Watch Who You Walk With

Proverbs 28:17 A man that doeth VIOLENCE TO THE BLOOD OF ANY PERSON shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

Life Is Sacred, Given By God

People are made in the image of God. All life has value because of that. Animals are NOT made in the image of God, but people are. I heard a young woman the other day say that she wished all women had abortions, as many as they could, to exercise their rights as women. Other women have had abortions and celebrated it on social media platforms.

When human life becomes cheap, and we have more value for animal life, then civilization begins a fall that it cannot recover from.

When the first murder was committed by Cain against Abel, God did not require that Cain die for his sin, but marked him instead and gave him a life long curse. God told Cain:

Genesis 4:10-15 (NKJV) “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

When innocent blood is spilled on the land, God hears it. When Cain destroyed his brother, he also destroyed the “image of God”. To do this without just cause is to commit treason against God. God is the Giver of life. The Prophet Job (33:4) said, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life”. The Apostle Paul declared, “God Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else”. When people begin to hold life as cheap, it destroys civilization. When Cain killed Abel, God took away Cain’s livelihood. A farmer brings life from the ground. A murderer cannot prosper, nor bring life. Cain also became a “fugitive and a vagabond on the earth”. All would know the evil that he did. He would have no acquaintances unless God protected him. God put a mark on Cain that identified him as a murderer, but also noted he was under God’s protection. Later in the Scripture God would mandate death for the murderer, but with Cain, God did not order him dead. Why?

Cain was a living Signpost, a Billboard advertising to all how much God hates murder. Murder steals from two people. It steals life from the murdered, but it also steals life from God.

God told Cain “your brother’s BLOOD cries out to Me from the ground”. Abel loved the Lord, and was faithfully serving the Lord. Cain stole that from God, robbing the Lord of glory. Murder also steals stability from civilization.

The murderer steals.
The murderer steals the life of the victim.
The murderer steals what the victim
might have accomplished had he lived.
The murderer steals from society the benefit of that life.
The murderer steals the lives that may have come out of that person.
The murder steals what the victim’s children
might have accomplished.

Illustrate: In the movie Unforgiven, the main character was William Munny (played by Clint Eastwood), a gunman who had killed many people. In one scene Munny (Eastwood) said, “It’s a h___ of a thing, killing a man. You take away all he’s got … and all he’s ever going to have”

Before God ever gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai, He established the sacredness of life. God told Noah when he and his family got off the Ark:

Genesis 9:6 (NKJV) Whoever SHEDS MAN’S BLOOD, BY MAN HIS BLOOD SHALL BE SHED; For IN THE IMAGE OF GOD He made man.

Man is NOT an animal. Animals are NOT made in the image of God. Humans are. When humans begin to kill humans without just cause, we have lowered ourselves into the place of animals.

The Sixth Commandment of God given at Mount Sinai is “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). In America, we have allowed the Justice System to categorize murder:

First Degree Murder: Intentional and Premeditated
Second Degree Murder: Intentional but not preplanned
Manslaughter 1^st Degree: Intentional,
but you acted in the “heat of passion”
Manslaughter 2^nd Degree: Death caused by recklessness

Under God’s Law if you killed someone without just cause, you were subject to capital punishment – period. God said:

Numbers 35:33 (NKJV) you shall not pollute the land where you are; for BLOOD DEFILES THE LAND, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, EXCEPT BY THE BLOOD OF HIM WHO SHED IT

When murder is committed, the very act defiles the land. This is what God was showing when Cain lost the ability to farm successfully. When people begin to think that life is cheap and disposable, the idea itself destabilizes civilization. How is that to be corrected? Not by an animal sacrifice, but by requiring the life of the murderer.

