"He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die."
Proverbs 19:16
“He that guards the commandment guards himself;
in scattering his ways, he dies”
(Proverbs 19:16, Miller’s translation).
Part 3
Yesterday:
“But he that despiseth his ways.”
This person does not care which way he/she goes just so long as it is away from God. Their ways are “scattered.”
Today:
Wise Solomon points out the danger of forgetting God and going your own way, as he wrote,
“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul” (Proverbs 16:17).
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die” (Proverbs 15:10).
God has given us His Word to be the guide of our way. To ignore what God has said is to run down the dangerous path to destruction.
“Shall die.”
This is the end of their way, the conclusion of their path. “Death.” One of the meanings of the Hebrew word translated here as “die” is “to die prematurely (by the neglect of wise moral conduct)” (BDB). Ignoring God’s Word, His commandments, has a death sentence attached to it.
Heading down these paths are the sinner will find,
“The ways of darkness…” (Proverbs 2:13).
“The ways of death…” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).
Their deaths, they will be unprepared for. At the point of dying, there is no more hope for them. No amount of candles lit and no countless prayers prayed, and no quantity of kind words spoken for them will be able to rescue this dead soul from his/her eternal bondage. This is their eternal state for that soul who “forgets God.”
But there is good news! Jeremiah, the prophet, and the prophet Ezekiel both used a phrase of invitation to sinful Israel.[1] To all those who have chosen to ignore God and His Word, please stop and think about these gracious words before it is too late.
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11).
Dear genuine believers, do you have family or friends who pretend to be “Christian,” but there are just “no fruits of repentance” that can be seen in their lives? What can you do for them?
1. Pray, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b). Ask God to work in them and to give you wisdom (James 1:5).
2. Talk with your family and friends. Not as their judge but as “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” Share the Scriptures, but avoid arguing, the Gospel “is the power of God to salvation…” (Romans 1:16). Be a ready listener and a wise counselor. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in your conversation.
3. Love the sinner. The higher the sin, the problem, or the issues involved, the greater the love that is needed (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Quote: “Rest in this – it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you” [2] (Jim Elliot).
[1] Jeremiah 27:13; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 33:18.
[2] Jim Elliot’s quote Downloaded: Monday, July 20, 2020. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-obedience/.