Solomon began his thoughts of Preservation with the Requirement in Proverbs 2:10-11:
“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; (11) Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee.”
Then he noted that the Road of Deliverance will be in two areas:
1) From the ways of the evil man; and
2) From the strange woman and her lips of flattery.
Now in Proverbs 2:20-22, Solomon comes to the Result of Preservation, or what Wisdom will do – it will not only deliver you, but also cause you to:
1) “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,” (Proverbs 2:20a)
Solomon said, not in the way of evil men, but of good men (or righteous men); men who are in the Position of the Righteousness of God; men who also walk in the Practice of Righteousness. This means that Wisdom will cause you to walk in Love, Holiness, Peace, and in the Power and Joy of the Holy Ghost.
This walk will bring you honor and glory in the Name of God, your Savior. You will receive the benefits of walking as Christ walked, even in and by Faith:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
2) “And keep the paths of the righteous” (Proverbs 2:20b)
Solomon said: Son, not only will wisdom in your heart cause you to “walk” in the Way of God, but it will cause you to “keep (or endure in your obedience) the paths of the righteous.”
Solomon now deals with the desire of the Righteous Walker to “keep on keeping on” the path of Righteousness, Holiness, and Peace.
3) “For the upright shall dwell in the land” (Proverbs 2:21a)
Solomon speaks of “the land.” Spiritually speaking, Solomon is speaking of the Church, the City of God, the better country, the heavenly country. (See Hebrews 11:10-14.)
“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13)
“For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” (Hebrews 11:14)
“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16)
Also note Revelation 21:
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:7)
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
For only the Righteous dwell in the City of God:
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” (Hebrews 12:22)
“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,” (Hebrews 12:23)
Also read Ephesians 3:1-21; 2 Peter 3:13, 14, 16.
And see Psalm 15:
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psalms 15:1)
“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” (Psalms 15:2)
“He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.” (Psalms 15:3)
“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” (Psalms 15:4)
“He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” (Psalms 15:5)
4) “And the perfect shall remain in it” (Proverbs 2:21b)
This is not an “if” or a “but”; it is not a condition for you to obtain – but it is a statement of fact by God. Only the Perfect (those in Christ; see John 3:3-8; 17:2-14) shall remain in it.
You must have the correct wedding garment on – or you will be cast out.
5) “But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth” (Proverbs 2:22a)
This is the warning. Son, the wicked – those who follow the ways of the evil man, and listen to and follow the words of flattery of the strange woman – are inclined to death; a physical death for their rebellion; as were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (See Jude.)
6) “And the transgressors shall be rooted out of it” (Proverbs 2:22b)
The wicked and the transgressors are one in the same. The wicked will be cut off and the transgressors will be rooted out of the earth.
Son, which is it? The way of the righteous, or the way of the wicked transgressors?
“And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.” (1 Kings 19:21)
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Now read Joshua 24:15:
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
This should be and must be our reply: “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Hallelujah!
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