The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Today I would like to deal with the second half of that verse regarding the way of the wicked.
Notice first that this verse is a sentence. A sentence is a unit of thought. Therefore, the words and the arrangement of the words in this sentence are conveying an overall thought. This sentence consists of two independent clauses. An independent clause contains a complete thought and can stand alone as a separate sentence. The first independent clause is this statement: "The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour." The second independent clause is this statement: "The way of the wicked seduceth them." These two independent clauses are contrasted by the conjunction but. An overall idea is being expressed by these contrasting statements. The overall idea is the difference between the righteous and the wicked showing that the righteous is superior to the wicked.
The second clause deals with the way of the wicked. It teaches that their way seduces them. Now let’s define some terms.
Way – Course of life or action, means, manner.
Seduce - To lead (a person) astray in conduct or belief; to draw away from the right or intended course of action to or into a wrong one; to tempt, entice, or beguile (deceive) to do something wrong, foolish, or unintended.
Deceive - To ensnare; to take unawares by craft or guile; to overcome, overreach, or get the better of by trickery; to beguile or betray into mischief or sin; to mislead.
The way of the wicked is the course of life and action that they choose to pursue and how they pursue it. Now it is the way itself that seduces them. That is, the way they conduct their lives is itself leading them astray and drawing them from the right course of life and action. The way itself beguiles or deceives them to do wrong, foolish, or unintended things. Once they are is in the wrong path, one wrong leads to another wrong. Wrong decisions lead to more wrong decisions. In other words, the way itself seduces them. And the sad thing about being seduced or deceived is that it can happen to a person unawares. He may not realize that he is being led astray. Even if he knowingly does wrong, if he keeps doing wrong he will eventually think it is okay. When that happens, then the way of the wicked has seduced him.
Therefore, a wicked man can think he is doing what is right and best for him when in reality he is doing what is wrong and worst for him. His way looks good. It seems advantageous. It looks more excellent than the way of righteousness. But in reality his way is seducing him.
In the light of these facts consider this verse:
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Here is a man, who thinks his way is right; but that way certainly ends up in a place he did not intend. His way has seduced him. His way seemed to offer advantages that it could not deliver in the end.
It is for this reason that Solomon gives us this advice:
Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
If you would avoid being seduced by the way of the wicked, then take the following steps. First, ask God to show you any errors in your way.
Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
If you resist reproof and the exposure of errors in your way, then you will never find the right way.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Proverbs 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Then open your Bible with a prayer to God to teach you His way.
Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
And when God’s way is made plain to you in His word, then follow it.
Psalms 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
In so doing, you will avoid the seduction and destruction of the way of the wicked. You will be found among the righteous. You will have made the more excellent choices. And, therefore, as our verse says, you will be “more excellent than your neighbour.”
Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
May this message find you and me in that more excellent way of righteousness.
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