How does Job 18:7 illustrate the consequences of wickedness in one's life? “His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.” The picture in one sentence Wickedness promises freedom but squeezes the life-path tighter and finally snags the sinner in the very trap he set. What “his vigorous stride is shortened” tells us • Sin restricts: Plans that once looked broad and promising shrink into narrow corridors of fear (Proverbs 4:19). • Energy drains: The “vigorous stride” fades; guilt and consequences sap strength (Psalm 32:3-4). • Opportunities close: Doors once open slam shut as trust erodes and reputations crumble (Proverbs 13:15). What “his own schemes trip him up” teaches • Self-made snares: The wicked fall into pits they dig for others (Proverbs 26:27; Psalm 7:15-16). • Inevitable harvest: “Whatever a man sows, he will reap” (Galatians 6:7). • Collapse from within: The downfall comes, not chiefly from outside enemies, but from the inner rot of deceit (Psalm 36:12). Ripple effects in everyday life • Broken relationships—lies unravel friendships, marriages, partnerships. • Legal and financial fallout—dishonest gain turns to loss (Proverbs 10:2). • Spiritual dullness—hard hearts stop hearing God (Hebrews 3:13). • Eternal loss—unrepentant wickedness ends in judgment (Romans 6:23). The righteous contrast • Psalm 37:23—“The steps of a man are established by the LORD.” • Proverbs 4:18—“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till midday.” • John 8:36—True freedom comes when the Son sets us free, not when we pursue our own crooked schemes. Take-home truths • Sin shrinks life; obedience enlarges it. • Wicked plotting is boomerang-shaped—what you throw returns to cut you down. • God’s Word stands: every step away from Him is a step into a tightening snare. |
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