Two Paths Before the Young Man
Thomas Dale, M.A. Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day. The Word of God hath imposed upon man a choice of alternatives. Two ways — two ends; two characters — two consequences; two aims or objects in the life that now is — two states or conditions in the life that is to come. When the alternative is presented to a rational and responsible being we think he can only make one choice; he would surely reject the evil and embrace the good. Two things, however, are practically opposed to this reasonable conclusion; the choice may be evaded or postponed, and human philosophy and vain deceit have left no artifices unassayed to perplex what God has made straight. The period of life when for the most part the path of the individual is to be chosen is that of youth; a stage of life in which the passions are strong, and the judgment is weak, the mind sometimes scantily furnished, and the will too often altogether unregulated and uncontrolled. Hence, in a moral sense, the period of youth is doubly endangered, because, impetuous and precipitate in its very nature, and urged by impulse rather than actuated by principle, it will not readily pause to deliberate at all; and if it does, false views are enticingly presented to it. The one of these dangers — which the apostle calls the "vain deceit of philosophy" — may be escaped by taking truth for a counsellor; and the other — the perilous folly of procrastination — by hearkening to reason as our guide. I. THE PATH OF THE JUST. The path of "light" is that which discloses to those who pursue it their own motive of action; to others who examine them, their principles; and both to themselves and to others who assume the same standard of judgment, the consequences of those actions. Ignorance of what is personally, relatively, socially, or even politically right, can never co-exist with a genuine belief in the gospel of Christ Jesus. By the "just" we understand the man who has determined to do right simply because it is right; resolving all first principles of right into the expressed and recorded will of God. By the "path" of such a man we understand the habitual tenor of his course and conduct among mankind. II. THE WAY OF THE WICKED. By the "wicked" we understand the man who is indifferent to that which is good; who acknowledges, or at least obeys, no law of action but his own pleasure, or his own interest, or his own inclination, or his own appetite. The way of such a man is "darkness," from the absence of any fixed principle or of any certain end. If peace is essential to happiness, on Scriptural principles happiness never can be realised by the ungodly. All nature is full of enemies to him who hath not God for his friend. See, then, the importance of making the right choice in early life. (Thomas Dale, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. WEB: But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.