With a new school year upon us, I thought it might be advantageous to revive a devotional I authored August 2, 2014 when “Common Core” was in the forefront of the news.
In an earlier devotional we noted that Solomon set forth eight imperatives for his son to hear and heed regarding the pursuit of godly wisdom (Proverbs 2:1-9). He followed those imperatives with two admonitions concerning the enemies of youth: Wicked men and their influence (Proverbs 2:12-15) and the Adulterous woman and her ways (Proverbs 2:16-19).
We continue our focus on Solomon’s warning concerning the wicked and I invite you to review my July 2, 2014 devotional from Proverbs 2:12-13 to put today’s proverbs, Proverbs 2:14-15, in context.
Proverbs 2:12-13 – “To deliver [rescue; save] thee from the way [path; course of life] of the evil man [wicked], from the man that speaketh [tell; say] froward things [lies and perverseness]; 13 Who leave [forsake; abandon; depart from; loosen] the paths [way; manner; race; troop] of uprightness, to walk in the ways [path; course of life] of darkness [i.e. ignorance; sorrow];”
Every godly parent shares the concern Solomon expresses in verse 12—that the 
wisdom they taught and instilled in their child’s youth will keep them from the path of sin and temptation of sinners. Solomon warns that the wicked are not content to pursue their sinful paths alone; they purpose to lure the innocent, the foolish and naïve to follow their wicked ways.
Proverbs 2:14-15 – “Who [men who forsake the paths of righteousness] rejoice [glad; merry] to do evil [sin; wickedness], and delight [rejoice; glad] in the frowardness [perversity] of the wicked; 15 Whose [men who forsake the paths of righteousness] ways [path; manner] are crooked [perverse; false; twisted], and they froward [depart; turn aside] in their paths [ways; trench – i.e. rut]:”
I close with a challenge and warning to parents of school age children: School will be back in session in two weeks and many of you will send your children to schools where they will sit under teachers and professors who are adamantly opposed to your values, philosophy of life and Christian worldview.
There are a few Christian teachers in the midst of the public school system; however, they are few in number and the government has nearly gagged their freedom to express spiritual principles. There are a handful of teachers who, though not Christian, are principled and factual; however, be forewarned even those teachers are going to be shackled by a “Common Core” ideology that is a government mandate prejudiced against Christian values.
Mom and dad, you will be wise to hear and heed Paul’s warning to Christians in Corinth, a wicked, immoral city of the 1st century:
1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Be not deceived [don’t be led astray]: evil communications [company and companions] corrupt [destroy; defile] good manners [morals; habits].”
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith
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