Turn Your Foot from Evil

We begin this morning a month long reading in the Book of Proverbs. Chapters 1 to 4 are our focus this week. And chapter 4 ends with these words:

Turn your foot from evil.

In many ways, this is the aim of the entire collection of Proverbs - to challenge and equip a person to turn their feet from evil paths. Wisdom is the key. Wisdom enables and instructs a person to recognize evil and to choose good. This is why Solomon can write of wisdom:

Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.
Proverbs 4:8 - 9

And where does wisdom begin? It begins with "the fear of the Lord." (1:7) To recognize the truth about God's greatness, God's power, and God's majesty is a good place to start reckoning about one's own life and the path's we have chosen. It is also a good place to start one's day!

And what is the first application of this truth about God that Solomon identifies? He warns us away from violence and violent men.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood,
let us ambush the innocent without cause. . .
. . . My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,
For their feet run to evil
And they hasten to shed blood.
Proverbs 1:10 - 16

Despite all of our civilizing efforts and our talk of human rights, we still live in a very violent world. The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the attempted cover-up by the Saudi state, and the thinking and talking about it in our own country reveals a disturbing inclination toward violence and its justification. As does the recent shooting of rock-throwing protesters in Nigeria by the Nigerian army. Equally troubling - and maybe more so - is the justification of those shootings by quoting our American President's words! And it seems to much to mention the recent shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue, or the shootings at the yoga studio, or the explosive devices sent to those of a different political persuasion. We are surrounded by violence - and we are surrounded by those who would justify it. There are many who would "hasten to shed blood."

But this is not wisdom. Nor is this the path to good. On the contrary, Solomon identifies such bloodthirsty and callous people as "sinners," and he calls their methods "evil."

Today, I pray that God's church would be a place of peace and that we would be known as peacemakers. God, keep our feet from evil! Turn our feet from the paths of violence and lead us in the way of life!