If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:  (12)  Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:  (13)  We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:  (14)  Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:   

Proverbs 1:11-14

Explanation:

In these verses Solomon speaks to his son about the kind of enticing that the sinners may articulate.  You see a plan that includes needless violence, victimization of the innocent, murder for financial gain, and conspiring to do all of this as a group.

You find in these 4 verses two sections.  The first two verses articulate what they want to do.  They want to wait for the innocent to shed blood.  Notice they speak of the innocent in the singular in verse 11, but then as “them” or plural in verse 12.  The idea here is that it is not just a solitary event.  The invitation to do this means that the person who gives in adopts the lifestyle of the people enticing them.  They are now a part of their group.  Once you commit this kind of atrocity with someone else, you are connected to them.  When you begin to get involved in this way it can become a lifestyle that is difficult to leave.

The second section includes the reasons why they want to do this activity.  They want the financial gain.  They think that this is a way to “get rich quick”.  It’s “easy money”. 

Application:

In tomorrow’s verses we are going to see what Solomon says is the consequences of the person that gives in to the invitation of these kinds of people.  Just a few points of application here:

• Even though these verses were written long ago, these kinds of propositions are being made, especially to the young, every day. 
• People still seek to work together with others to victimize and steal from the innocent all the time.
• We have all been invited to cut corners to get gain at the expense of the innocent at some point.
• Believers not only avoid this kind of involvement, but seek to promote justice in the world wherever possible.
• There is always some sort of promise of reward for doing the wrong thing.  We must recognize the folly of believing that this will end in our good. 

Response:

2 Questions:

• Where am I enticed by the promise of “easy money” or reward for doing the wrong thing?
• Where can I promote justice and righteousness in my world today?