Introduction
What is the cause of most marriage break-ups today? Some would say lack of communication or falling ‘out’ of love with each other, but it appears the cause of most marriage breakups is because of adultery.
Warning Against Adultery
‘My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.’ Proverbs 5:1-6
Who or what kind of person is the adulteress described here? She’s described as a prostitute. How does she invite people who want to get involved with her? Through flattery and smooth talk. Most people when they do something illegal sometimes have a conscience but she doesn’t.
What damage does adultery have on a family? It causes major damage, it causes families to break up, the kids get used as tools, and it usually ends in divorce, etc.
What was the punishment supposed to be for adultery? Nothing less than being stoned to death, Leviticus 20:10 / John 8:5.
‘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, lest you lose your honour to others and your dignity to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another. At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, ‘How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors. And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people.’ Proverbs 5:7-14
What is the writer saying here? Basically, he’s saying that even at the end of our life it’s too late to take advice. When we desire something, it can take us and take over us, so advice is the last thing we want to hear when it’s got a grip on us, Genesis 3:6 / Genesis 4:7.
The best time to know about the dangers of going after anything harmful, not just sex with an adulteress but sex in general outside of marriage is well before the temptation comes. Prevention is better than cure.
If we know there is a danger or a temptation, we will struggle with it, we should know how to handle that danger or temptation when it comes, 1 Corinthians 10:13.
‘Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.’ Proverbs 5:15-17
What does the writer mean when he says, ‘Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well?’ It’s a picture of faithfulness, in other words, stick to and enjoy the wife that God has given you. This was written by Solomon possibly to Rehoboam, did he take his father’s advice? Unfortunately, he didn’t listen to his father’s advice, 2 Chronicles 11:21.
When the Bible talks about water in the Old Testament that usually signified power and it was a crime to steal water from anyone else, just as it is a crime to have sex with another woman. Marriage is for life not just for Christmas!
‘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.’ Proverbs 5:18-19
What is sex? Sex is a gift from God for both couples to enjoy, Song of Songs 4. We must remember that we don’t make love TO anyone, we make love WITH someone, it’s a pleasure to be enjoyed by married couples.
‘Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?’ Proverbs 5:20
What’s the writer saying here? He’s saying why go elsewhere for this pleasure when you can have so much pleasure with your own wife together.
‘For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.’ Proverbs 5:21-23
The writer says that everything we do is in full view of God, even though we may go into a prostitute’s house and close the door behind us, God can see us anyway.
When a baby is born, the cord is still attached and the doctors need to cut that cord to set the baby free, but if no one cuts that cord, they would be attached to their mother for the rest of their lives.
In other words, once that sin has got a grip on us, we will be addicted to it until the day we die unless we take God’s advice and learn how to be disciplined.