The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
Message: The Path of Righteousness
Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.
What the Lord is Saying: NIV - The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless. NLT - The way of the LORD is a stronghold to those with integrity. Good News - The way of the LORD is a fortress for an innocent person but a ruin to those who are troublemakers. Matthew 22:16 mentions "The way of God in truth." The Way of the Lord is strength to one, but ruin to the other.
This Way of the Lord is religion. It is the way in which God wants people to walk. In the New Testament is even the idea that the followers of Jesus were called the Way. There is a modern church that is called the Way. God in His sovereign will has as His intent a Way for man to talk. Proverbs 14:12 is a famous verse, "There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death." This verse captures the same meaning but is even more specific to that Way being of the Lord. It is a way that is a refuge, a stronghold, a fortress. As we come to understand and know this Way it brings peace and contentment to our lives. We are no longer striving after wind (Eccl. 1:14).
Yet, is this verse talking about the way of the Lord that I am walking or is it rather speaking of God's way that He is on. Alexander Maclaren says it is the way the Lord is on. He says this way is one continuous, connected, consistent mode of operation from beginning to end. Thus, not multiple paths at different seasons, but one unified way of operation. He is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). That Romans verse is taking on the meaning more of all things together for good instead of the way I think of often and that is all groupings of things for many different groupings of good. Again, it is not ways - plural but "the Way."
This Proverb states that Way is a stronghold for the upright. It makes for righteousness. We hold on to this promise and we need this promise because the promise does not always make sense to us. It is hard for us to understand. It is perplexing and difficult. We get bogged down in the negative modes or routes of it. We get lost.
And this same way that is upright is in the reverse, the inverse or other way is against them that do evil. The overarching evil ways have an evil outcome for man. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). What we earn by going our own way, the opposite way is death. And this verse in Proverbs is clear in that it is ruin. At times it appears to make sense but it has no outcome.
I think the atheist agrees there is no outcome but all we have is today. Thus, they would probably agree the way of the Lord is a ruin to them.
Try to stop a train, and it will run over you and murder you; get into it, and it will carry you smoothly along. - Alexander Maclaren
Prayer: God, you are holy and true. Thank you for your sovereign way and I submit and surrender to You. Help me to continue to run the race and to live in a manner and way that is pleasing to You. Help me. Give me strength. Help me to make good decisions and help me going forward to honor You. Forgive me for my sins. I pray my sins will not continue to affect my children. Do good things in them. Help them to see their error and take the other road.
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