05.29.24
Don’t Be a Fool
We are now walking through chapters 5-7 of the Book of Proverbs. These are concerned with the issue of morality in a twisted world. God made man and woman and gave them the gift of the physical relationship for propagation and enjoyment. But He put limits upon this precious gift, and penalties that come for violating his sweet guidelines. Solomon knew all about this of course, and is giving us sound advice. Sadly, it his later years he failed to follow his own advice and paid a steep price.
We are in the midst of looking at the admonitions for a moral life that he presents in these three chapters.
We continue with the reminder that God knows everything (5:21). For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his goings. He knows what we do. He records what we have done. He ponders our actions.
Solomon then advises us to stay away from temptation (5:8). Remove your way far from her, and come not near the door of her house. Our modern way of saying the same thing is “He that plays with fire will be burned.” Joseph of old is our great example of one who simply ran from the temptress. Earlier Solomon had written (4:14,15) Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Could he have been more clear?
His next advice to us is not to let sin make a fool of us (6:24). To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Have you noticed how commercials for the consumption of alcohol as a beverage often show young people, just barely above the age for legal drinking, in all of their joy. The pain and suffering of broken homes and lives is never shown.
Solomon urges us to especially be careful of the temptation of lust (6:25, 26). Lust not after her beauty in your heart; neither let her take you with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
Lust fuels the fire. Jesus told us that lust is sin when not quenched (Matthew 5:27, 28). Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, ‘You shall not commit adultery:’ (28) but I say unto you, that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.’
Solomon’s final admonition is that the best safeguard to a clean life is to have a strong and loving relationship with your spouse (5:15-20). This passage is a beautiful treatment of married love. Passions are to be satisfied only within the marriage bond. The ‘waters’ in the text likely refer to children, which are by God’s grace, the blessing of a monogamous relationship. We are to love our spouse. We are to enjoy our relationship with our spouse. This will not only serve as the basis for a happy home, but it will keep us from sin.
These are biblical guidelines for morality. Next time we will consider the consequences of immorality as presented in these same three chapters.
If we at Immanuel Baptist Church can be of any help to you, please feel free to call upon us.