2007-07-04 - Solomon's Warning

The book of Proverbs is mostly quick little tidbits of intelligence - snack-size morsels of wisdom. However, in chapter 5 Solomon decides to dwell a while on a single subject - sex. Since he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, he just might have known a little about this subject. (I Kings 11:3)

Proverbs 5:1-6 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: ² That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. ³ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: ⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. ⁶ Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

Solomon warns his son of the adulteress or as my granny used to call them - floozies. But this warning is valid for women as well. It could just as easily be a warning against the seductive people on the cover of videos or magazines even. Sex with someone other than your spouse starts out sounding so sweet. I have read many stories of men who had affairs with women just because they complimented them. Sweet words are very appealing just like honey but the honey quickly turns sour. The delicious jar of honey soon becomes a vat of vinegar.

A commentary called the Family Bible notes puts it like this. "When we are tempted to sinful indulgence, we should consider well its consequences. It is a sad exchange to give property, health, character, peace of conscience, the favor of God, and everlasting life, for a little momentary pleasure."

What temptation promises is always better than what it delivers. Pornography looks sweet but at the end of the road for many, we find broken men with piles of videos crying over their loneliness. The lure of sex with a young coworker seems exciting now but when your family is broken and she leaves you for someone her own age the path indeed seems bitter. The wise person will stay clear of this trap. Even when things "work out", it's never as good as you think it will be. There is guilt, shame, broken hearts, and bitterness. Sin never holds up its end of the bargain - never. There is always hell to pay.

We can choose truth or we can choose to believe the lie. But believing a lie doesn't make it any less of lie. Sexual impurity is destructive; it corrodes our character and destroys our principals. It devours faithfulness. It devastates honor. It destroys integrity. It denies love and without love, sex is just a cheap imitation of what it could be. Without love, sex can never be the wonderful thing Solomon describes in his song.

IHFHBOH,
Adam

adam@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted