But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
A proverb is a tool to teach wisdom in a simple way with a word picture, or with contrasting or complimentary statements. In this proverb the second line expands the thought of the first line and uses a simple picture to convey truth. When we walk in ways that please God (in the path He directs us to walk according to His word) we are on a “righteous” path. And, we are on a path that is visible and shines bright like the dawn of a new day. As we keep walking on this path it gets brighter and brighter as we walk and our life grows older. It will increase in brightness until we have the light of a full day. Such is the walk for the believer who walks according to God’s word. The more you walk on that path and in obedience to His word the clearer things become. In contrast, those who walk according to their own wisdom and map are never sure what is ahead. God’s word tells us they walk in darkness and it gets more and more dark as they walk that road. So, walk in the light as He is in the light and be assured the walk is right.
The clear path or dark path is our choice. In this proverb we see that Solomon talks to us about the type of path we have in life before us. For those who choose to walk in the way of righteousness there is a clear and bright path. It is filled with understanding and wisdom about what to do in life. But, for those who forsake God's righteous ways there is another path. This path is vague and dark in what is before you. You don't know where you are, or have little understanding about life. When we meet with an group of people who do not have God in their lives you see this darkness; their vague understanding about the better things of life. They seem to love the most trivial and argue about the most mundane things. That is the path you are on when you choose not to follow God's righteous ways. We choose the path we follow when we choose to obey God's righteousness.
When we think of the righteous and their battle with sin we get much from the Apostle Paul in his writings. However in Proverbs 4 Solomon gives us some added insight. Paul tells about the struggle we still have over sin despite being set free from the penalty of the sin. In Romans 6 and 7 he tells us that the power of sin has been wounded but even its weakness combined with its sheer presence it can still render us it's victim. Paul let's us know his own on-again-off-again walk in Romans 7. But, shouldn't we have more victory and less defeat if Christ is truly living in us, for us and with us? Solomon adds some great truth in Proverbs 4:18. He tells us that the walk of the righteous should be one that gets "brighter and brighter" as the walk draws closer to the "dawn.". Solomon tells us that victory is inevitable (the "dawn") but also growing in brightness (victory) each step. The believer goes forward into ultimate brightness. He doesn't shrink back into the dark. The unrighteous (verse 19) are entirely in darkness and don't know what they stumble over. Believers should be experiencing and realizing a brighter walk as they draw closer to their ultimate glorification. But, until then, we have perfect brightness in an ever growing bits and pieces. Rejoice in the brightness of the walk. It will be even brighter tomorrow; then even more brighter next week, next month , next year until we are home.
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