By Laura Lee Leathers
The Choice • Proverbs 4:11-27
Marching to class during basic training for the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the platoon leader chanted the cadence: “Your left, your left, your left, right, left . . .” Then, when the trainees approached an intersection we heard, “Road Guard, Post!” Pre-selected members of the platoon immediately ran ahead, taking their positions to stop all traffic, allowing the platoon to pass. When the WACs had safely marched forward, the road guards returned to the formation.
Wouldn’t it be great to have someone run ahead of us and block the road? We do! His name is Jesus: wisdom, light, truth, and so much more. Our road guard posts come through Scripture, and it’s our choice to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey, allowing Him to work in our lives, guiding, and guarding.
Proverbs 4 tells us to “Hold on to instruction… guard it well (v. 13 ESV).” Later in the chapter, Solomon warns, “guard your heart,” meaning make wise choices.
The Path to Take (Prov. 4:11-13). Solomon continues to instruct his son. Parenting involves repetitious teaching; a child doesn’t just get it. A parent has to teach the way of Wisdom, model a righteous life, and make choices that demonstrate godly living. There is the “doctrine of two paths” (Fox, Proverbs 1-9, 128-131). They are: “the wise, righteous path that leads to life and (2) the foolish, wicked path that leads to death (Christ-Centered Exposition, Proverbs, Akin & Akin, page 61).”
Verse 13 is a command, “Keep hold of instruction,” and here are the reasons why: “your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble (v.12).” Furthermore, do not let it go, hold on tightly, and guard it as if you were protecting Fort Knox. You don’t have an option. Guard it because it is your very life (See Col. 3:4).
The Path to Avoid (Prov. 4:14-19). The road guard (Wisdom) stationed on the path is a warning. Here, note the six commands given regarding staying away from the path of the wicked. They are: “do not set foot on the path, do not… walk in the way of evildoers, avoid it, do not travel on it, turn from it, go on your way.”
The wicked and evildoers are always at work, wanting to make others stumble and taking joy in their destruction. The warning that you are known by the company you keep applies to all associations with people. Also note the contrast of light and dark (vv. 18, 19). The Word is a lamp to the feet and a light to the path (Ps. 119:105). “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jer. 17:9). The only way a person goes from darkness to light is by having His teaching written upon their hearts (Jer. 31:33).
The Choice to Make (Prov. 4:20-27). In the final section, Solomon clarifies how to make the right choice. If a son will listen and keep the wise words in his heart, he will find life and healing. Verse 23 is the key verse, “keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” To do this, you must put away crooked speech, devious talk, ponder the path of your feet, don’t swerve to the right or left, turn your foot away from evil.” It sounds simple enough, but we all know it is a daily process of making wise choices.
Do you see the road guard posted? Will you walk the straight and narrow path, or will you choose to walk the broad roads which lead to destruction? There is just one choice: follow God or reject Him. It’s only by His mercy and grace that people choose the right way.
Leathers is a member of First Church, Madison.
