THE WAY OF GOD’S SAINTS

“He guards the paths of justice, and preserves THE WAY of HIS SAINTS” – Proverbs 2:8

Our God is totally committed to our destinies, He preserves THE WAY of HIS SAINTS: “He guards the paths of justice, and preserves THE WAY of HIS SAINTS” (Pro.2:8). “For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones” (NIV). A saint is a sanctified and holy person; one that’s consecrated to God. In this chapter of the book of Proverbs, we Solomon exhorted his son, instructing him to seek after wisdom as one would seek a precious treasure. He assured his son that such passionate pursuit of wisdom and understanding will secure the protection of those that walk uprightly (v.7). God watches, keeps and preserves the lives of faithful believers (v.8). He blesses and protects those who walk in paths of godly judgment, and helps secure them in those paths.

Solomon clearly distinguished between the Way of Wisdom – the way of the fear and knowledge of God – and the way of darkness and evil. In making this distinction, he also made clear to us that the path of wisdom leads to life and peace, while the path of foolishness and evil ends in death and destruction. When we seek the Wisdom that comes from God, seeking to live our lives in accordance with His Ways and His Truth, we have chosen the path to true, full, and abundant life! God’s Ways and commands are always intended to invite us into the fullness of life that He wants us to experience!

The Journey of the Saints – Believers in Christ Jesus – is fraught with challenges, some of our making, others intended to afflict us. However, these trials may either draw us closer to our Heavenly Father, or cause us to question Him and His goodness. We can choose His path or our own. God not only gives Wisdom in His Word; He actively works to defend, guard, and preserve those who walk in His Ways. He guides our feet in the ways of righteousness and holiness. He keeps us from turning aside or astray from the right ways in which we should go. Those who diligently seek Wisdom are shielded with God’s protection, receive deep discernment for living, and are able to avoid the consequences of evil.

The Wisdom of God rescues His saints from evil and wickedness: “To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness…whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths” (vv.12-15). This passage refers to ways that are evil, perverse, dark, crooked, and devious! Wisdom will keep us from going evil ways and from associating with those whose speak perverse things. His Wisdom will guard us from those who leave the paths of righteousness. On the contrary, those who disregard or are hesitant or resistant to follow the Wisdom of God’s Word, risk facing the consequences of the ungodly and end up in darkness.

God’s Wisdom rescues His saints from agents of seduction and immorality: “To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God, for her house leads DOWN to DEATH, and her paths to the dead…” (vv.16-20). The immoral woman is a seductress who uses her words and looks to seduce; who forgets the godly covenant of marriage; and whose house leads down to death. Time with the flattering seductress may seem thrilling, but we understand its end. Solomon had seen many go down the path of death with an immoral partner, never to return to the way of wisdom: “None that go unto her return again” (v.19a).

The Lord God is the Source of all wisdom, protection, and blessing. When we choose His Ways, He prospers and protects us, and guards our steps away from the ways of evil, perversion, seduction, crookedness, corruption, and deception.