Proverbs 3 of 14 – Warnings Against Adultery

Read: Proverbs 5-6 and Psalm 86

Most of the warnings in these two chapters deal with adultery, one of the Ten Commandments that has to be explained over and over again to penetrate our think skulls! Such a simple concept, but obviously a divisive issue that seems to have transcended time.

With repeated warnings, you would think this would be an issue of the past, one we read about and say, “wow, those people were crazy,” but these words ring as true today as they did 2,500 years ago.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
Proverbs 5:7-8

Do not go near the house of the adulterous woman…because you know full well what is going on. You know the path, you know the house, so stay away! There are so many examples of strong people slipping into adultery, intelligent leaders, gifted men and women who lose their way. The warning is strong and repeated often in various ways just in case we missed it!

Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.
Proverbs 5:15, 6:25

The Lord created the covenant bond of marriage to be a joyful experience, one where we find comfort at home:

May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
Proverbs 5:18-20

There is nothing new here in 2017, why be enticed by another woman? With a few keystrokes the floodgate of pornography is at our fingertips. Wayward men and women, somebody’s sons and daughters, who have either lost their way or have never been shown a righteous path attempt to satisfy desires of the flesh. I suppose this is like a drug that provides a temporary escape–there is no good answer to “why,” yet the problem is real. Perhaps this is why the reminder is inserted here:

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
Proverbs 5:21

If we really believe that our ways are in full view of the Lord, would we really walk down this path?

But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
whoever does so destroys himself.
Proverbs 6:32

Always in hindsight we know it is a mistake. The temporary insanity that causes us to slip is most likely the result of putting our focus on earthly pleasures and losing sight of God’s plan for our lives. The Tempter is devious and his desire is to see us fail, to fall into traps. Lord help us to hear the warning sirens and reach out to those who would keep us accountable to your better plan.