Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t
follow the path of evildoers. Don’t
even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn
away and keep moving. For
evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone
to stumble. They eat the food
of wickedness and drink the wine of violence! The way of the righteous is like the
first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total
darkness. They have no idea what they
are stumbling over. My child,
pay attention to what I say. Listen
carefully to my words. Don’t
lose sight of them. Let them penetrate
deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and
healing to their whole body. Guard
your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from
corrupt speech. Look straight
ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay
on the safe path. Don’t get
sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:14-27
There is a good reason we have in Proverbs
these wise words of King David to his son, Solomon. It was Solomon’s pen, but it was David’s life
experience of going down the rabbit hole of wickedness and violence. The once fresh-faced shepherd boy who became
a king also chased the illusion of being invincible. David became convinced the press reports were
right about him being wonderful and, in pride, he slipped into the
darkness. The words are recorded as a
warning to his son, Solomon, but they are David’s testimony, gleaned wisdom
from a life that went from zero–to–hero–and back! The man who slipped off the hero pedestal,
admired by the people of Israel for being a righteous man, became an adulterer,
a conspirator in murder, and the corrupting influence that destroyed his own family.
The sins of a powerful leader who falls into
dishonor are in no way a private matter.
David’s warning to Solomon is painted in the strongest images of
unimaginable pain for those whose hearts are unguarded, and the perils they
face by disregarding truth in favor of their fantasy grandeur. The trappings of power tend to shield one
from the reality of human fragility; we are here for threescore and ten – we
are NOT God!
Leaders tend to over-estimate their successes and deny
their failures even exist. It is rare to
find even a teaspoon of humility in the spotlighted halls of world
leaders. It is a matter of pride and
power; left unchecked, pride leads to destruction. We have seen that worked-out in the streets
of Washington of late. It leads to insurrection,
mob-justice, and death. That it was done
largely by misguided loyalists does not keep the hands of the leader
clean. King David was in Jerusalem when
the plot was unleashed to kill Uriah the Hittite on the battlefield in Ammon[1] But
distance did not change the king’s culpability in murder; it was David’s order. David’s plan was a cover up after his
adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.
He was trying to protect his squeaky-clean image as a good guy with a
plot to kill an innocent man. Evil and
self-aggrandizement is a dark rabbit hole.
However dark it must be at 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue these days, I am still more amazed at how the darkness of the leader has
shrouded whatever common sense the leader’s followers may have once possessed. To riot, destroy, and even cause death as a
(so-called) righteous response to a fraudulent election
(of which proof is somehow still lacking), is disconcerting at least. It reminds me of the crowd outside Pilate’s
house yelling crucify and raising fists in violence and
murder, while the only evidence against Jesus was his healing and teaching to
love one another. It just doesn’t make
any sense! I would say that I have no
solution to offer for what ails us. But
deep within I do recognize there is One who does have a solution. He knows first-hand what mobs do…and why.
For You Today
It takes courage and more than a little risk to stand up to bullying and
murdering with bullets or words. If you
need a reminder like Solomon needed David’s testimony, remember, vultures are
only waiting for when the killing is done.
David said it best, Son… Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
For other posts on this text see Ears Open Heart Straight Eyes on the
Road Sure Foot
and Healthy
