Week 26 Proverbs 2
Solomon talks here about two paths – there’s his recommended Path-to-Take and then there’s the undesirable (and dangerous-looking) Path-to-Avoid.
The two paths are completely different. For instance when he talks about the Path-to-Take he calls it:
A path of justice
A path of uprightness
A path of life
The path of the righteous.
By contrast he says that the Path-to-Avoid is:
The way of evil
The way of darkness
A path that’s crooked
A track that leads to death.
Looking at the lists it’s easy to see big & serious-looking differences between the two paths. But even though it’s pretty clear that Solomon is endorsing his preferred Path-to-Take he still recognizes that people have an option. They get to make their own choice.
One of the reassuring things I noticed was what Solomon says about moving along the Path-to-Take. The Lord acts as a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. So it’s a huge advantage for people who are on that path – the Lord is acting as their shield & guard & protector.
I also notice that Solomon doesn’t spell out comprehensively how the Lord’s assistance takes shape. For instance he doesn’t say whether the Lord’s shielding function will protect me from – let’s say – cancer cells. So Solomon is definite about the Lord’s help…but he’s non-specific about it too.
Note: the Path-to-Travel list is from Proverbs 2:8 13 19 20. Path-to-Avoid list: Proverbs 2:12 13 15 18. Quote from Proverbs 2:7-8 (ESV)