Proverbs 4

Verse 14-15, 25-27 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and go on your way. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Consider the level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or left; keep your foot from evil. It seems that Proverbs 4 is building on what I read previously in Chapter 3. It said that I should lean not on my own understanding and in my ways acknowledge Him and He will make my paths straight. Now Chapter 4 talks about what paths to specifically avoid (those of the wicked) and to turn away and go in the other direction. But it doesn't Say exactly how to recognize the good paths, other than to fix my gaze ahead, consider the level and the firm paths, and to not go sideways. This ties in with God already having made the path straight for me as long as I go straight ahead. What is more interesting in this scripture to me is that is says to consider the level and firm paths. The word consider is interesting because I can think of many times of going on hikes where the terrain changed quickly from what it was when I first set out. Although I can't see everything ahead, I should be able to take many things into account when choosing a path; how level it is, how firm, how straight. But even though I might not see all of these characteristics, I have other people in my life to help me see what I can not from their experience and judgement. I know that I have a responsibility to be a good husband and that requires considering choices for my family. I know that I won't always know the right one, but that part of the process will be to seek out the people who have gone before me and to request some help. I know that God is not in the business of fooling us by leading us down paths that appear straight and level and then change drastically. More, I think that He wants me to consider my paths and seek Him, and in doing so He'll show me which is the straightest and most level. I want to find these paths since now my life will mean so much more since I now have another person to share each of these journeys with, for better or for worse. -Bob