It is good to take in the Word of God on a daily basis.  I hope you find the devotions a blessing and help to your spiritual growth.

Beginning with Proverbs 2:10, continuing to the end of the chapter, we have the presentation of another series of godly reasonings.  

"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee."  The thought builds upon what has already been stated in Proverbs 2:1-9.  When wisdom has been embedded in our hearts and godly knowledge is deep in our soul, then discretion as an outgrowth will preserve and keep you.

"To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths." (vs. 12-15)  Life is not easily lived, but without a doubt, it is most easily lived when we keep our paths clear of evil people.  When our hearts are filled with God’s Word, it will produce wisdom that will give us the discernment to avoid the places filled with those who are ungodly.  We will not be comfortable in their places of entertainment, or other circles in which they operate.

"To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life."  (vs. 16-19) Not only will godly wisdom protect the godly man from evil men, it will also, protect a young man from immoral women. (The genders are reflexive. That is, the same is true for a godly young woman. Godly wisdom will keep her from immoral men.) A strange woman refers to one of loose morals.  She is willing to engage in immoral sexual activity and will use her words and clothing for seduction.  Two important matters are referenced in verse 17, one is the moral upbringing one receives from their parents, the other is the biblical covenant of God commanding us to reserve ourselves sexually for our spouse.  Teaching children truths about right and wrong is vitally important.  In verses 18-19, we read about the terrible impact sexual immorality has upon those who give themselves to such activity.  It speaks of death and is probably speaking of both physical and spiritual death.  No doubt one might survive living an immoral lifestyle physically, but it will deaden every person spiritually.  Those who are committing sexual sins are not interested in the things of God. The devil has provided many tools for the purpose of sexual seduction, i.e. immodesty, drunkenness, sensual music, and promiscuity.  Make sure to be careful about the pitfalls of associating with evil men, and those who live loose in the sexual realm.

The second chapter concludes with the powerful words of verses 20-22, "That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.  But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."  There is such an encouraging and positive tone found in verses 20-21, and a frightening end for the wicked in verse 22.

When God's people take in and embrace the Word of God, looking for godly wisdom, it will guide them to walk in the paths of righteousness, and they will experience life with good people.  For those seeking wisdom, they will forever be directed to the place of God's greatest blessings.  For those who choose to ignore God and His wisdom, they will suffer the consequences mentioned in verse 22.  Remaining and/or being removed from the land is a reference to Israel's promised homeland.  There are blessings for obedience and grave consequences for disobedience.

May we be a people who seek to grow in godly wisdom and embrace it with all our might.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  What does it take for a person to develop the trait of discretion?

2.  Life is not easily lived.  However, how does it differ when one lives a godly life, rather than an ungodly life?

3.  How can living a godly life help guard a person from sexual immorality?

4.  Would you say you are walking the way of good men, or are you following the path of the wicked?  What is the ultimate end in both situations?