantly productive - it will last.  Men will bless him and love him for what he does, and when it comes to eternity - he will receive blessing not just from men, but most importantly - from God. 

Two men, two very different paths, and two eternally different ends.  That is what we see in this passage.  God will bless the root of the righteous by having it bear the good fruit that is seeks.  But the wicked man whose life is snares and traps - will be watching behind him all throughout life - and will be paying for his wickedness because his root is dried up and dead.  Just as his root - so will be his fruit.  

Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. Proverbs 4:14-16

Consider with me for a moment how many films glorify wicked men.  There are hundreds of films that take a wicked man and glorify his life by romanicizing the things he did - and not really showing us the heart behind his actions.  His riches and power are shown to us - his stuff is paraded before our eyes - but his end is often kept from us.  The father in Proverbs wants to warn his son against following the lifestyle that these men lived.  He does so by giving us a far more accurate description of how these evil men live and make choices. 

Good advice is not to ENTER the path of the wicked.  If we do not ever start on the path and lifestyle of the wicked - we will not have to worry about being a wicked or evil man.  I know that sounds like "University of Duh" information, but how often do we want to just dabble - or walk a few steps in that way and then come back?  The path mentioned here is from the Hebrew word "orah" and it describes the path of an individual or the course of their life.  This word is used often to describe the characteristics of their lifestyle - whether they are good or evil, righteous or wicked.  This means that we are not just looking at the supposed rewards this wicked man receives during his lifetime - but we are gazing deeper into the way that he lives.

The second word that is used here to describe the wicked man's choices is again one that speaks of his entire lifestyle.  The second word is "derek" which means the way that he walks.  This word speaks more to his daily choices - that lead towards a lifestyle.  The warning here is not to "proceed" in the same daily choices that evil men make.  To "proceed" here means to go straight on, to advance forward.  It speaks of following a straight path that involves a way of understanding or the direction that comes from the heart.  The father is warning his son that choices lead somewhere - that as a wise man said - thoughts lead to choices - and choices to habits - and habits to a lifestyle - and a lifestyle to a destiny.  Don't allow the reasoning that fills the minds of evil men - to fill your mind. 

The father's counsel is clear in verse 15 - avoid it - don't pass by it - and turn away from it and pass on.  Avoid it means to leave it alone and neglect it.  Do not pass by it means to set your life in such a way that you do not go in a direction that would come near it.  The father knew that these were important things to do, but that there still would be times when his son would come into contact with it.  That is why he also added the command to turn from it and pass on.  This would cover those times - and remind the son that he should not linger thinking about an evil path - but move quickly from it.

Finally, the father reminds his son that evil men love their evil - and want to influence others to walk in the same way they do.  He lets his son know that these men lose sleep if they are not able to do their evil.  They love not only doing their evil, but helping others stumble in the same way.  Romans 1 speaks of the perversion of humanity by sin in these same terms at the end of chapter one when it uses these words.  ". . . and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." (Romans 1:32)

These are the ways of wicked and evil men.  They have existed in the world ever since the fall - and will continue to exist until Christ comes again.  Wise fathers need to warn their sons against such men - and against the paths they take in life. 

Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked; For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out. Proverbs 24:19-20

Ever watch what is going on in the world and wonder if the evil and wicked are winning the day?  It is difficult at times not to fret and become angry (even at God) when we watch the evil men and women of this world seemingly prosper and succeed during our lifetime.  But the wise man knows the Word of God - and knows that God promises that He is just, and knows that in the end it will not go well for the wicked.  His lamp may burn brightly for a season, but in the end his lamp - his influence - his power will be put out. 

