Because of his great love for his son; The father cares enough to teach him the common-sense skills for living life that will help him avoid troubles and traps. The father warns the son about the high cost of immorality of sexual sins along with the foolishness of falling for a seductress. In this proverb, “death” is defined as loss of strength, years, substance, and reputation, the reverse of wisdom’s benefits of long life, riches, and honor.
As we read, we must realize that adultery of the flesh is not the only way to fall for the blatant sins of our own culture who advertises consistently to “have it your way”. Pornography, in all forms, has been on a rapid rise to draw all people into a trap of addictive behaviors, as addictive as non-prescriptive drugs. These addictive sins are meant to dull the senses and cause users to betray who they are, along with betraying their spouses and family. Hiding it, does not get rid of it. Rationalizing it, as we are so “gifted” in doing these days, does not make it right or acceptable to God, our Father who loves us and wants His best for us. God has a better way out.
In contrast, the father of Proverbs wants his son to know how highly blessed he is with a wife to call his own. The two are blessed by God, to be one together in the only love triangle that is acceptable to God: Husband, Wife, God. The son is reminded after marriage to seek only his own wife be his source of pleasure, as water refreshes a thirsty person, because sexual intimacy is a treasure meant for marriage alone. This is how the two become one. God blesses this relationship as holy to Him!
The words, “the two shall become one flesh” first appears in Genesis and said by God, our Father. It is a foundational biblical teaching on marriage that all believers who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ understand as God’s way of life to the full. This teaching is also found in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Here are a few references—
- Genesis 2:24: The phrase first appears describing the creation of the first marriage, stating that a man leaves his parents to hold fast to his wife, and they become “one flesh”.
- New Testament Teachings: Jesus quotes this passage in Matthew 19:5 and Mark 10:8 to emphasize the permanence of marriage and that humans should not separate what God has joined.
- Ephesians 5:31: The Apostle Paul repeats the phrase, connecting human marriage to the spiritual mystery of Christ’s unity with the Church.
Proverbs 5 closes by grounding the teaching in the Lord’s omniscience and his justice; even adultery done and kept in secret is fully exposed to a God who judges righteously. Though addressed to a son, the implication is that young women should also avoid men of similar character for both men and women can easily fall to sin. God knows our sins and the hold sin has over us. God made a way for the fallen to be saved, healed, and restored. The Way to God, the Truth of God, is embodied in His Son, Jesus who is Life for all who believe in Him. (John 3:16-17)
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
Our Father in heaven forgives. Our God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him, allowing our addictions to steal our attention from Him. There is no one like our Father, God! God made a Way for us to be saved through Jesus Christ, His One and Only Son! This is REAL LOVE, the Love our hearts crave and desire. So, stop looking for fake love in all the wrong places that will not satisfy our God-created longings for love. God is love. Only God can satisfy our hearts who seek real love.
Whatever the addiction that keeps you enslaved —God stands ready to help with His rescue; for there is nothing God won’t forgive. Come to Him by believing in Jesus. Receive the power equal to resurrecting life from death and have a complete victory over sin.
Proverbs 5, The Message
1-2 Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom;
listen very closely to the way I see it.
Then you’ll acquire a taste for good sense;
what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.
3-6 The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet,
her soft words are oh so smooth.
But it won’t be long before she’s gravel in your mouth,
a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.
She’s dancing down the perfumed path to Death;
she’s headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.
She hasn’t a clue about Real Life,
about who she is or where she’s going.
7-14 So, my friend, listen closely;
don’t treat my words casually.
Keep your distance from such a woman;
absolutely stay out of her neighborhood.
You don’t want to squander your wonderful life,
to waste your precious life among the hardhearted.
Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you?
Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you?
You don’t want to end your life full of regrets,
nothing but sin and bones,
Saying, “Oh, why didn’t I do what they told me?
Why did I reject a disciplined life?
Why didn’t I listen to my mentors,
or take my teachers seriously?
My life is ruined!
I haven’t one blessed thing to show for my life!”
Never Take Love for Granted
15-16 Do you know the saying, “Drink from your own rain barrel,
draw water from your own spring-fed well”?
It’s true. Otherwise, you may one day come home
and find your barrel empty and your well polluted.
17-20 Your spring water is for you and you only,
not to be passed around among strangers.
Bless your fresh-flowing fountain!
Enjoy the wife you married as a young man!
Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose—
don’t ever quit taking delight in her body.
Never take her love for granted!
Why would you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a prostitute?
for dalliance with a promiscuous stranger?
21-23 Mark well that God doesn’t miss a move you make;
he’s aware of every step you take.
The shadow of your sin will overtake you;
you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark.
Death is the reward of an undisciplined life;
your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Solomon warned his son of the sin of foolishness and sexual sin. He urged him to remember what he was taught and to avoid the temptation of having sex outside of marriage. He also encouraged him against things the Lord hates which we will read and study tomorrow! Oh, we’re just getting started in our proverb a day exercises!
Prayerfully meditate on this proverb today. Then consider praying the words David who “ran after the heart of God” as a shepherd boy who became king; “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139;23-24
Sometimes our negative, untrue, assumptions and presumptions thought life about ourselves and others becomes so addictive we no longer hear God speak! (See Philippians 4:8 for “whatever” thinking that is healthy and holy!)
Sometimes our addictive habits of hurry can draw our attention from God’s Word. (Can we confess, all have sinned on this one, too?)
There are many ways the enemy uses to distract and deceive us in ways to deconstruct and destroy our faith in God.
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”—Paul, Romans 12:1-2, MSG
Lord,
Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul with your tender, daily mercies. Restore the joy of your salvation at work within me. You in me and me in You.
In Jesus Name, and for your Glory, Amen
