Proverbs 1:18 (Mini Sermon)

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1.      Pro 1:18 – “And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.”

1. The intent of these conspirators was to lay wait and lurk privily for the lives of the innocent (Pro 1:11).
2. But because there is a God in heaven who pleads the cause of the oppressed (Pro 22:22-23; Pro 23:10-11), the lives that these monsters will end up destroying will be their own.
3. For this reason, we should not despair when we see evil men in high places oppressing the helpless.
4. Remember, the LORD, the righteous judge, beholds it and will not suffer it to continue forever, but will render to the wicked their due (Ecc 5:8; Psa 37:35-40).
5. Solomon could warn his son with confidence that the net that these men spread for the innocent would be “for their own lives,” based on his father David’s experience (Psa 35:7-8; Psa 57:6).
6. As was noted in the comments on the previous verse, punishing men using the instruments which they planned to harm others with is one of God’s signature judgments (Psa 7:15-16).
7. Numerous times throughout history God has rendered recompense to the enemies of righteousness.
   1. God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech and of the men of Shechem upon their own heads (Jdg 9:56-57).
   2. God had Haman hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai (Est 7:10).

• God had the men that accused Daniel cast into the den of lions that they had planned to use to execute him (Dan 6:24).

1. God takes the wise in their own craftiness (Job 5:13).

1. Solomon enshrined these observations in his timeless proverbs, not only for his son, but for all of God’s children throughout all ages (Pro 11:5-6; Pro 26:27; Ecc 10:8).