Proverbs 2:12 (Mini Sermon)

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1.      Pro 2:12 – “To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;”

1. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man
   1. Solomon now gives us a specific example of the preserving influence that wisdom will have on us (Pro 2:10-11).
   2. Discretion will deliver us from the way of the evil man.
      1. Deliver v. – 1. trans. To set free, liberate, release, rescue, save. b. Now esp. To set free from restraint, imminent danger, annoyance, trouble, or evil generally.
      2. Deliver is a synonym of save (Act 2:21 c/w Joel 2:32).
      3. Thus wisdom and discretion will save an obedient Christian from the manner of the wicked.
      4. The salvation under consideration is obviously not eternal salvation, but rather temporal salvation from the way of the evil man.
   3. The way of the evil man
      1. The man who seeks and finds wisdom is promised to be saved from the way of the evil
      2. Evil adj. – A. adj. The antithesis of good in all its principal senses. 1. Morally depraved, bad, wicked, vicious.

• We should pray to be delivered from such men (Psa 140:1; 2Th 3:1-2; Mat 6:13).

1. An evil man “seeketh only rebellion” (Pro 17:11).
2. In his transgression “there is a snare” (Pro 29:6) which will catch the unsuspecting.
3. A Christian must stay far from such a man to avoid the judgment that will befall him when “a cruel messenger shall be sent against him” (Pro 17:11), and his “candle…shall be put out” (Pro 24:20).

1. From the man that speaketh froward things
   1. Evil men are not always easily recognized as such.
   2. So Solomon here gives one of their defining characteristics: they speak froward

• Froward adj. – 1. Disposed to go counter to what is demanded or what is reasonable; perverse, difficult to deal with, hard to please; refractory, ungovernable; also, in a wider sense, bad, evilly-disposed, ‘naughty’. (The opposite of toward.) 2. Of things: a. Adverse, unfavourable, untoward; difficult to deal with, refractory.

1. Jesus taught that the wicked heart of an evil man will be made manifest by what comes out of his mouth (Luk 6:45).

Pay close attention to a man’s words, and he will tell you who he is; and when he does, believe him — and then avoid him (Pro 4:14).