Category: Devotions

What a tender, precious picture Hosea paints of God’s training of Israel, which, alas, failed of the desired goal (Pr. 11:4). God says through the prophet, I drew them with cords of a man, even with bands of love. These are the cords of God’s grace. Israel, like a little child, is being taught to go,and is upheld, in those first baby-steps, by the loving parent’s cords. Now, Solomon speaks of the cords of one’s own sin. To reject the cords of God’s gentle leading is to become the victim of sin’s cruel chains of oppression and bondage. Sin becomes its own stick for punishing sinners. As virtue is its own reward, so sin its own rebuke. If man has no regard for the Eye of God, he must face the result of God’s wrath.

The sins of the adulterer outlined in vs.9-11 were beautifully balanced by the blessings provided within the God-ordained marriage ordinance (vs.15-19). Yet, the sad reality is that the man continues to go against both his conscience and the divine provision.

Don’t let the pride and privileges of home and family become a snare. Pastors too often see possessive parents and obstinate offspring. God will not bless selfishness or rebellion. When He gives the water He expects it to be dispersed abroad. “To keep all to yourself will defeat your own end; to hold it in will make it stagnate. The only way of keeping it sweet for ourselves is to let it run over for the good of others” (Arnot). Any family united in devotion to God, benefits both parents and children. When C.T. Studd announced he was going as a missionary to China, his mother, though a devout Christian, was distraught. She implored him not to go. When, however, she knew “CT” was settled in his decision, she withdrew her opposition and supported him warmly for the rest of her life.

William Arnot observed, “A painter lays down a dark ground to lean his picture on, and thereby brings its beauty out.” This is what is happening here. The pleasures of marriage and family are painted in the brightest colours nature provides. The Holy Spirit passes from warnings against lust to commend chastity and marital fidelity, “Against the unholy passion to be shunned (Pr. 5:1-14), is set the holy-love to be cherished (Pr. 5:15-21).

The Lustful Way is Shamefully Exploitive. Since the Fall, conscience merely acts as a monitor. It teaches us to perform in good faith, as being right, that which we do; but it does not of itself supply an independent rule of right. “Doing as well as we know how” is not enough, unless we know what is right and do it. God never tells us merely to do our best, or act according to our knowledge. It is our duty to know what is right, and to do it. We are responsible for knowing prior to doing. It is the admitted refusal to obey the best instruction of godly teachers that is in view of these verses. Guilt is the God-given warning of wrong contemplated or committed. Self-will silences what’s left of a seared conscience. This leads to grief, loss and shame. Here, Solomon describes these emotions.

The Lustful way is Senselessly Destructive. These verses give, in vivid detail, the anguish an adulterer brings upon himself by yielding to lust. Our Blessed Lord warned that even a lustful look can lead to sin. Here again the appeal is given: Listen! Don’t forget! Note that it is plural, O my children, my sons, my daughters (Pr. 4:1)! The appeal is addressed to all, for few can say with Paul, None of these things move me (Acts 20:24).

Her end, is literally her afterwards, for surely there is an end (Pr. 23:18). Proverbs uses this word frequently in order that we may not forget that everything has a finale for good or ill. Don’t be deceived by beginnings; it’s the end that counts (Pr. 5:11; Num. 24:20; 1 Tim. 4:1). However sugary beginning with her may be, the end will surely be sour for all.

A “Morality in the Media” booklet states, in part, “The traffic in pornography and obscenity has reached frightening proportions in this country. The smallest cities and towns have been invaded by it… It pours in through the mails, TV, the Internet.” This is “America, the good,” whose Presidents still refer to God and the Bible as its foundation!

Chapters 5 through 7 are a warning against adultery (except 6:1-19). Matthew Henry say some take these verses figuratively as referring to spiritual adultery, that is, false doctrine, which corrupts men’s minds and affections. The primary scope, however, is to warn against ‘seventh-commandment’ sins, to which both youth and adults are so prone. These temptations are so violent, so many, and so destructive to the soul. We would gladly skip these verses, but it would be to our loss and peril. Let us not forget, as Martin Luther puts it, that “there is no estate to which Satan is more opposed to as marriage.”

You recall, we are to keep the heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (v.23). Either, out of your heart a poisonous stream is flowing (Mt. 15:19), or rivers of living (life-giving) waters (Jn. 7:38). From this Citadel flows the springs of life or death.