Proverbs 1:10-19 My son, if sinners entice you, consent you not.… I. THE COMPANY PORTRAYED. 1. Lawlessness. "Sinners" (ver. 10; 1 John 3:4). To sin is to sink. 2. Persuasiveness. "Entice thee." The gilded trappings of many modern amusements, the gay apparel of fallen virtue, the promise of good to be enjoyed that never comes, are baits by which thousands are lured into sin. 3. Combination. "Come with us" (ver. 11). "Combine," said a great politician, when speaking to a class of men who had a grievance which they wished to redress. So says the enemy of souls. In the ranks of the wicked hand joins in hand (Proverbs 11:21). 4. Cruelty. "Let us lay wait for blood." 5. Cowardice. "Let us lay wait." Cruelty and cowardice are often allied. 6. Selfishness (ver. 13). The emptying of other people's houses is of no consequence so that they fill their own. It is said of Napoleon, that for every step he rose in greatness the head of another fell. 7. Sociability (ver. 14). This sounds pleasant enough; but what of the money to be put into the purse? Blood-money. 8. Activity (ver. 16). There is in the wicked an impulse which impels them to hurry into sin. II. THY COUNSEL GIVEN. 1. Heed good advice (ver. 8). The voice of the tempter is powerless to him who listens reverently to the voice of God (Mark 1:11, 26). 2. Learn to say, "No" (ver. 10). 3. Shun evil company (ver. 15). "Evil companions," says one, "first make us sad, and then they make us bad." 4. Keep away from the haunts of evil. "Refrain thy foot." Some who would not associate with the ungodly frequent the places where the wicked congregate. They go to see, and in some cases as the result of seeing, "fall to rise no more." The Swiss mules have a habit of going close to the edge of dangerous precipices. If men were as sure-footed in the path of life as are mules upon the mountains, they might do so too; but with natures prone to evil, it is safer to keep as far as possible from the place where danger is. 5. Cultivate true godliness. A godly character is a wall of defence which the worldly are often afraid to attack. (H. Thorne.) Parallel Verses KJV: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. |
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