Eating the Bread of Wickedness - Proverbs 4:17

In the book of Proverbs Solomon told his son that wicked people, “sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall”, and in chapter four and verse seventeen of Proverbs Solomon said evil people, “eat the bread of wickedness” where we read,

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

The verse begins, “For they eat the bread of wickedness, ...”. Solomon began with the words, “for they eat” or “because, since and on account that they, the wicked and evil people, consume and devour” “the bread of wickedness” which means “the grain or food pertaining to wrong and guiltiness”. Solomon shared how evil people consume and devour the nourishment of bad, guiltiness and wrong.

The verse goes on to say, “... and drink the wine of violence.” Solomon continued with the words, “and drink the wine” or “and imbibe the effervescent and intoxicating fruit” “of violence” which means “belonging to wrong, cruelty and injustice”. Solomon said people who are evil also imbibe the intoxicating fruit pertaining to cruelty and injustice.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon knew the consumption habits of people who are wicked. He understood that they dieted upon evil acts and deeds, and they were constantly cruel and unjust. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of every person, and yet, if a person refuses to receive God's forgiveness of sin by believing and trusting in Jesus, they are prone to desire bad, wicked and evil deeds for all their lives. Anyone, regardless of their past, may receive Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, and they will be forgiven for their sins, inherit eternal life and never be among those who “eat and drink” of wicked deeds in this world.

Next time Solomon says, “the path of the just is as the shining light”, 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".