Proverbs 2:8, 9: The Supreme Body Guard!

He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. Proverbs 2:8, 9

Guards: Guard from dangers, preserve, with accusative, subject God or his attributes

Paths: of mode of living, or of character

Justice: judgment

Preserves: observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom); be kept, guarded

Way: course of life, or action, undertakings

Saints: a pious man, the godly

Then: it points back with emphasis

Understand: perceive, know (with mind), give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

Righteousness: as ethically right

Justice: judgment

Equity: in ethical sense, uprightness, equity, as taught in the school of wisdom; rightly

Good: pursue good; moral good

Path: course of action, or life

In Proverbs 2:7, we learned that God is our Supreme Body Guard as we enjoy the Treasure of wisdom. Proverbs 2:8 continues to explain exactly what God guards. God is preserving the mode of living, the character of putting Wisdom into action. God not only observes, but observes with a "keeping hand" to direct us in our course of life. 

THEN—if one accepts God's wisdom and puts that wisdom into action—one will continue to put into acton and grasp what is ethically right, what is just, and right based on wisdom and will then pursue a morally course of action! 

There is a cause and effect. Receive God's Wisdom (Proverbs 2:1) and God will supply the treasure of wisdom and guard us as we put it into action. 

Remember that it's all about the VERBS—BUT, the great thing about Wisdom and our great God, is that He supplies all we need, and encourages us and protects us along the way! It is not a "I gave you Wisdom, now you are on your own."

Rather, God says, "Here is wisdom, and as you gain understanding and live in accordance to my Wisdom, I'm right here along side, guarding you and continuing to provide the Wisdom that you'll need." 

If we have wisdom, why do we need a Body Guard? Simply put, because we don't know it all, and we are still sinners, and will daily face enticements of sin. God knows that as we go throughout our lives, we need Him to guide and direct us and continue to instruct us as put wisdom into practice. 

As my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), I'll give more attention to putting wisdom into action—especially as I enjoy the company of God, the Supreme Body Guard! 

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 1:11-14: 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.