We are warned against two things in this passage.  The first is that we do not fret because of evildoers.  The word "fret" here actually does not refer to worry but rather to anger.  The word for fret is the Hebrew word, "nahar" which means to burn, to be kindled and glow, or to grow warm.  It refers to someone becoming angry.  It was the word that was used of Potiphar's anger when he thought that Joseph had raped his wife.  It is also used in Joshua 23:16 of God's anger toward those who disobey His Law.  Here, we are being warned against becoming angry at God - because we watch evildoers prosper in this life.  David struggled with this very thing in Psalm 73.  The more he looked at the wicked and the evildoers in this present life - the more his anger was being kindled.  He reached the point in that psalm where he said that he almost betrayed his generation until he entered the sanctuary and saw the latter end of this wicked people.  His betrayal would have been the things he said about God and His justice.  David would have allowed his fretting to be manifested toward God.  But he saw that all at once these prospering evil people fell - that they faced God's wrath with no recourse.  He saw that they thought all was well until death or calamity crushed their world.  Since they were only living for the here and now - that meant that their entire world was destroyed.  David's fretting ceased - and instead he felt compassion toward them - and awe and fear toward God in his "ULTIMATE JUSTICE." 

We are also warned not to become envious of the wicked.  This second warning comes because we will watch the shrewdness of the worldlings as they use graft and corruption to gain wealth in this world.  We may watch them seemingly succeed in regard to money, sex, and power.  But once again we must see things from God's perspective.  As they gather power, sex, and wealth to themselves - they are also storing up wrath for disobeying God's commandments and laws as well.  Their supposed prosperity comes at an eternal price tag.  In the end their future will be horrific - not blessed. 

That is what these two verses in proverbs deals with in the second verse.  We are told that there will be no future for the evil man.  The word future is our old friend "acharith" which means the end of the matter.  Though the wicked does all his evil desires, and seemingly prospers in them - he is not seeing long term.  He may enjoy the moment - but the latter end of his life will be devastating.  There is NO future - NO latter end - NO prosperity eternally.  He will be damned for his rebellion and destroyed utterly for his wickedness.

Only someone who sees with a ridiculous short term vantage point would trade a few years of pleasure for infinite pain and suffering.  God's Word refers to this life on earth as a mere breath while there is no end to our state in eternity.  The other warning to us here is that the lamp of the wicked will be put out.  As I said earlier, he may burn brightly for a little while - for a breath or two - but his light will be extinguished.  Consider all the terrifying dictators of the past - Hitler, Ghengas Khan, Sadaam Hussein, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Pol Pot - and a host of others throughout history.  For a brief moment they seemd to have a bright light burning for themselves and their regime.  Yet all are viewed as horrible men who committed disgusting crimes against humanity itself.  God assured that these men do not live on as famous - but as infamous.  So also will be the legacy of all those who oppose God and live out their wickedness.  Their lights will go out - snuffed out by God Himself.

The wise man does not become angry with God over such men and women.  He certainly does not envy them.  What we should do is pity such men.  We should pity them and pray that they would repent and turn to God.  We should also realize that God is showing them great mercy by not consuming them instantly in His wrath.  He is offering them another day of mercy during which time they have opportunity to hear the gospel and repent.  But know that beyond any shadow of doubt the day is drawing near for them to be judged according to God's law.  Envious?  Angry? - no . . . we should pity them - and we should tremble before the awesome, exact justice of our holy God.  And as wise men - we should depart from their ways and fully embrace those of our Lord.

The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.   Proverbs 21:10

Have you ever considered the thoughts and desires of a very wicked man - who seems to truly consider nothing other than himself.  I realize that theologically we all are wicked and we all are consumed by our own selfishness.  Yet God in His mercy has blessed us with societal restraints and parental restraints - and even conscience-driven restraints that keep us from fully manifesting our wickedness.  But there are those who whether by searing their conscience as with a hot iron - or by giving themselves to every wicked impulse of their hearts - have unlocked the depths of wickedness in their hearts like no one else.  They may be the mass murderers or the wicked rulers of a nation - or just someone who seems to not have an ounce of mercy in their being.  Whatever it is - it is truly terrifying to think what it is that brings someone to that level of having their wicked desires rule their thinking and their heart.

