Proverbs 12:26 & 28, Which Road Are You Travelling?
June 21, Proverbs 12:26 & 28
Heb. 10:19-27; Eph. 2:18 Jesus said “I am the Way; no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
Which Road Are You Travelling?
Life is a journey, a pilgrimage, if you will. We are all travelling along some path or other. What path are you travelling on? At the end will it mean downfall or deliverance? These two Proverbs contrast the life and thinking of the righteous and the wicked. There are just two paths, the Way of the Righteous, and the Way of the Wicked. Everyone is travelling one or other of these. One sometimes hears the cry: “Is there really a true path in this life? If so, how can I be sure I’m on it?” If that’s your cry, please read on.
1. The Superb Way is the True Way. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour (v.26a). Some commentators change more excellent into searches out, and make other corrections to fit. It is your writer’s judgment that the KJV reading is the best (marg: abundance). The word means remnant, what is over and above, over-flowing (Gen.49:3, Eccl.2:13). Thus it is the Superb Way, the Abundant-Life Way (Jn.10:10).
a. The Rebel Way: The way of the wicked seduces him (v.26b). The neighbour, who lives close to the home of the righteous, may not be an openly vicious person. He represents man in his sin. He is just like the wicked, a rebel against God, who is travelling blindly on his way, making him err, morally and mentally (Job 12:25 stagger, 15:31 deceived)! The superb way bears God’s stamp of approval. It often commends itself, though grudgingly, to the respect of the world. Yet, because of man’s sinfulness, God’s Way is still opposed. In popular thinking, there is more support for the rebel and his way than for the righteous. The lawbreakers are the smart ones, while the godly appear as weak and impotent, if not deluded. Yet, it is his neighbour that is deluded! How far he has wandered, and doesn’t even know it. How far? For answer, read Jesus’ words in Mt. 25:41-46. The rebel proudly repulses Jesus’ judgment. He may have admired the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, but not this Jesus pronouncing eternal doom! Yet, does Jesus not say substantially the same thing in that much “admired” Sermon? I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:23).
b. The Right Way: The righteous are the redeemed whose eyes have been opened to see their peril, and, by sovereign grace, have been put on that other way, God’s Way (v.28). How different is God’s scale of values! With Him the righteous are more excellent in character (1Cor. 1:2; 6:19-20); more abundant in privilege (Heb. 10:19-20; Phil. 2:15-16); more victorious in life (1 Jn. 5:4-5); more hopeful in death (1 Cor. 15:54-57). God and the world are at opposites in their estimate of His people. Let us not forget, however, that it is God Himself who puts these marks of honour upon the righteous, and what God is pleased to honour must be honourable (Rom. 9:21; 2 Tm. 2:20).
Thought: “The quality of life is more important than life itself” (Carrel).
Prayer: O Lord, choose Thou the path for me and me for that path.