Proverbs 10:17 (Mini Sermon)

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1.      Pro 10:17 – “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.”

1. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction:
   1. Definitions
      1. Way n. – Road, path. 1. a. gen. A track prepared or available for travelling along; a road, street, lane, or path. b. In figurative context, with reference to a metaphorical walking or travelling.  c. A main road connecting different parts of a country.  III. Course of life or action, means, manner. 11. a. A path or course of life; the activities and fortunes of a person.  b. pl. Habits of life, esp. with regard to moral conduct.
      2. Life n. – I. The condition or attribute of living or being alive; animate existence. Opposed to death.
      3. Keep v. – I. Early senses (with gen. in OE., afterwards with simple obj.). To seize, lay hold of; to snatch, take. Obs.  2. To try to catch or get; to seek after. Obs.  3. To take in, receive, contain, hold. Obs.  4. To take in with the eyes, ears, or mind; to take note of, mark, behold, observe. Obs.  II. Transitive uses (in early use also intr.).  * To have regard, pay attention to, observe.  9. To have regard, to care, to reck.  11. trans. To pay attention or regard to; to observe, stand to, or dutifully abide by (an ordinance, law, custom, practice, covenant, promise, faith, a thing prescribed or fixed, as a treaty, truce, peace, a set time or day; see further under the ns.).
      4. Instruction n. – 1. The action of instructing or teaching; the imparting of knowledge or skill; education; information. The knowledge or teaching imparted. With an and pl. An item of knowledge imparted; an instructive rule, a precept, a lesson.
   2. In other words, the man who lays hold of, takes in, receives, pays attention to, regards, observes, and dutifully abides by the teaching, rules, lessons, and precepts of the word of God is traveling in a course of life which is conducive to life and flourishing.

• The most important instruction to take heed to is the instruction of the scriptures (2Ti 3:16), and especially the Proverbs (Pro 1:1-2).

1. The Proverbs instruct us in wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity (Pro 1:3).
2. God’s word is to be kept (Pro 4:13; Joh 14:15, 21), not just heard (Jam 1:22).
3. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Pro 6:23).

• God sets before us the way of life and the way of death (Jer 21:8): choose life (Deut 30:19) by keeping instruction.

1. but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
   1. Definitions
      1. Refuse v. – 1. To disclaim, disown, decline to countenance (an act). b. To avoid, keep clear of or free from (sin, vice, etc.). Obs.  2. To decline to take or accept (something offered or presented); to reject the offer of (a thing). 3. To decline to accept or submit to (a command, rule, instruction, etc.) or to undergo (pain or penalty).
      2. Reproof n. – 1. Shame, disgrace, ignominy or reproach, adhering or resulting to a person in consequence or by reason of some fact, event, conduct, etc. (Occas. with a and ) Obs. (went out of use in mid-1500s) 3. Censure, rebuke, reprimand, reprehension.
      3. Err v. – 1. intr. To ramble, roam, stray, wander. To go astray; to stray from (one’s path or line of direction). Chiefly fig. and now arch. 3. To go wrong in judgment or opinion: to make mistakes, blunder.  Of a formula, statement, etc.: To be incorrect.  4. To go astray morally; to sin.
   2. In other words, he that declines to submit to God’s commands, rules, and instructions which censure, rebuke, and reprimand him will consequently go astray from the way of life, go wrong in judgment, and will go astray morally into sin.

• Those who refuse the reproofs of instruction from the word of God will err into sin (Psa 50:16-22; Pro 5:12-14).

1. Those who will not receive God’s instruction and refuse to hear His words will err into the worship of false gods (Jer 11:10; Jer 13:10) which demand child sacrifice (Jer 32:33-35).
   1. This has happened to millions of Americans who refused the instruction of the word of God.
   2. They erred into the worship of self (Php 3:19).
   3. Their god of self demands the sacrifice of their children through “abortion” (aka, infanticide).
2. Those who refuse the reproof of the word of God will err from the way of life into way of death via God turning them over to walk in their own ways and be filled with their own devices (Pro 1:24-32).
3. If you’re wise, you will hear instruction and refuse it not (Pro 8:33).