The wicked man has a soul that desires evil.  That means he desires it at the level of his mind in his thinking, at the level of his will in how he chooses to live his life, and in his emotions in that he truly delights in evil and in what is contrary to God's Word.  It should be no shock to us then to see that his neighbor finds no favor whatsoever in his eyes.  He has no proclivity to show grace and favor to anyone except himself.  Ultimately his desire is for himself and what he wants.  If it looks like he is showing favor - it is only because that is what will get him what he wants in the end. 

Wisdom realizes that we need to shun evil - and have nothing to do with it.  The reason that this is so is because evil will never be neutral in our lives.  If we give in to it, evil will seek to expand its influence in our hearts and minds - and ultimately will work its ways in our wills.  You cannot choose to do evil and have evil be sequestered to only that area of your life.  Evil will expand - evil will grow - and left undealt with - it will eventually dominate our lives.  This proverb should be sufficient to remind us that this is true.  That the wicked man's appetite for evil will end with there being no favor for anyone or anything except that which will support the expansion of evil in his doings.  Steer clear of evil - reject it - hate it - that is the course of the wise.

He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined. Proverbs 10:10

At first look this proverb seems to make two statements that do not match one another - but actually both parts of this proverb speak to the same thing - hypocrisy.  One speaks of hypocrisy with the actions - while the other speaks of it with words.

When someone winks the eye - it means that they are sending a sign with their eyes that betrays the words or actions that they are about to say or do.  The wink is not for everyone - but only for those they desire to be in the know about the coming hypocrisy of their statement or their action.  The person to whom their words are said is kept in the dark.  It is almost as if the hypocrite is saying to the person, "Watch what I do to this fool.  You will find that what I am about to do is funny or clever."  When you have a "winker" you basically have someone you cannot trust.  If they lied to this person - they can lie to you.  If they are seeking to deceive this person - they will deceive you.  We are told that the "winker" does what he does to cause trouble.  He winks at you - but he only does so to make you an accessory to the crime.  Now that you are in the know - you too are aware of the hypocrisy - and your job now is to laugh behind the scenes - but to help maintain the hypocrisy by your silence and complicity. 

We read in the second part of this proveb that the "babbling fool will be ruined."  The "winker" is the "babbling fool."  They are one in the same.  The babbling fool deceives with his mouth - the "winker" with his eyes.  But in the end, both of them are fools because they are walking in deception.  They have no good in their desires for the one they try to deceive.  And like all those who babble as fools - the day will come when their duplicity will be exposed.  On that day they will be thrust down - humbled and that with severity. 

When someone winks at you - and does so to cover an malicious action or unkind thoughts and words toward someone who is not initiated into the mess, we should reject their invitation to enter into the hypocrisy.  As an example we have Judas who did not reject the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Saducees.  He chose to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver - and promised to betray Jesus openly.  The sad end of that story is that Judas did sell Jesus out for the price of a slave.  He did so as He maliciously winked - or as was the case in his betrayal - he kissed Jesus on the cheek.  There was no love or fellowship in that welcome - only open betrayal.  That is why we need to be men and women of truth - and reject the call to enter into other's treachery when winked at and encouraged to betray others.

Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life. Proverbs 29:10

In a sinful and fallen world there is something that provokes the wicked when they see a man of true integrity.  Today's proverb tells us about "men of bloodshed," and how they hate men of integrity. 

Men of bloodshed are those who have shed the blood of humans - they are either very violent men - or most often men who have murdered.  When we think of murderers though, we need to see them in two ways.  There are those who have crossed the line of literally taking someone's life by murdering them.  But there is a second type of which the Scriptures speak that encompasses far more people than one would think.  In Matthew 5 Jesus said these words, "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  (Matthew 5:21-22)

This statement of Jesus shows us that pretty much everyone in the world is guilty of murder.  If we've been angry with a brother or sister - called someone a derogatory name - we are guilty of murder before God.  We are  guilty enough to go into the fiery hell itself.  This is where murder begins, in the mind.  It is what God told Cain before he murdered Abel.  God said to him, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."  (Genesis 4:7)  Cain's murder of his brother Abel began as a thought - an angry, evil thought - which soon hatched into a heinous, murderous action.  Sin always begins in the mind - and if we do not master it there - it will yield its wicked fruit in our actions. 

