This chapter is addressed to sons, but daughters, take care, it can happen to you, too. It's a good warning in the physical sense, but I've often thought of it in the spiritual sense as well. It's so easy to be seduced by the things of the world. Things like money, stuff, power, fame, alcohol/drugs, relationships, even things like keeping up with the Joneses. Verse 3 says the adultress is smooth in the way she attracts, so is the world when it is wooing you from following the Lord. Verse 4 says that in the end she is bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword. Guess what? When we walk away from the Lord and get into the things the would call to us, their end is bitter. How many times have we seen or heard of ruined lives because the person chose something or someone other than Christ.
Verse 8 says keep away from her - don't even go near her door. When we think we'll just take a peek at something we've set ourselves up for a fall. Why even go close and invite temptation? We're not as strong as we like to think we are. Verses 9-14 give a picture of the sad end: we give our strength and years to the cruel one and strangers, our hard-earned goods to strangers, our bodies are wasted, there's bitterness and regret (vs. 12-13). Not a pretty picture.
Then Solomon goes on to encourage us to stay with the one we're married to - what a joy it is. It's the same in our spiritual walk. Stay with the Lord - what a joy it is! Verse 21 says my ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches my path. That's the path I want to follow.
So, physically, yes, stay with the spouse the Lord has blessed you with - don't go awanderin'. Spiritually, it's the same - stay with the Lord - don't go awanderin'. There's no place better than in His arms.
Love to all,
Kim
Proverbs 5
1My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding;
2That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.
3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her speech;
4But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.
7Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house,
9Or you will give your vigor to others And your years to the cruel one;
10And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11And you groan at your final end, When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12And you say, "How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof!
13"I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14"I was almost in utter ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation."
15Drink water from your own cistern And fresh water from your own well.
16Should your springs be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?
17Let them be yours alone And not for strangers with you.
18Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love.
20For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
21For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths.
22His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
Proverbs 5 (New American Standard Bible)
1My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding;
2That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.
3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her speech;
4But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.
7Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house,
9Or you will give your vigor to others And your years to the cruel one;
10And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11And you groan at your final end, When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12And you say, "How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof!
13"I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14"I was almost in utter ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation."
15Drink water from your own cistern And fresh water from your own well.
16Should your springs be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?
17Let them be yours alone And not for strangers with you.
18Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love.
20For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
21For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths.
22His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
Proverbs 5 (New American Standard Bible)
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1 comment:
kim Thank you for commention on my blog. It looks like you're enjoying the Proverbs. I find them guite enlightening myself. Have a great day. God bless
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