Proverbs 1:20-22: Will I hear?

Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Proverbs 1:20-22

Calls aloud: a ringing cry, cry aloud, in summons, exhortation

Love simplicity: object folly, evil, etc.

Delight: in bad sense of inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire, take pleasure in

Fools: stupid fellow, dullard

Knowledge: discernment, understanding, wisdom: in highest sense, knowledge of God (including obedience)

Love one. Hate the other. 

Love selfish desire. Hate wisdom and obedience to God. 

It's one or the other, the two do not mix. 

Wisdom is crying out: "How long? Until when? You stupid one, who love evil, how long will you continue fulfilling selfish desire?"

An alarm is sounding! Yet, sadly the fools have turned a deaf ear to it. 

How often do I choose folly, evil desires rather than obeying God? How often do I ignore Wisdom shouting at me to change, yet I turn a deaf ear and continue in the ways of sin? 

I'm so grateful that God in His wisdom does SHOUT to get my attention. I'm so thankful that even when I make the wrong choice, God in His grace and mercy is forgiving and loving. 

In order to hear Wisdom shouting above the enticement of sin, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). And when I have reverence for God, I'll want to listen to and follow after Wisdom. Wisdom is crying aloud—will I hear? 

Proverbs 1:16-19: Destructive Actions

For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners. Proverbs 1:16-19 (NKJV)

These verses are a continuation of where the sinner's path leads. 

Run: they are not just running aimlessly, but they have a specific location in mind—evil. 

Evil: specifically for harm, injury

Make Haste: go eagerly with a specific purpose

Shed blood: make blood spill

The concept in verses 17 and 18, is that although a bird sees the net or trap, it still goes after the bait not thinking of the consequences. Meaning that even though the sinners, see that their actions are leading to punishment, and even possible death, they pay no heed and continue. 

Ways: path of the violent

greedy: greedy getter, robber

takes away: gain made by violence, unjust gain

life: life itself; smite mortally

owners: one to whom good, gain, is due

As an outside observer, one can often see the path of destruction ahead. However, often when caught up in the middle of it, one loses sight and full comprehension of what is happening. 

Look at the mob mentality. The looting that takes place with a mob is frenzy activity. Some of those involved would never rob a store alone. Yet, in the midst of the mob, they are swept up in the actions and all judgment is gone. 

These verses are warning, that if one begins to follow the sinner, even though there will be consequence for their sin, they are still caught up in the frenzy of stealing and killing. 

How does one get on this path to destructive actions? It begins back in verse 10—if they entice you, DO NOT consent. The enticement is the hook. 

In order to avoid enticement, a heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when one has a deep sense of reverence for God, the Holy Spirit will lead and convict — alerting one of the enticement and destructive path head. 

Proverbs 1:15: Choices—verbs, action—Walk and Keep

My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path. Proverbs 1:15 (NKJV)

walk: go, depart, proceed

the way: of moral action and character, in the bad sense
keep: withhold, hold back (imperative—strong advise!)
path: of moral action, and character (absolute—referring to action)

After reading Proverbs 1:11-14 and the choices that the sinners were making (killing, stealing) once again, we are warned DO NOT proceed down this path. Don't do it! 

Choices. There are two Verbs this verse which give sound advice: Walk and Keep. Walk is proceeded by DO NOT and Keep is written as very strong advice! These verbs are flashing in NEON signs; they are blinking stop signs. 

Often we get caught up in the here and now, and can't see what lies ahead. Right now it's fun and the excitement of the group has drawn us in. However, we are warned of what lies ahead. And we are given STRONG advice—don't even start down this path. Do not go or proceed any further in this direction! Hold back from going with them down this path of sin. 

How often do I ignore the flashing stop sign signals God puts before me? How often do I try to justify and rationalize my choice for following a group? How often do I ignore sound advice and go it on my own? 

Only when my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), will I be able to hear the advice, and willing to follow the advice. Choices—verbs, action—Walk and Keep. Which will I choose? 

Proverbs 1:11-14: Companionship

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 1et us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse”— Proverbs 1:11-14

with us: companionship, together with

lie in wait: actually, ambush. 

shed blood: blood in quantity, hence sometimes of blood shed by rude violence, and of blood-stains

Lurk: hidden

innocent: free from guilt, clean,

swallow: engulf, of violence, extortion

Sheol: underworld (place to which people descend at death)

whole: sound healthful

Pit: pit of the grave

Find: secure prey, booty, plunder

Precious: costly

Possessions: wealth

Spoil: plunder

Cast: share with us

Lot: cast thy fortune into the midst of us, in with us

One: combine 

Purse: money

"Let us kill anyone in our way, and steal anything we want. We will then share all that we steal." Sounds much like a description of what is happening across our Nation. No regard for human life. No regard for laws. No respect. Pure lawlessness. 

It's vital that we know who we have a companionship with BEFORE they entice us into sin. In many relationships we see the "end result" of the PRIZE—money, riches, fame, etc—and that clouds our judgment. We ignore how the "Prize" was obtained. That end result skews our judgment and make us disregard our morals. 

"If they say"—in order to hear them, I must be in their company. And that is a bad location! Psalm 1:1: 

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful."

If my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), I will not feel comfortable in the companionship of sinners, much less want to hear them as they work to entice me to follow in their sinful ways. 

Proverbs 1:10: No means NO!

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Proverbs 1:10 (NKJV)

Sinners: reckoned as offenders (against God)

Entice: persuade, seduce

Not: expressing a deprecation or prohibition: deny

Consent: desire, be willing 

As I read this verse, I had to think of how easy it is to be enticed. Lately a catching tune caught my ear, and as with many of the popular songs, I had NO idea what the words actually were. So, I googled the song lyrics. I was shocked. The tune enticed me to listen and although I did not understand the words, the correct and very ungodly words were filling my mind. 

I had to stop and evaluate—why I would be willing to listen to such a song? I read this quote the other day: 

"Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulders with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone - deep, non-hypocritical integrity." Chuck Swindoll

What opinion of me did people have, when they heard me listening to that song—especially if they knew the lyrics! Not only, that the song does not fit the criteria for what should be entering my thoughts. 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever thingsare lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there isanything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Satan makes sin very pleasing and seem very good. However, the consequence of sin can be deadly. 

Do not consent—there is a strong will and desire that one does NOT consent. A pleading to withstand the enticement. Notice that sinners will entice. But in wisdom, we are warned... DO NOT DO IT! 

Don't do it. Period. No, try it to see what happens. No justification. No rationalization. Simply—Deny it. NO, means NO! 

How do I continue to withstand the enticement of sin? It begins with a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when my heart is in tune with God Almighty, I will be more aware of the enticement and be able to say "no".