Rejecting Isolation in Proverbs 18:1
Proverbs 18:1 provides a stark warning about isolation that is undeniably applicable in today’s culture.
One of the easiest things to do in our current society today is isolate ourselves. This has been illuminated all the more in light of the recent pandemic. To be clear, COVID-19 did not create this epidemic of isolation, it only exposed it more clearly than before.
A few decades ago, it was harder to live in isolation due to the lack of entertainment available and without smartphones or ready access to the internet. Now, many prefer the isolation and the dark room to do whatever one wishes to do or watch whatever one wants to watch. This includes pornography, spending hours playing video games, surfing endlessly on social media, or commenting on posts in hateful ways using a pseudonym (or maybe not even using a pseudonym!). All this is done in places easily hidden from others. As Proverbs 18:1 says, “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires, he rebels against all sound judgement.”
“One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires, he rebels against all sound judgement.”
It takes very little effort to live in isolation in our culture. Once you have a good paying job, in most cities you can get a one-bedroom apartment and live whatever life you wish to live. Few people would know of your true motivations, daily activities, or hidden desires of the heart.
This is very different, not just in many other parts of the world where isolation is harder to come by, but also during the time of Jesus. Families stuck together and lived within a structured community. This created a stronger bond and accountability amongst each other and left little to be hidden.
Yet, it is clear that even then, people in these places or times would still seek a place of isolation. The ways or means may be different throughout the centuries or areas of the world, but the desires and acts of sin do not change. Darkness and isolation are, and will always be, Satan’s stronghold.
We can look to King David when he should have gone out to lead his army in battle after the winter months,—he stayed behind. He found himself isolated with his own thoughts and desires which led to him seeing Bathsheba looking mighty fine in the top of her house. Instead of turning away and seeking out people who could have held him accountable—many of which had already gone off to war—he acted on his desires to bring Bathsheba to him. His isolation from those who knew him the best led to his desires to take Bathsheba to bed, impregnate her, and then kill her husband in battle (2 Samuel 11:1-5).
By isolating himself from his troops and the men in his life, he opened himself up to his own sinful desires. David already had plenty of wives and concubines, but he wanted what he could not have and this led him to commit adultery and murder. David’s acts in the dark could have been removed if he left for battle as he should have.
“By isolating himself from his troops and the men in his life, he opened himself up to his own sinful desires.”
In the time of Ezekiel, God took him on a journey through the temple grounds to see the abominations that were committed by the elders and priests. He explained to Ezekiel by showing him why He had forsaken the land and would bring judgment on to them. They had put God and His laws to the side by worshipping other gods, committing sinful acts, and were full of wickedness:
[God] said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his idol? For they are saying, ‘The Lord does not see us. The Lord has abandoned the land.’” Again he said to me, “You will see even more detestable acts that they are committing.” ( Ezekiel 8:12-13 CSB)
Few people would dare commit acts of darkness in the open. This is why darkness and isolation are often sought out. There is a degree of action required on our side to find isolated areas in our lives to commit sin. This separation gives us a sense of protection from the outside world and the eyes of those who would know the evil for what it is and make us feel guilty about it. No one wants to have their sins exposed in broad daylight, but it doesn’t stop us from committing them in the dark. But just like King David, nothing can be truly hidden in the dark. Jesus was very clear about this when talking about the Pharisees:
There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. (Luke 12:2-3 CSB)
Wise Words from the Word
Stefan Johnsson
In Wise Words from the Word, Stefan Johnsson helps you embark on a transformative journey with this weekly devotional, crafted to illuminate the timeless wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Delve into the heart of scripture, where the Holy Spirit speaks and guides us to a deeper understanding of God.
God does not want us to live our lives in isolation.
This is contradictory to the way we were told to live. Light exposes what is in the dark. If we are to be a light to the world, it should shine brightly to all that is around and expose the acts that are done in darkness. We cannot hide this light and nor should we try to seek out darkness to commit acts of sin which are not to be a part of our lives.
“It is in dark and lonely places that our desires may overcome us.”
We are a new creation, and made to be and live holy lives in honor of our Father in heaven.
If we live in isolation and seek it out, we live in opposition to the gospel and what it stands for. And God, in His goodness and justice, will expose this eventually, if we are unable to ask for His help to get us through it. God disciplines those He loves and exposes the sin which so often entangles us.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that we are to take every thought we have and make it obedient to Christ. God gives us the power to overcome temptations and sin, but many of us lack this capacity because we fail to see the sin that is creeping into our lives. One way to stop ourselves from doing this is to keep ourselves from seeking isolation. It is in dark and lonely places that our desires may overcome us.
We have to seek out a community of believers and be in fellowship with our brothers or sisters in Christ who can hold us accountable and help us conquer the sins that binds us. Yes, it may seem uncomfortable to live with others around, but the accountability and discomfort is well worth it if it keeps us from sinning. God wants us to be a shining light to those around, and no one can shine this light in a dark room where it is covered up and hidden.
Stepping out into the light is hard at first, but it will not disappoint. God wants us to believe in Him and that we have the ability to conquer all sin, but we need to trust that He will help us through and that He has given us the tools necessary to do so.
