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What we have learned.
From these passages of heavenly wisdom we learned at least the following facts about
the way of man:--
1.
Man's own powers of observation and reasoning, and even conscience unguided
by inspired truth, are not sufficient to convince him that his own way is utterly
wrong.
2.
Man's own way, though self-approved, is nevertheless a way of self-deception, a
way of darkness, and a way of death.
3.
Man really has become through sin an utter fool; he sows his own path with
thorns, and renders upward progress impossible.
The apostle, in Rom. 3:, puts the same truth in the following words:--
"There is none righteous, no, not one . . . . . they are all gone out of the WAY . . . . .
destruction and misery are in their WAYS, and the WAY of peace have they not know."
This is the testimony of all Scripture. It is found as early as Gen. 6: There in
verse 12 we read:--
"And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had
corrupted his WAY upon the earth."
This corruption of the way proceeded from within:--
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6: 5).
A consideration of the way of man leads us to the inevitable conclusion that man of
himself is hopeless and undone. Walking in darkness, going down, down to death, yet
under the false conceit that his ways are right. It is bad enough to be on a wrong road
and to know it, but man is on a wrong road and is deceived into thinking it is right!
"This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings"! (Psa. 49: 13).
Yet if you read on in the Psalm it will be found that such folly is fatal, for "death shall
feed on them". Shall we not, in view of this solemn testimony, put up the prayer of the
Psalmist?
"Remove from me the WAY of lying: and grant me Thy law graciously. I have
chosen the WAY of truth . . . . . O Lord, put me not to shame" (Psa. 119: 29-31).
Over and over again we read concerning Israel that they had "turned out of the way".
This was their initial national sin after the great covenant of Sinai.
"Thy people which Thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves:
they are quickly turned aside out of the WAY which I commanded them" (Deut. 9: 12).