Today Solomon pulls out his comparison chart and gives us two columns. In his first column, he writes, "The Path of the Wicked." In the second column, he writes, "The Path of the Righteous." So, like Solomon, let's compare the two opposites portrayed in these Proverbs.
"The Way of the Wicked is Like Deep Darkness"
So what is this way, this path, of the wicked? Is it a visibly marked road, like "Highway Evil" or "Interstate 666"? No, this is not a literal road, but a way of life. If you're on the path of the wicked, you're living your life like a wicked person. The Book of Proverbs is replete with Solomon's condemnation of living a wicked life and encouragement to become righteous. He's deeply concerned about his audience's temptation to walk the wrong road. He, like the author of Psalm 1, says fervently, "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." (Psalm 1:1) "Do not enter the path of the wicked!" he cries in Proverbs 4:14. "And do not walk in the way of evil. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble." The people on the path of the wicked are so evil, they can't even sleep unless they've caused trouble! Some people have bedtime routines that they must do or they can't sleep, things like have a snack, or go to the restroom, or have a cup of water. But these guys are so bad, their bedtime routine is doing evil! In Proverbs 4:19, Solomon concludes his little rant on the wicked with, "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble." This path of the wicked is pitch black. It's an endless foreboding darkness. They can't see where they are, and they're so blinded by evil, they don't even know what they're doing. But ...
"The Path of the Righteous is Like the Light of Dawn"
Hallelujah for that conjunction! Just when we think there's only one depraved road to follow, we're given hope! On Proverbs 4:18, the ESV Online Study Bible says, "The path of the righteous is the way of wisdom. The image here ("like the light of dawn") is of ever-increasing brightness, from first light until noon. The path of a person refers to the moral orientation of his or her life. It is this that shines brighter and brighter, i.e., keeps increasing in the way in which it displays God's light (cf. Psalm. 19:8; 119:105, 130; Prov. 6:23)" The wisdom of a righteous person shines "brighter and brighter," while the "way of the wicked is like deep darkness." Do you see Solomon's comparison? Light to darkness. Hope to hopelessness. Wisdom to folly.
We all approach the crossroad of life on a daily basis, as each choice we make reflects which path we choose to embark upon. So today, will you choose the Path of the Wicked and head down a road of deep darkness, or will you choose the Path of the Righteous and shine brighter and brighter like the light of dawn?