Introduction

Hot on the heels of the previous thing that God hates (A heart that devises wicked plans, Proverbs 6:18), comes this one which goes hand in hand. Those who carry out wicked plans do so without hesitation. They are eager to get their hands dirty to carry out their plan.

Looking back at Proverbs 1, the wisdom is shared, My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent…My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:10, 15-16)

Bible Examples in O.T.

Jezebel was swift, as we saw in our previous article, to help her husband, King Ahab, obtain Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kg. 21:8-10).

The wisdom of Proverbs to a young man is to keep his wits about him at all times. In proverbs 7:7ff, it talks about a young man devoid of understanding; one who is charmed by a harlot because of her flattering speech. The result is found in verse 22, Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks (Proverbs 7:22). Notice it says, ‘immediately’. He’s not even thinking of the long-term issue but, rather, the immediate moment. It cost him his life (vs. 23).

The prophet Isaiah spoke of this problem, Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. (Isaiah 59:7-8)

The bottom line here is summarized in Proverbs 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. By following your own heart, you are swift to end your own life.

Bible example in the N.T.

A perfect example of this is found in John 8, Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (John 8:2-5)

Notice here that it said, they caught her in the very act of adultery. In order for this to happen, they’d either had to have peeked in every window (looking for unrighteous behavior) in the area or, more likely, arranged for this woman to be engaged with a man so that they might purposefully interrupt them and drag her before Jesus. In verse 6, it gives the reason, This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. The scribes and Pharisees were very anxious to find Jesus guilty of something of which to accuse him. They were swift in their evil plans, though they were thwarted time and time again.

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he echoed Isaiah’s sentiments, “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:15-18)

Encouragement for the Christian

In contrast, the Christian should be swift in running according to God’s word. David wrote, I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart…I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. (Psalms 119:32, 60) Later, in the same psalm, he writes, I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. (Psalms 119:101-102)

All the encouragement we need is found in scripture. The writer of Hebrews, after listing the Heroes of Faith in chapter 11, had this to say, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Conclusion

Paul writes, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24) We do well to keep our eyes on the prize, the imperishable crown (vs. 25). By doing this, we avoid running to evil.