The Wanderer's Gloomy State: Understanding and Spiritual Death

Proverbs 20:16 declares: "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."

What constitutes "the way of understanding"? The book of nature and providence lies open to all humanity, yet the heathen philosophers shamefully wandered from it, erring grossly in their pursuit of vile affections. The book of revelation—Scripture itself—was committed to the Jews as a distinct people, yet their teachers departed from doctrines they knew. In our time, the complete revelation stands before us, yet multitudes never read the Scriptures, while many wander from their precepts, preferring flattering conceits to the truth of God. The Bible rightly deserves the title "the way of understanding" because it contains all we must know of Elohim our Maker, of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and of the Holy Ghost—our teacher, sanctifier, guide, and comforter. Where pure and public worship is performed, there stands the way of understanding.

The wanderer's gloomy state awaits in "the congregation of the dead"—that vast assembly comprised of all who are dead in trespasses and sins (nekros, spiritual death). This condition implies sin's prevalence throughout the soul. Eternal death severs soul and body from all heavenly possessions and enjoyments forever, yielding misery in full measure, without mixture, intermission, or end.