Murderous men hate men of character and godliness.  The word hate here is the Hebrew word "sane" which means to hate, to consider another an enemy - to dislike, be hostile to, or to loathe another.  It is the direct antonym of the Hebrew word "anab" which means to love.  John wrote of this very incident between Cain and Abel.  He said, "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous." (1 John 3:11-12)

This passage in 1 John tells us exactly what our proverb today is trying to tell us.  The murderer hates the godly man.  It should be noted that the word "blameless" does not mean without sin.  It speaks of a person of integrity who desires to live a godly, moral life according to God's Word and God's precepts.  This world does not love such a man - and the more ungodly they are - the more they hate him.  We see this growing every day in our society.  Just look at how Christians are portrayed in our world today - especially in the media.  The hatred of the media elite and the ungodly in positions of power there drips off our television and movie screens.  It is difficult, unless you are watching a movie produced by a Christian, to find positive Christian characters.  This is because when a man's deeds are evil - he hates the people who pursue righteousness. 

Just an aside . . . we see this proverb lived out daily in the moral and cultural battle that is raging in our own nation today.  This is especially true when we see the actions and words of the radical homosexual movement.  The more the homosexual movement gains ascendency in our laws and in the movie and television industry - the more you will see this hatred grow.  The radical homosexual movement absolutely despises biblical Christianity because the Bible is clear that homosexuality is sin.  That will pit them against us - if we choose to remain true to the Word of God and preach the true gospel.  But, our place is not to hate the homosexual - or for that matter anyone who hates us because we hold to biblical truth and morality.  Our place is to love them even if they hate us and do violence to us in their cause to legitimatize what God calls sin.  Remember what this world system did to our Lord - the ultimate blameless man of absolute integrity.  He Himself told us if they hated Him, they would hate us as well.  But we are NEVER to turn to violence to defend ourselves from such attacks.  We must remain true to the gospel and win them by the love of God - and by the grace of His eternal gospel.

The remainder of our proverb today states that the upright are concerned for the lives of the moral and those who walk in integrity.  The literal translation of this would say, "But the upright seek his soul."  We stand with the godly man of integrity - because we see that life is more than just the 70 or so years we spend on this planet.  There is an eternal soul in each man - and that is what we should be most concerned with in life.  There will come a day when the wicked will be loosed in a way that we have not seen before in our nation.  Regardless of our most recent elections, there is not a moral, godly ascendency going on in our nation.  If there was, such moral issues such as abortion, homosexual and heterosexual immorality, decency, and the moral debauchery of our nation would be put on the front burner as the real problems we face as a nation.  As it is - we continue to worship the dollar - and when it finally crashes to the ground, which it will, we will face a country that will rip itself apart because we lack basic morality.  In that day it will be difficult to stand with the "blameless man" in our nation.  In some ways it already is.  Franklin Graham has taken several biblical stands for righteousness and he is more and more being ripped apart in the public square.  We should stand with him and with other men who stand for biblical righteousness.  Even if it becomes increasingly difficult to do so - we need to be concerned with the souls and lives of such men.  For according to this proverb . . . that is wisdom.

He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good. Proverbs 28:10

It is one thing when the wicked are evil in their own ways and in their own thoughts, but that is not the case with some.  They are not content unless they lead others astray into a similar lifestyle.  This trait is at its worst when the one who has an ungodly lifestyle desires to lead the upright into that same wicked lifestyle.  Yet God makes it plain that such choices - such attitudes will have to pay in the end.

The upright are thsoe who are desiring to walk straight - and this refers to someone who desires to do what is morally pure and right.  Of course, since this is a biblical reference, we can assume that the moral course that is sought is that of the Scriptures.  The wicked man spoken of here wants to lead this morally upstanding person astray.  The word used here implies that someone has been deceived into their error.  Thus they are now wandering and straying like lost sheep.  They used to know the way of the Lord, but now they are straying like lost sheep having somehow been deceived to where they no longer look to the Scriptures for their moral rudder in life.  The path they are trying to lead them in is the "evil way."  Evil here is "ra" which is the term used for active evil - and it carries with it the idea of distress, misery, injury, and calamity. 

