This week, we’ll study the men in Proverbs.  Today, we begin this series with a lesson on the evil man starting in Prov 2:12-15.  The evil man:

Leaves the paths of uprightness – Prov 2:13 – a righteous man has to depart from the way of righteousness to enter the way of the evil man.  He knows that his way is not right.  Cain was an evil man [1 Jn 3:12].  That’s why his sacrifice was not accepted.  God had respect unto Abel’s offering and not unto Cain’s, because the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord [Prov 15:8].

Walks in the ways of darkness – Prov 2:13 – the way of the wicked is as darkness [Prov 4:19]. That’s why they do evil things in the dark.  God is light, and in him is no darkness at all  [1 Jn 1:5].  Jesus Christ is the light of the world [Jn 8:12].  The evil man will have nothing to do with God and Jesus because he doesn’t want his wicked works reproved [Jn 3:19-20].

Rejoices to do evil – Prov 2:14 – he has pleasure in wickedness [Eph 2:2-3].  When we were saved, we turned from our old sins [1 Pet 4:2-4].  We have found joy in the Lord rather than in evil.  

Delights in the frowardness of the wicked – Prov 2:14 – to be froward is to be perverse; not willing to yield to or comply with what is required; ungovernable.  The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were forward.  In these latter times, we see things are the same as they were back then [2 Tim 3:1-4].  Before the coming of the Lord things will be like the were in the days of Lot and in the days of Noah.  Evil men are proud of their frowardness.

Speaketh froward things – Prov 2:12 – you can tell he’s wicked by the way he speaks, for out of the mouth the heart speaketh.  He publishes his wickedness.  In Prov 16:28, a froward man soweth strife.  Evil men are hard to get along with.

Seeketh only rebellion – Prov 17:11 – therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.  Absalom is the perfect example of a rebellious man against whom a cruel messenger was sent.  He met his death by a cruel messenger named, Joab.

Conclusion: Prov 29:6 – you must remember, if you are an evil man, that in the transgression of an evil man there is a snare.  You can’t do evil and get away with it.  You can escape judgment for a while.  But the snare you can’t see is lying there to trap you at just the right moment.  You must also remember Prov 24:20, “for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.”