Monday, October 21, 2024

2024.10.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 5:1–6

Read Proverbs 5:1–6

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the father tell his son to do in Proverbs 5:1? In order for him to do what (Proverbs 5:2)? In case of what eventuality (Proverbs 5:3-6)? What does an immoral woman sound like (Proverbs 5:3)? But how deadly is she (Proverbs 5:4)? Where does her path end (Proverbs 5:5)? But what might a believing son yet do (Proverbs 5:6a)? Why is this such folly (verse 6b–c)? 

What’s the harm in a little romance? Proverbs 5:1–6 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that uncovenanted romance is a path to death.  

A repeated call for diligent attention, Proverbs 5:1-2. Again, the idealized father addresses the reader as his child and doubly urges his attention (Proverbs 5:1) to wisdom and understanding.  This is because that teaching is the mechanism by which discretion and knowledge may be obtained by the soul and the lips (Proverbs 5:2).

It begins with conversation, Proverbs 5:2-3. Notice that the path of the strange woman (i.e., a woman that is not his wife, not so much “immoral” as in NKJ) begins at her lips. She does not sound deadly at first. In fact, she sounds sweet (drip honey, Proverbs 5:3a) and comforting (smoother than oil, verse 3b). She probably thinks herself sweet and comforting, as well. The believing son to whom this is addressed needs discretion in his heart (Proverbs 5:2a) so that his own mouth may keep knowledge (verse 2b). In other words, if he is guarding his own lips from overfamiliarity or from romantic speech, he will be preserved from falling with her into the apparent sweetness and comfort of an uncovenanted romance. Such romance feels sweet and comforting, which is why a young man must have the humility not to trust his own wisdom. He desperately needs the meekness to learn biblical wisdom from his father.

But it ends in death and hell, Proverbs 5:4-6. The end of romance with a woman who is not one’s wife is not just death (poison, two-edged sword, Proverbs 5:4) but even Sheol itself (Proverbs 5:5b). This hearkens back to one of the two paths of Proverbs 4:14–19. Once again, there is a path that ends in destruction (Proverbs 5:5), and it is vitally important that the man not even enter it. This particular path to destruction, however, has the added danger of looking so good at its beginning. So humility and meekness to listen to the godly is essential to the young man. Proverbs 5:6b–c tells us that he cannot understand where this romance would lead; he would be a fool to consider it, and he needs to admit that Scripture, here, tells the truth about himself.

What do you need in order to listen to Scriptural wisdom? About whom (hint: in the mirror) does it tell you important truths? And whom else? And what sorts of situations? How might you (or your children) need to rethink romance? Why is guarding our conversations such an important part of this?

Sample prayer:  Lord, please help us to think biblically about marriage and romance. Grant that Your wisdom would guard our lips. And, in every area of life where we are overconfident, grant that Your Spirit would convince us of the truth about ourselves from Your Word, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed he Man” or TPH173 “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast

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