Now Solomon is getting heated up. So what is the tie between wisdom and adultery?
Nothing. That's why Solomon is talking about it.
I have suggested for many years that men or women who are on the verge of an affair read chapters 5-7. It tears back the veil and exposes what is really happening when people stray from their spouse.
Sobering stuff.
What part of this makes an impact on your thinking? Or what do you recognize as truth in this passage when you look at this world?
Sobering stuff indeed.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't try to act like he doesn't see the ways a person can get drawn in, as he begins with honey-dripped lips and smooth speech. His advice is "Don't get close enough to SEE her honey-dripped lips and HEAR her smooth speech." In vs. 8, Solomon gives his best piece of advice:
"Keep to a path FAR from her,
Do not go near the door of her house."
He also gives a peek into the future: the regret, the physical toll, and the self-loathing:
"How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey...I have come to the brink of utter ruin."
And in the last verse, 23, he reminds us that a lack of discipline brings spiritual death. In all of this it is as if Solomon is pulling the veil off of the long-term consequences and saying that there is only ONE WAY out of this mess...don't go near her door in the first place. A wise person concentrates his efforts on avoiding bad choices, not plotting to overcome them afterward.
I have not been reading this at all but something hit me today and I opened the bible a read today chapter. This hit me hard because when I go out of town I have issues with the other sex. I had planned on going out today to a club and meet the opposite sex.
ReplyDeleteI read today's chapter and said wait a minute.
Now I know right from wrong but this was perfect for today. Made me really think twice about this afternoons trip.
Some of you might think this is inappropriate for a church blog. I thought hard about putting it here but, what a better place to show how God wors in mysterious ways.
Thank God
Thank Bammel
Signed
Desperately Seeking
Flee from sin! Imagine the future "At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent." For some, the future is too far from now to convince them from doing wrong. If it doesn't help, imagine the present! Imagine being caught. Imagine what it must feel like for your husband/wife.
ReplyDeleteWhat I also noticed how he describes her, in verse 6, "She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not." In order for her to not know her path is crooked, she cannot be close to God.
Any marriage that does not end in divorce and survives an adulterous relationship is still maimed. It will take years, maybe a lifetime, to heal. Statistically, this happens more often than we think.
For those that do end in divorce, how many have been spurred from an adulterous relationship and deemed necessary by either party because they have said, "God wanted it that way. When I marry him/her (the other one), we will be closer to God." Don't go near him/her and may you "rejoice in the wife(husband) of your youth."
I like what Matt said when he stated that "a wise person concentrates his efforts on avoiding bad choices, not plotting to overcome them afterward." Well said.
Awesome comments! Awesome insights! But the best thing is the individual wrestling with God's words and how they apply to each of our lives.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous - thank you for your gut-wrenching honesty. I've been convicted over time that these verses were, at least in part, written thousands of years ago as a red flag for business travelers in the 21st century.
Keep desperately seeking. It doesn't mean it will be easy, but it does mean you are striving to rely on God rather than your own human nature. I have prayed for you right now and will continue to do so. God's greatest blessings on you, my friend.
the verse that gives me hope and fear all at the same time is vers 21..."For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths." That He sees me and cares for me out of all the people in this world is fabulous, yet that He sees me and my heart is sobering. Yes, he sees me when I sin...He sees my heart when I judge another...when my pride is in full bloom...when I talk about others in gossip. We think of adultry as a "biggie" sin, and yes, this chapter is speaking of this sin. I am reminded that pride, judmentalism, gossip and a full buffet of sins are out there and the Lord has full view of them ALL!
ReplyDeleteAlso, something that hits me is the address of these proverbs to "My son...". As parents, we have a huge mission field right within the 4 walls of our house! Crosby, Stills and Nash even sing about it..."teach your children well"...it matters how we parent!
I happen to be listening to a sermon series of the beautiful side of the sexual union called the "Peasant Princess"...this proverb is the antithesis of the book of Song of Solomon.
@ Rick and Matt - Thanks for your daily posts which are both edifying and encouraging!!!
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous - A friend once reminded me that the devil knows our weaknesses and he WILL continually try to make us stumble from our righteous paths by regularly placing those temptations in front of us. My prayers are with you and I wish for you to know that I'm blessed and encouraged by your honesty and humility. It's important that we're able to recognize our faults.
Thank you anonymous for sharing. Let us know how it goes. The end of your story will be the 'praise end' of your report. I am encouraged. Why? Because someone trusted the church(blog) enough to tell the truth. I hide myself from the church in many ways because...because...I dont want anyone to know "what God knows about me". I wish church wasn't a place I had to hide from but it is. Not only do I have a nicely constructed facade to protect but I fear the shame of confession tho I know it would bring me release from separate bondages. I am committing to sending prayers up for you in the afternoons and I will ask God that he will pick you a place to relax and find companionship. Too bad there aren't church services every day of the week.
ReplyDeleteThis is what it is all about. Learning to trust fellow believers/strugglers and lean on each other along the path. Growth comes from this.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Anonymous, if any one of us are truly roaming this planet unflawed, there is no need for the church. Everything we believe and hope for would be shattered and pointless. If you can't talk, grieve, cry, rejoice, or share these things with the church, where else would you go? My hat is off to you for calling the church to be what it needs to be. Thank you. That being said, you are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI love v. 15-18. We need to love what we have and not be constantly seeking the greener grass, the green in front of your face is more vibrant than anywhere else (even though it may not appear to be so). We will be refreshed and fulfilled with what we are given. Aren't even the birds fed and the fields clothed? But when we stray, we are left empty, void, and continuously seeking our next fix. It is soo hard to constantly discipline yourself to live that way.
Caleb, I love that version of v 15 -18. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteI want to preface what I'm about to post by saying I hope people don't get offended because I really struggled with this reading today because I figured how is this going to help me? I'm single. I'm 37, and I'm not even thinking about marriage; however, the only thing I get is that the middle verses(vv.7-14) dealt with the father teaching his son to avoid immorality at all costs. I usually tune out when it comes to talk about adultery and marriage because this stuff does not involve me. I'm having too much fun enjoying my singleness. I hope this does not sound selfish, but that's just how I see it.
ReplyDeletebloggerdogg, these verses ARE about you. They DO involve you. You may be single but Satan may well have a married woman somewhere with whom he is planning to tempt you. And think of your friends (single and married). The more familiar you are with these verses, the greater possiblity you'll be able to help a friend who is tempted. So I encourage you to tune in. See I Cor 10:12
ReplyDelete