OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to list of sermons Next  Click to download Sermon

DON’T GO DOWN THAT WAY

Proverbs 1:10-19

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.             While working at Children’s Homes, Inc. in Paragould, Arkansas, I assisted in the Wilderness Therapy Program.

1.                This program relies heavily upon experiential learning.

2.                The wilderness area of the Ozark Mountains was the teacher to many youth in our care.

3.                We have hiked miles and miles through the beautiful mountains of western Arkansas.

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 Israel exhorts his son, saying:  “Don’t go down that path!”

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.