608_The two paths (Proverbs 4:14-19) Proverbs 4:14-19 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. A traveler once came to a fork in the road just as the sun was setting. One path was wide, well-trodden, and busy with many feet moving swiftly. The other was narrow, quiet, and gently sloping upward, barely visible in the fading light. There was no signpost, no voice calling out which way to go. The traveler hesitated, knowing that once he chose a path, turning back would not be easy. Life, in many ways, is lived at such crossroads—not once, but daily. Scripture tells us that since the beginning of creation, humanity has always stood before two paths. In the garden of Eden, those two paths were clearly marked. One was the tree of life, symbolizing dependence on God, obedience, and life flowing from relationship with Him. The other was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, representing independence—man deciding for himself what is right and what is wrong, apart from God. When Adam and Eve chose the forbidden tree, they were not merely eating fruit; they were declaring autonomy. They chose a path that said, “We will determine our own way.” The result was separation from God, expulsion from the garden, and the loss of access to the tree of life. God, in His mercy, prevented them from living forever in that fallen state. From that moment onward, humanity has been walking between two paths. This pattern continues throughout Scripture. Cain and Abel stood on different paths. Cain brought an offering shaped by his own effort and understanding, while Abel came by faith, trusting God’s way. One path was marked by self-reliance and resentment; the other by humility and obedience. The difference was not merely in what they offered, but in the posture of their hearts. One led to jealousy and murder, the other to God’s approval. Later, we encounter two cities that reflect these paths. Babel represents humanity’s collective attempt to reach heaven through rebellion and self-exaltation—“Let us make a name for ourselves.” Jerusalem, by contrast, is portrayed as the holy city where God dwells with a people who submit to His will. One city rises in pride and is scattered; the other is built by God and endures. Even Abraham’s household reflects this truth. Ishmael, born according to the flesh, and Isaac, born according to promise, stand as living testimonies that God’s way is not achieved by human striving but received by faith. The book of Psalms opens by confronting
