Don't Envy the Oppressor - Proverbs 3:31

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said to his son, “Strive not with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm”, and in chapter three and verse thirty-one of Proverbs Solomon said, “envy you not the oppressor” where we read,

Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

The verse begins, “Envy you not the oppressor, ...”. Solomon began with the words, “envy you not” or “do not in any way be zealous or provoked to jealousy toward” “the oppressor” which means “the violent person whether male or female”. Solomon told his son not to be jealous of the person who is violent toward others.

The verse goes on to say, “... and choose none of his ways.” Solomon continued with the words, “and choose” or “and elect, select or decide for” “none of his ways” which means “not one or any of his, the violent person's, roads, journeys, manners, paths, habits or courses of life”. Solomon instructed his son not to elect to live according to any of the manners and paths belonging to the violent person.

When we mediate upon Solomon's words in this verse, we discover how he wanted his son to keep away from the people who were violent toward others, and his son was not to adopt their manners, habits or courses of life. God wants us to follow His “ways”, and He gave us His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for all our sins to keep us away from oppressive acts. When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from being jealous of people who commit wicked acts of violence against others.

Next time Solomon says, “the froward is abomination to the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".