I find it fascinating, living in a city with a major university, how often godly students are turned by professors who hate Christianity.  What I find amazing is that the attacks that are made are almost always made at their trust and belief in God's Word.  I think of the passage in Hosea that warns that if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?  A very good question this is for us today.  This is the reason why I take the time to teach high school and junior high students classes on worldviews and philosophy.  During those classes I play devil's advocate and let them see what they will face in college.  I challenge their statements as one of the professors at the university would - and do so mercilessly for 5 or 10 minutes.  Then I back up and help them grasp what the philosophical backdrop was to that attack.  We work on understanding the false reasoning that was in the attack and also how to raise up the shield of faith by holding fast to a biblical worldview.  It is not easy for these students, because the barrage of questions, as well as the ignorance of other students is hard to stand in the midst of in class.  Too often they are ganged up on in the midst of the discussion - and the teachers will use their authority to make the students stop talking before they can make their point.  That is why we cover these things as well in class.  They need to know that Christianity is credible as a worldview - but also that Paul said that the cross was as stumbling block to Jews - and considered foolishness by the Greeks (the philosophical eggheads of that age). 

Our passage, though, has a warning to the wicked ones who try to lead the upright astray.  They will fall into the pit that they are trying to dig for the upright.  They think they will make the upright fall into a pit - that they will destroy their faith - but the one who will ultimately fall into the pit is the ungodly person who is trying to deceive.  He thinks that the believer is deceived - but he is the one who is deceived.  In the end, the very foolishness and philosophical ignorance of this man will damn him to the ultimate pit.  I know that this sounds pretty harsh - but it is what the Scriptures say is the end of those who mock the things of God - who oppose God and His Word. 

Just a note at the end for our instruction is given.  The blameless will inherit good.  Blameless here is the Hebrew word "tamim" and it means something or someone who is complete and tested.  The word was used of the sacrificial animals that had been examined and found to be without flaw.  What a marvelous word this is for this context.  Here is the truth we need to see here.  The wicked will seek to lead the upright astray into an immoral path - but we need to hold fast to the truth - to the Word of God.  We need to stand through every trial - and oppose every falsehood that we face.  Every time they try to deceive and undermine the foundation of our faith - we need to lift high the banner of Christ - hold fast to the Word of our God - and watch every argument fall infinitely short of the truth upon which we stand.  When we do this we will be the blameless, tested, tried one who will inherit good. 

Be ready, precious saints, for what you will face in the world.  Christianity is not just a religious practice - something we can tack on to our lives like we would put up a poster in our rooms.  It is a way of life - a philosophy - a worldview that is superior to all other worldviews.  It is a relationship with the living God that we are granted through Jesus Christ.  We need to view it as that - a life-changing way of viewing the world.  We need to therefore make understanding and knowing God our first and most important priority.  The reason so many supposedly lose their faith in college is because they never had one.  They had their religion - they had their denominational status - they had their childhood habit of going to church with mommy and daddy.  But . . . they never took Christ to themselves, repented of their sin - and entered into a life-altering relationship with God.  They never received a love of the truth so as to be saved.  As a result all they had was the trappings of Christianity - without a mind honed by the Word.  Therefore when tried and tested - when faced with someone who forced them to defend their faith with truth - they had nothing with which to fight back.  Assuming that Christianity had failed them - when all that had failed them was their false faith - they turned and fell into the pit of the wicked. 

Oh saints, know your God!  Know your Bible!  Know that the faith once and for all handed to the saints in the Scriptures has withstood every attack of man for some 2000 years.  Stand fast upon it - and stand strong with Him.  When you do you will be tested, tried, and approved - and according to this passage - due to inherit good.