Proverbs 1:12 “Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:”

Solomon is like a wise teacher who’s telling his son to be careful about who he hangs out with. He says there are some people who might seem cool but actually just want to get you into trouble. Solomon points out three ways these bad influences work: they try to tempt you, they want to hurt others for no reason, and they’re always looking for the next bad thing to do. He’s basically giving his son a heads-up on how to spot these troublemakers.

Everyone, no matter how old they are, should stay away from people who love causing trouble. The bad guys in Proverbs 1 aren’t just into small pranks; they’re out to really hurt good people. This kind of mean behavior has been around since the very beginning of time.

When you read about these troublemakers in Proverbs 1:12, it’s like reading about a scary snake, a python, that eats everything in sight, whether it’s dangerous or not. Pythons can eat really big animals, sometimes even too big for them, which can end up being a problem for the snake.

So, just like you’d be careful around a huge snake in the wild, you should be careful around people who are up to no good. Solomon’s warning is like a reminder of the sneaky snake in the Garden of Eden story, where Satan tricked Adam and Eve. He didn’t have a good reason to mess with them; he just did it because he’s all about sin. When Eve ate the fruit, it was like she got swallowed up by sin, just like the snake would do.

Satan is always hungry for more people to mess up. He doesn’t just want a piece of someone; he wants the whole person. We’re told to watch out for him because he’s like a predator looking for his next meal. We should avoid people who act like that and keep our eyes open for any tricks they might try to pull.

Here are some examples of bad influences mentioned in the Bible:

⁃ **Adam and Eve** (Genesis 3): Eve, influenced by the serpent, convinces Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to their fall from grace¹.

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⁃ **Samson and Delilah** (Judges 16): Delilah betrays Samson, who was blessed with immense strength, by cutting his hair while he slept, thus nullifying his strength².

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⁃ **Amnon and Jonadab** (2 Samuel 13): Jonadab gives Amnon terrible advice that leads to the assault of Tamar, causing great turmoil within King David’s family².

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⁃ **Ananias and Sapphira** (Acts 5): This couple lies about their donation to the apostles, influenced by greed, and both face divine judgment as a result.

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– **The Pharisees and Sadducees**: Often depicted as hypocrites, they influence people against Jesus’ teachings and plot to kill Him.

These stories serve as warnings about the consequences of succumbing to negative influences and the importance of choosing one’s companions wisely. They also highlight the need for personal integrity and the dangers of deceit and betrayal. Remember, it’s not just about avoiding bad influences; it’s also about being a good influence on others.