Proverbs 14:22

Proverbs 14:22 "Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good."

Because he was wise, Solomon knew what to say and how to say it.  In this proverb, he began by asking a question.  He asked this question not to get a verbal answer but to get a mental reaction.  He wanted to get his reader thinking.  He knew that the mind so easily gets distracted or distant in its thoughts.  He wanted his audience to do more than listen; he wanted them to think.  This proverb is all about the heavy consequences of thinking, specifically thoughts pertaining to good and evil.

The question, "do they not err that devise evil?" invites brain activity.  It provokes mental investigation.  It gets us thinking more than listening.  By getting us thinking about the question, Solomon places us in the arena that this proverb is addressing - the arena of serious thought.  To devise evil is to think deeply about evil.  More specifically, to devise evil is to mentally create evil scenarios, plots, plans, imaginations or inventions.  To devise anything is to come up with something that is unique and creative.  Devising is not just contemplating an existing thought or idea; it's creating a new thought or idea in your mind.  Devising is not just vetting or processing someone else's proposed thought or idea; it's birthing an entirely new thought or creating a uniquely different spin on an existing idea.  As the proverb clearly states, anything from good to evil can be devised.

The Bible is full of examples of this mental creativity.  When the Israelites were building the Tabernacle later in the Book of Exodus, God filled Bezaleel and Aholiab with His Spirit so they could "devise" both "cunning" (skilled, ingenious) and "curious" works.  These carvings and castings were uniquely crafted in their minds before ever being made in the desert.  They didn't go to a catalog to order or mimic already existing furniture or ornaments in production.  They came up with the designs on their own in their heads.  In 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam came up with a corrupted version of Judaism for the newly formed Northern Kingdom of Israel.  In it, he came up with new altars and locations of worship as well as a new religious calendar, "which he had devised of his own heart."  Over and over, the word, "devise" is used in the Book of Esther to describe Haman's creative plot to exterminate the Jewish people once and for all.  In Psalm 36, David described an evil man as one who "flattereth himself in his own eyes" and as one who then "deviseth mischief upon his bed."  This evil man is coming up with ideas on his own that he thinks are intelligent and extraordinary.  To devise is to be creative.  This proverb highlights the consequences of that creativity when applied to thoughts of morality.

We can be just as creative with good and evil as we can be with decor and fashion.  We can be just as creative with good and evil as with food and beverage.  We can be just as creative with good and evil as with technology and manufacturing.  Just as we imagine the perfect house, we imagine the perfect spouse.  Just as we can put together a unique financial plan to obtain that dream house, we can devise a unique relational plan to obtain that dream man or woman and it can be either good or evil.  God designed us with a tremendous capacity for creativity.  Unfortunately, we disobeyed God in the Garden and voluntarily consumed the knowledge of good and evil, which infused our creative minds with a library of evil building blocks.  It wouldn't be long before God noted of man, "that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5).  Our creativity was meant to be a gift but because of our disobedience in the garden, it now can so easily become a curse if we use it within our knowledge of evil.

When we use our creativity to come up with evil ideas, intents or inventions, it will lead to certain error.  When we allow our minds to come up with ways to hurt people, those invisible and inaudible thoughts will eventually cause us to wander from the right way.  Solomon wanted his audience to know that good and evil start in the mind.  How we use our creativity determines our morality.  If we use the creativity in our mind to craft venomous words to "show him" or to "get back at her," we are setting ourselves up for tremendous moral and relational error.  If we devise cruel words in our mind for paper, screen or conversation that we think will really make a vengeful splash with someone, we're giving our wicked tongues and selfish fingers too much temptation.  We can't afford to devise evil because once that creative thought has been formed, our flesh will latch on to it and remain obsessively discontent until it sees it play out in real life.  If we devise a scenario where we are romantically or sexually involved with someone we shouldn't be involved with, we're putting ourselves in great danger because what we create in our creative minds is what our human nature wants to fulfil in our lives.  Mental creativity with immorality puts a person on the fast track for moral mistake.  "Do they not err that devise evil?"

On the promising backend of this proverb is the reassurance that when we use our creativity for good, we will receive mercy and truth.  When we spend our sleepless nights coming up with creative ways to help people, including those who have wronged us, God promises to send us mercy and truth.  When we use our God-given creativity to imagine ways to better serve Him, we're promised by His holy word mercy and truth.  When we think about new ways to be thankful, God loves that and to prove it, He sends mercy and truth.  We have as much capacity to devise good as we do evil.  As dark as our minds can be when it comes to imagining evil, we are equally as capable of brightening our minds by imagining good.  As evil as our devices can be towards others because of lust, pride, jealousy and envy, our mental devices can be just as good towards others because of love, joy, peace and long-suffering.

Moral success begins well before the hands, feet and lips get involved.  What we think and how we think is where it all begins.  Creatively thinking about evil will derail us and cause our lives to err from the right way.  Creatively thinking about good will keep us on the rails of spiritual success because it will bring mercy in times of uncleanness and truth in times of uncertainty.  Let us realize and remember that just because our evil imaginations haven't yet become reality doesn't mean that they aren't terribly dangerous.  Refuse to devise evil and determine to instead, devise good.  God gets creative with mercy and truth in our lives when we get creative with good.