Proverbs 28:17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall FLEE TO THE PIT {bôr}

Word Study: What does it mean to “FLEE TO THE PIT {bôr}”? The Hebrew bôr is a word used for a cistern, a dungeon, or a well. It is a man-made place dug in the ground used for holding things like water or, when the cistern or well is dried up, as a holding cell for people. When Joseph’s brothers decided they wanted him gone, they plotted:

Genesis 37:20 (KJV) Come now therefore, and let us SLAY HIM, and CAST HIM INTO SOME PIT {bôr} and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

They ended up not doing that, but they did throw Joseph in a PIT {bôr} until they could sell him to slave traders (Genesis 37:28). The Bible also refers to the GRAVE as a PIT {bôr}, and King David referred to deep depression as a PIT {bôr}:

Psalm 88:3-4, 6 (KJV) For my soul is full of troubles: and MY LIFE draweth NIGH UNTO THE GRAVE. 4 I am counted with them that GO DOWN INTO THE PIT {bôr}: I am as a man [that hath] no strength: … 6 Thou hast LAID ME IN THE LOWEST PIT {bôr}, in darkness, in the deeps.

Under the Law, God did make two distinctions in regard to the taking of human life. There was MURDER, and there was MANSLAUGHTER. MANSLAUGHTER was accidental, but MURDER was on purpose. When you killed the relative on someone, that relative had the authority to kill you back. Here’s how that worked. In Numbers 35 God had Israel establish SIX CITIES OF REFUGE (Numbers 35:13). Once someone was murdered, if the murder was deliberate (Numbers 35:16-21) then a relative of the deceased call the AVENGER OF BLOOD was authorized to kill the murderer.

Numbers 35:18-19 (NKJV) … he is a murderer; the MURDERER SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH. 19 The AVENGER OF BLOOD HIMSELF SHALL PUT THE MURDERER TO DEATH; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.

HOWEVER, is the killing was accidental, the one who killed the victim could run to a city of refuge. Once in the city of refuge we read:

Numbers 35:11-12 (NKJV) you shall appoint cities to be CITIES OF REFUGE for you, that the MANSLAYER WHO KILLS ANY PERSON ACCIDENTALLY MAY FLEE THERE. 12 They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the MANSLAYER MAY NOT DIE BEFORE HE STANDS BEFORE THE CONGREGATION in judgment.

The BLOOD AVENGER would pursue the manslayer. If he caught him, he could justly kill him. But if the manslayer got to a city of refuge, the BLOOD AVENGER could not kill the manslayer until the officials of the city judged him. If it was determined that the death was accidental, then:

Numbers 35:25-28 (NKJV) the congregation shall DELIVER THE MANSLAYER FROM THE HAND OF THE AVENGER OF BLOOD, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and HE SHALL REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE HIGH PRIEST who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer at any time GOES OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF THE CITY of refuge where he fled, 27 and the AVENGER OF BLOOD FINDS HIM outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, HE SHALL NOT BE GUILTY OF BLOOD, 28 because HE SHOULD HAVE REMAINED IN HIS CITY of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.

Proverbs 28:17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall FLEE TO THE PIT {bôr}; let no man stay him.

The BLOOD AVENGER could get the manslayer if he left that city of refuge. The manslayer had to stay in that city, away from his family and friends, until after the death of the High Priest. The murderer or the manslayer in essence was a fugitive for life, a fugitive to the grave. That’s how serious God is about not unjustly taking life.

Those Who Walk With God Will Be Blessed

Proverbs 28:18 Whoso WALKETH uprightly shall be saved: but he that is PERVERSE IN HIS WAYS shall fall at once.

The Bible uses the word “WALK” to imply a habit or pattern of behavior. Those who walk “UPRIGHT”, that is, as God directs, will be blessed and protected. Those who are “PERVERSE” or crooked in their walk will in time fall into a pit .

The Lover of God falls UPWARD. The lover of perversity falls into a PIT {bôr}!

There is entirely too much compromise and tolerance among American Christians today. We are called to reach out to the lost, to share the Gospel of Christ with them in hopes that they might be saved. But we must NEVER compromise with the darkness. King Solomon, the writer of this Book, was a great King UNTIL he compromised with the darkness.

1 Kings 11:1-4 (NKJV) King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— 2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.

God punished Solomon for his disobedience. Though He did not punish Solomon directly, He told him:

1 Kings 11:12-13 (NKJV) … I will tear {the Kingdom} out of the hand of your son {Rehoboam}. 13 However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I WILL GIVE ONE TRIBE TO YOUR SON for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.

Though Solomon would not lose his Kingdom, his son Rehoboam would lose his. Under Rehoboam’s reign God would abandon him, and because Rehoboam was not Christ oriented Israel split into North and South. The Ten Northern Tribes established their own Kingdom under Jeroboam I. Because these kings separated from honoring the Lord Who loved them, the nation would eventually fall.

Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV) BLESSED is the man who WALKS NOT in the counsel of the wicked, nor STANDS in the way of sinners, nor SITS in the seat of scoffers; 2 but HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.

When we depart from following our Lord Jesus, when we reject the “LAW OF THE LORD”, there is no blessing. Christian, you are commanded to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). We are to reach out to the lost, but never to “walk” with the lost world, nor to compromise with its darkened paths. Jesus said:

John 8:12 (ESV) … I am the light of the world. Whoever FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, but will have the light of life.

We are to be led not by the spirit of this age, but by the Holy Spirit of God. “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), for …

Romans 8:1, 4 (ESV) There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS … 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, WHO WALK not according to the flesh but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.

People say, “Pastor, what is God’s will for my life?” The answer is very simple. As you walk, walk with God. Do not walk to please the world. Walk so as to always walk with God our Savior.

Romans 8:1 (KJV) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Do Not Walk After Empty People

Proverbs 28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but HE THAT FOLLOWETH AFTER {rāḏap̄, to run after} VAIN {rêq, empty} PERSONS shall have poverty enough.

Word Study: It is better to follow a plow and work the land, than to follow “VAIN PERSONS”. The word rendered “VAIN” is the Hebrew rêq, which means “empty or useless vessels”. If you are following a plow, you are tilling in hope. You are tilling to plant seed. What you are doing is productive. But if you follow an empty person – someone who is chasing after useless things that cannot bless you – then you will have plenty of nothing. We saw a similar verse earlier in Proverbs:

Proverbs 12:11 (KJV) He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth VAIN {rêq} [persons is] void of understanding.

How many people have wasted their lives chasing after heroes who were empty inside. Be careful who you follow, that the one you follow is following Christ.

We live in a day where anybody with a “smart phone” feels that they can be a social media influencer. Be careful who you run after. Run from anything and anyone who does not support the Biblical truths and Jesus Christ.

Paul never just said “Follow Me”. No Apostle did. No man of God would just demand you follow them. The Apostle said

“Be imitators of me, as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

and …

1 Corinthians 4:15-16 (KJV) … in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, BE YE FOLLOWERS OF ME.

Philippians 3:14-17 (NKJV) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, HAVE THIS MIND; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us WALK BY THE SAME RULE, let us BE OF THE SAME MIND. 17 Brethren, JOIN IN FOLLOWING MY EXAMPLE, and note those who so walk, as YOU HAVE US FOR A PATTERN.

All people are broken. You can follow a broken person who follows Jesus – but don’t just follow some so called famous person. If they are without Christ, then it is as Jesus said, “If the BLIND lead the BLIND, BOTH FALL INTO A PIT” (Matthew 15:14).

Chase After God, Not Money

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that MAKETH HASTE {ûṣ} to be rich shall not be innocent.

Word Study: The phrase “MAKETH HASTE” is the Hebrew ûṣ (pro. oots), which means to “have a pressing urge, to be compelled to get”. In America we live in the richest and freest nation in the world because our forefathers were Christ followers. Those who love Jesus will be consistent, loyal, and focused on the Lord Who saved them. There is great blessings to those who desire to be with the Lord.

Last Sunday night we had an EF1 Tornado pass through our community. I was awakened by a screaming telephone as I was informed there was a tornado sited – TAKE COVER. As I was in the bed I pulled my covers up over my head, held my trembling dog, and thanked the Holy Spirit for His Presence. About 6500 customers lost power. Though the storm whipped outside our house, our power only flickered three times. The tornado passed near our Church, and though there’s some damage, it is very little.

People, we were blessed. Not lucky. Blessed. God is good. Some people spend their whole lives chasing riches. Those riches did them no good.

Judy Garland, who sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” in the movie “The Wizard of Oz”, died by suicide in 1969. Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemmingway killed himself in 1961. Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of the group Nirvana, died by suicide in 1994. I could go on and on. Do you know what makes life richest? To know the Lord Jesus. To walk with God every day. If you walk with Jesus daily, if you are faithful to Him, you will be blessed beyond measure.

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