Proverbs 14:22

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about having goodness and faithfulness in your life: 

Proverbs 14:22 (ESV)

Do they not go astray who devise evil?

Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.

The last verse in Psalm 23 states the following, "... surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life ..."!   Notice that when we follow the Shepherd, we end up having "goodness" and "mercy" follow us.   David, the composer of Psalm 23, is trying to let us know that when we walk after God we will have His blessings (goodness and mercy) follow us all the days of our lives.   His son, Solomon might have had this Psalm in mind when he wrote the above proverb.   Those who follow after evil and devise in their hearts, will never have God's goodness and mercy follow and pursue them.   But, those who fear The Lord will devise good and will have kindness (same word as "mercy" in Psalm 23) and truth as their blessing.  When we have evil in our hearts we will go astray, down the path that is not found in Psalm 23.   But, following The Lord as my Shepherd is the same as the Fear of The Lord in Proverbs.  That brings the blessing of truth and mercy on our lives: Both on our lives and through our lives to others.  Folly's downfall is that she does not provide the safe haven she pretends to provide.   When we allow folly to guide our heart she devises evil into hearts; that affects our minds; and that causes us to direct our feet on a stray path.  But, when we seek truth and follow hard after God, we devise good in our hearts and that caused our minds to make decisions that move our feet to do good things for God.