Proverbial Post 2; Proverbs 5-7

A brief note:  I have been missing for a few days because my computer crashed.  I am now back on-line and will be posting the days that I hand-wrote then typed...


May the mumbling commence!

All that glitters is not gold.  All that is sugar-coated is not sweet.  In Proverbs 5-7, our wise father teaches mainly upon the theme of avoiding adultery.  Read from chapter five verses three to four:

            
            For the lips of the adulteress drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;

            But in the end she is bitter as gall,

sharp as a double-edged sword.

Remove the sugar coating and taste the bitter gall.  Read between the lines of her speech and reveal the double-edged sword.  An adulteress (and an adulterer) may promise a life saturated with love, but the path leads to death.  Lust cannot masquerade as love for too long.  Living this way soon leads to death.  And remember, when the Scriptures speak about adultery, they speak of more than that which happens between a man and a woman.  Adultery is linked to idol worship – wandering from God.

What tools do we have at our disposal to avoid such a deadly trap?  We have discipline, correction, and instruction from our trusted Teacher (Jesus the Christ).  May I not spurn these gifts ar I will reap utter ruin (Prov. 5:11-14).

I have another tool to avoid adultery.  It is loving and caring for “the wife of my youth” and the family we have begun.  To love and care for my wife and son means helping to provide for them.

           
            Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise!

            It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

            Yet is stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest. (Prov. 6:6-8)

Another tool to ward off adultery is paying attention to things the Lord hates:

            Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes,

            Feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies,

            And a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Prov. 6:17-19)

Eyes – be careful what you watch.  Jesus said a lustful look at another is adultery!  Adultery leads to lies, wicked schemes, and dissension among brothers.  All of these things make the top ten list of things that the Lord despises.

Instead, let us bind ourselves to the commands of the Lord.  If we do, these commands will guide our walk, grant us peaceful nights of rest, and instruct us about our day before we rise out of bed.  (Prov. 6:22)

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out