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Study the context of such passages that speak of being "wise", or "right, or "clean",
or "pure", in our "own eyes", as Prov. 3: 7; 16: 2; and 30: 12. While the fool
thinks his own way right, Scripture says:--
"The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord"
(Prov. 19: 3).
This perversion may be seen in Prov. 21: 8:--
"The way of a man is forward and strange: but as for the pure, his walk is right."
"The man who has been twisting about as to his way, has also been getting further off:
but the pure man is straightforward in his work." (John Miller's Translation).
Here is wandering that ends in utter loss, a twisting that never proves to be "a short
cut". The way of truth is a "right" way, it leads to life; all others whatever their outward
seeming end in death. Not only does man pervert his own way, and sow his path with
thorns, but
"The way of the wicked seduceth them" (Prov. 12: 26).
There is a fascination about evil; a will-o'-the-wisp lures men on to ruin, and nothing
but grace can enlighten the eyes to see it in its true colours, or to confess it. This word
"seduce" in the preterite is used in Isa. 53: 6:--
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way."
Here is a complete endorsement of Prov. 12: 26. Their "own way" was parallel to
"going astray", and in the blessed sequel we find it is expressed as "iniquity", which the
Lord Jesus bore as the great sacrifice for sin. This "straying", this seduction of self by
the way of wickedness, though apparently right, ends in death:--
"The man that wandereth (same word as `seduce') out of the way of understanding
shall remain in the congregation of the dead" (Prov. 21: 16).
Contrast this with the words of Prov. 15: 24:--
"The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell (sheol) beneath."
It is ever the same. God's way is a way of light and life; and man's a way of darkness
and death. We have not yet seen the verse that tells of darkness. Here it is:--
"The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Prov. 4: 19).
This passage must be read with verse 18, which says:--
"The path of the just is as dawning light, advancing and brightening toward perfect
day." (John Miller's Translation).