No Sleep Without Mischief - Proverbs 4:16

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said to his son, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of Proverbs Solomon said of the wicked, “they sleep not, except they have done mischief” where we read,

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief;

and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

The verse begins, “For they sleep not, except they have done mischief;”. Solomon began with the words, “for they sleep not” or “because, since and on account that they, the wicked and evil people, do not slumber or rest”, “except they have done mischief” which means “unless they, the wicked and evil people, made, performed and produced bad, evil and wicked acts and deeds”. Solomon shared how wicked and evil people do not rest or slumber unless they have committed some wicked act or deed.

The verse continues, “and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” Solomon added the words, “and their sleep” or “and their, the wicked and evil's, slumber and rest” “is taken away” which means “is plundered, robbed and removed by force”, “unless they cause some to fall” or “except that they, the wicked and evil people, originate other people to stumble, totter and be made weak and feeble”. Solomon said wicked and evil people have their slumber and rest removed by force except that they make other people stumble and to be made weak.

When we meditate upon Solomon's words in this verse, we learn how he knew people who are wicked and evil were unable to rest and slumber unless they committed wicked acts, and they were unable to “sleep” unless they made someone else weak and feeble. In other words, other people became the wicked person's prey. God wants no one to be like this, and yet, those who refuse to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind are subject to becoming this way. God loves us, and He will forgive our sins when we yield our lives to Jesus. He will also provide eternal life to us as we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”. Let us never be named among those who lose “sleep” because of their wickedness, and rather be among those who praise and honor Jesus as Lord.

Next time Solomon says the wicked, “eat the bread of wickedness”, 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".