Audio Download

Proverbs 2:1-22 – Paths of Judgment, of the Righteous, of Life

[Study Aired Nov 7, 2024]

In order for the body of Christ to increase and John the baptist within us to decrease, we must needs be judged in this life, which judgement is given to the body of Christ (1Pe 4:17) so that the mind of Christ can be formed within us (Joh 3:30, 1Co 2:16).

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

When we are received of God, we are chastened of him and scourged; we are judged in other words (Heb 12:6-7) and told not to despise this process that His precious first fruit workmanship (Eph 2:10) is called unto (Heb 12:5).

We are promised that the judgement that God is executing on the body of Christ is going to preserve us in this life (1Co 11:31-32, Joh 8:36, Rom 8:31-37) so we don’t have to experience the second death, in the process of dying in this life by being given the power to fulfill God’s will and purpose (Rom 8:28). God’s will can only be fulfilled by our being given to be witnesses of these things (Act 5:32), “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Rev 20:14, 1Jn 2:16-17, Php 2:12-13, Rev 11:3, Zec 4:6).

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away [1Co 15:50], and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

These verses in (Luk 13:4-7) lead up to and explain what we must go through as the unproductive fig tree that will only begin to be productive as a result of judgement in our lives that is typified by this statement, “till I shall dig about it, and dung it”. The growth or increase we experience from the digging and dunging process is a gift of God that is given to the elect in this age (1Co 3:6, Eph 2:8).

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? [Do we think they were the chief of sinners or the apostle Paul only, or anyone else, (1Ti 1:15) or are we in agreement with what Paul quoted, in (Rom 3:10, Mat 23:29-30, Mat 24:34?]
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent (Rom 2:4), ye shall all likewise perish [and come up in the great white throne judgement (Rev 20:11)].

These first five verse are the important context that set the stage for how God creates the circumstances in our life so that we are repentant, “except ye repent“.

Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [The ‘certain man’ is Christ.]
Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years (symbolizing our time in Babylon where judgement did not convert our souls (Jer 22:29), no fruit was borne, regardless of physical miracles, and overcoming vices in the flesh (2Th 2:9, Rev 13:13, Co 11:14-15, Joh 14:12-14) I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [rhetorical question by Christ, he knows why we must experience this exile in Babylon where we bear no spiritual fruit for a symbolic three years]
Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also (this year symbolizing the Day of the Lord “judgment – digging and dunging”) , till I shall dig about it, and dung it (Act 20:28-31).

Paul was called to dig and dung the fig tree in hopes that some fruit would be borne, becoming a true “dresser of his vineyard” who was once a blasphemer (1Ti 1:13).The churches of Babylon are represented by Paul at that time in his life, and like Paul, one day they will obtain mercy, because all their actions were done ignorantly and in unbelief (Gen 45:8).

1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

In this second chapter of Proverbs, we are admonished to not neglect this high calling (Heb 2:3) that we’ve been given as we seek the Lord with all our hearts, being promised that we will find him as a result of that pursuit that is being accomplished by the power of God’s holy spirit working within our lives both to will and do of His good pleasure (Deu 4:29, Php 2:12-13).

The dunging part of the analogy is very instructive as it typifies for us the dead and dying old man that is used as fertilizer to set the stage for our growth. The digging is also important to keep in mind as it symbolizes the labour that we are called unto so that we can enter into His rest (Heb 4:1-11, Tit 3:8).

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

The land rest that occurred every seven years back in old covenant times (Deu 15:1) was needful to enrich the land for future yield in the field. The symbolism is not telling us we just sit back and do nothing during that year of rest (Tit 3:8), rather that we must labour to enter into it, as we read in (Heb 4:11). The fruit that is borne out of a wholehearted pursuit of seeking the kingdom first and His righteousness is that we will be spiritually preserved with all that we need in this life in order to endure until the end (Mat 6:33). This is what the elect have been called unto and need to remain focused on all of their lives (1Co 15:57-58, Heb 11:6, Rom 7:24-25).

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

After we have acknowledged this high calling and made our profession of faith (Php 3:14, Heb 4:13-14) and understand the need to dig and dung this fig tree, our direction and mindset must be singular as Paul stated, forgetting what is behind us and staying in the light (1Jn 1:7-9) with the hope that Christ will cleanse the inside of the cup and bring us unto perfection on the third day as the author and finisher of our faith (Php 3:8).

Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens [our hearts and minds Col 1:27], Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

This parable we have looked at in chapter thirteen of Luke is very connected to this second chapter of Proverbs, that admonishes us to receive God’s words and hide them like precious treasure in earthen vessels. Christ is our wisdom and we have this gift of his mind in these earthen vessels in this life (Col 3:3, 2Co 4:7). What we are to do with this mind of Christ is to not neglect it, as these proverbs will clearly state (Heb 2:3). Stirring up the spirit of God (1Ti 4:14) happens as result of our search that God promises us will result in our finding him (Heb 11:6). The fruit of that search will bring us to understand the fear of the Lord that we know is the “beginning of knowledge” (Pro 1:7).

A great deal of this second chapter also explains how Godly wisdom and our pursuit of it will keep us safe from the many lies and falsehoods in Babylon. There is a reward awaiting those who are given to lose their life today in pursuit of a right relationship with our husband Jesus Christ (Mar 10:28-31).

Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee [all the sins of the world (1Jn 2:16-17)].
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness…

(who receive my words, and hide my commandments, and incline your ear to wisdom, a doer of the word who is justified, crying after knowledge, lifting your voice with strong tears and are heard in that you fear God (Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30), who seek her first as silver and hid treasure, as silver representing the sanctification process that comes with the word of God being unearthed within us)

(Mat 5:6 , 2Co 11:27) because “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God“.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Every good and perfect gift comes from above (Jas 1:17), and it is the LORD who is giving us the wisdom and knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous and that wisdom is a buckler to those who walk uprightly, being led of the spirit of God (Rom 8:14). He leads us by still waters, he keeps the paths of judgement, and preserves the way of the saints through that judgement. If all of these affirming events are happening to us in this life through the faith of Christ (Php 2:12-13, Gal 2:20), “Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path“, and the spirit will bear witness of this along the way (Rom 8:15-16).

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Christ is the author and finisher of our faith who we look to (Heb 12:2), and the comforter leads us into all truth; that is how “wisdom entereth into thine heart“, and because we know it is the Lord working this in our lives (Php 2:12-13), we have great joy in knowing that we are his little flock (Luk 12:32 , Php 4:4), his workmanship, and this relationship is “pleasant unto thy soul“.

The fruit of this blessed relationship with Christ is that “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee“.

Mat 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. [understanding the sum of God’s word old covenant and new covenant, how both can be profitable to the maturing Christian is what “both are preserved” means (2Ti 3:15)]

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father (Joh 17:17), and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Pro 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Pro 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Pro 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
Pro 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

When we seek the Lord and his wisdom, He leads us not into temptation (Mat 6:13) and we are delivered from evil, from the man that speaks froward things. By God’s grace we develop the ability to try the spirits whether they are of the Lord (1Jn 4:1) and we are preserved by the discretion and understanding that God gives his children. We foresee the evil and hide ourselves (Pro 27:12), we grow to truly understand what an enemy of the cross looks like, as those whose fruit identify them as such (Luk 6:43-45, 1Jn 3:7),”Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths“

Luk 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Pro 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Pro 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Pro 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Pro 2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

We are also delivered “from the strange woman” who represents Babylon, and we are kept safe “from the stranger which flattereth with her words“, again representing those who peddle the word of God and make merchandise of the many called (Mat 22:14). It is in Babylon that we “forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God” and don’t realize that in this state of captivity we are in a house that “inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead“. None that go unto her return again, unless they are dragged out of her and given to “ponder the path of life”(Pro 5:5-8), otherwise we could never” take hold of the paths of life that are found through Christ (Joh 6:44).

Pro 5:5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 
Pro 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
Pro 5:7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Pro 5:8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Pro 2:20  That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Pro 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. [another digging and dunging reference – those transgressors and the wicked within us, Lord willing, being rooted out in this life]

We have to go back to the statement found in verse ten (Pro 2:10), “When wisdom [Christ] entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul“, telling us that when God’s holy spirit is within us, Christ who is our wisdom, we can “walk in the way of good and keep the paths of the righteous“. It is only Christ who can be Christ (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9), who makes it possible for those that He dwells in to be “the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it“(Joh 8:31-32).

The elect remain in the land, “But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it“, first within us but also revealing that the elect are being talked about in these parables (Mat 24:40-51) that tell us some are taken and others remain in the earth. The ones remaining represent the elect who inherit the land, because we have been blessed to conquer the land within in this age, by the grace and faith of Christ (Eph 2:8).

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Our searching for wisdom and knowledge is not in vain (1Co 15:58). Christ is the tree of life who we are being dragged unto, to “lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her” (Pro 3:18).

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman (Col 1:27) of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. [Pro 24:3, Psa 127:1]
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Mat 25:4-8)
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.