Then…

Proverbs 2:9 (KJV) Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

The first part of this chapter lays out a long list of “if’s”.  As a conclusion to that it gives a couple of “then’s”.  Too often we want to get to the results without considering the causes.  They go together.  One sets the foundations and parameters, while the other lays out the application and goals.

Notice the qualities that God expects to see in our lives.

So?  It is a package rooted in the character of God Himself.  We are expected to be extensions of Him.  It is a genuine honor.  Then… 

The Two Sides of Freedom

Proverbs 1:10 (KJV) My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

I discovered a new type of verb today.  It is called the “jussive”.  It is similar to the imperative in that it is a command but it has the sense of responding to another.  When this says to not “consent” it is not talking about an inner decision.  Well, it may start there but that is not the emphasis.  This is talking about giving the “sinners” a stiff arm, rejecting them in a very clear way.

Combine that with the sense of “entice”,  which is a continued and ongoing action, it tells us that people are going to continually try to drag us down and we must be very decisive in our rejection.

So?  Part of being free creatures is being confronted with moral decisions.  In many cases the temptation and pressure does not just go away but continues to drag us down.  That is the price of being free to make decisions.