OceanSide church of Christ
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DON’T GO DOWN THAT
WAY
Proverbs
1:10-19
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
While working at Children’s
Homes, Inc. in
1.
This program relies heavily
upon experiential learning.
2.
The wilderness area of the
3.
We have hiked miles and
miles through the beautiful mountains of western
4.
As a leader, one would often
tell the hikers: “Don’t go down
that path!”
a.
Difficulties, dangers, and possible death could
result.
b.
If the child asked, “Why?” we would do our best to give an
answer.
B.
In Proverbs 1:10-19, the
wise king of
1.
This is the path of evil
men.
2.
According to verse 19, it is
the way of those who are greedy of gain.
I. THE
IMMEDIATE COUNSEL (Proverbs 1:10)
My son, if
sinner entice thee, consent thou not.
A.
Do those words sound
familiar? “No, you cannot go with
them!”
B.
Solomon, and all parents,
was aware that children are often provoked by their friends to do wrong
things.
1.
Solomon does not call these
individual friends. He calls them
sinners.
a.
Sinners (2400): criminal,
one accounted guilty, one exposed to condemnation.
b.
Young people have to learn to see past the outward appearance of evil
people. Friends, teammates, and
frat buddies can be sinners.
2.
These so-called friends try to “entice” (6601) you.
a.
Definition: to seduce, to
deceive, to persuade.
b.
These “friends” tell you things, promise you things, or call you things
in order to get you to join with them.
1)
Go with us.
2)
Meet us there.
3)
We are all going. Do you
want to come?
4)
Don’t be chicken; be a man.
c.
These enticements are dangerous because they appeal to a young person’s
need to belong.
C.
Solomon sets forth the
proper response: “Consent thou
not.”
1.
Consent (14): to be willing, to yield, to
accept.
2.
A
young person must be bold and courageous to stand in opposition to those who
call him to sin.
3.
Knowing why he should say,
“No,” can help him with this decision.
Thus, Solomon continues.
II. THE INVITING CALL
(Prov. 1:11-14)
If they say,
Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent
without cause: let us swallow them
up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: we shall find all precious substance, we
shall fill our houses with spoil:
cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one
purse.
A.
The call is set forth with
three words: “Come with
us.”
B.
In the call, two things are
said:
1.
Their evil
purposes.
a.
Lay wait for blood.
b.
Lurk privily for the innocent.
c.
Swallow them up alive.
2.
The exciting pay.
a.
Precious substance.
b.
Fill our houses with spoil.
3.
The evil doers hope that the rewards will outweigh the evils associated
with their actions.
a.
Yes, we are going to do wrong, but look at the pay
off.
b.
This two-sided coin should be a warning sign to all
youth.
1)
Wrong is always wrong.
2)
No amount of reward will ever make wrongs right.
c.
Examples:
1)
Let’s go get drunk. You will
feel better.
2)
Let’s go rob a store. You
can then buy those new tires.
3)
Let’s go teach that kid a lesson.
He won’t bother us again.
III. THE INTIMATE CHARGE
(Prov. 1:15).
My son, walk not
thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their
path.
A.
Having set forth the nature
of the call, and revealing that part of it is very evil, Solomon now exhorts his
son again.
1.
Walk not in the way with
them.
2.
Refrain thy foot from their
path.
B.
In other words: “Don’t go down that
path!”
C.
At this point the young
person may see the wrong, but his eyes are still fixed upon the rewards. Thus, Solomon turns
to…
IV. THE INCONROVERTIBLE
CONSEQUENCES (Prov. 1:16-19).
For their feet
run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood;
they lurk privily for their own lives.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away
the life of the owners thereof.
A. The
consequences are threefold:
1.
They become evildoers.
a.
These individuals are both robbers and murders. Under the OT, they have violated the
6th and 8th commandments.
b.
Those who cast in their lot become as they are.
c.
THOUGHT: At first, kids to
not intend or desire to become what they become (drunkards, robbers, rapists,
murderers).
2.
They will be taken in their evil doings.
a.
This is the meaning of the proverb concerning the
bird.
1)
The net is spread in the sight of the bird.
2)
Even seeing the net, the bird still flies into it and is
caught.
b.
Youth know that they can get caught and get in trouble for their
actions. They often know the
consequences. However, they still
persist and fly into the net.
3.
They will suffer the consequences of their actions.
a.
What starts out as evil towards another turns upon the
evildoer.
1)
The one who robs has his freedom robbed from him.
2)
The one who hurts others suffers stripes.
3)
The one who murders faces the death sentence.
b.
Haman of the book of Esther is a prime example. He was hanged upon the gallows that he
had built for Modecai.
CONCLUSION
A.
Evil paths lurk in all
directions.
B.
Spiritual leaders, like
Solomon, constantly warn against the dangers of traveling such paths. They cry out: “Don’t go down that
path!”
C.
Young people, the choices
are yours. Just remember three
things Solomon says:
1.
The way is
evil.
2.
The way makes false
promises.
3. The evil way will come back to haunt you.