Sunday, July 25, 2010

Proverbs 5

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
listen well to my words of insight,

2 that you may maintain discretion 

and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, 

and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, 

sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; 

her steps lead straight to the grave.

6 She gives no thought to the way of life; 

her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; 

do not turn aside from what I say.

8 Keep to a path far from her,

 do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you give your best strength to others 

and your years to one who is cruel,

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth 

and your toil enrich another man's house.

11 At the end of your life you will groan, 

when your flesh and body are spent.

12 You will say, "How I hated discipline! 

How my heart spurned correction!

13 I would not obey my teachers 

or listen to my instructors.

14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin 

in the midst of the whole assembly."

15 Drink water from your own cistern, 

running water from your own well.

16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, 

your streams of water in the public squares?

17 Let them be yours alone, 

never to be shared with strangers.

18 May your fountain be blessed, 

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— 

may her breasts satisfy you always, 

may you ever be captivated by her love.

20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? 

Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and he examines all his paths.

22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; 

the cords of his sin hold him fast.

23 He will die for lack of discipline, 

led astray by his own great folly.

Questions to consider:

  • Describe the adulteress.
  • Why should you keep away from her?
  • List the personal and public results for the adulterer?
  • What do verses 15-21 reveal about God’s plan for sex and love?
  • How can you be wise in your relationship with the other sex?
  • Relate discipline to wisdom concerning sex.

Possibilities for prayer:

Verse 21 makes quite clear that God sees all of our activities-- even the things that we are able to keep hidden from those closest to us. Today, let’s ask God to break any chains keeping us tied to sinful activities in our lives. God already knows the things that have us bound, and He wants us to experience freedom from them. So let’s ask for it.