105. The Neighbours Wife

Proverbs 5-7

1.  She forsakes the guide of her youth (she neglects the instructions given by her parents) and forgets the covenant of her God (she breaks her wedding vows which were made "in the presence of God").  For her house bows down (inclines) to death, and her paths to the dead (those who are guilty of unrepentant adultery are on their way to the place of the dead). 2:16-18. 

2. All who go in to her do not return, nor do they take hold of the paths of life. 2:19.  The words describe more than the fatal persistency of the sinful habit when once formed. A resurrection from that world of the dead to “the paths of life” is all but impossible. Barnes Commentary.  

Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does it destroys his own soul. 6:32.  Once a person gets involved in that lifestyle he will never come back as the same man; that person is forever gone.

3. They do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; a thief will be forgiven if he steals food when he is in need, but even he, if he is caught must restore sevenfold. 6:30-31.  However, a man who "fools around" with his neighbor's wife will not be as easily forgiven by society; whoever touches her shall not be (pronounced) innocent. 6:29.

He who "fools around" with his neighbour's wife shall get a wound and dishonor; and his shame shall not be wiped away. 6:33. I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.” 5:14 World English Bible.    When I go to the synagogue, the mosque, the church, people now whisper about me and my neighbour's wife.

4. For jealousy is the rage of a man (the husband who was cheated on); therefore he will not spare (hold back retribution) in the day of vengeance. He will not take any ransom; nor will he be willing (to forgive) if you multiply the gifts. 6:33-35.   Money and gifts will not lessen his jealousy, soften his anger or mitigate his pain.  He will get even; murder in such cases is not uncommon.

Then you will say, How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction;  and I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor bowed down my ears to those who taught me! 5:12.  The ruined sinner vainly laments his neglect of warning and his sad fate in being brought to public disgrace. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Com.

5. If these reasons are not enough to keep you from straying to the bosom of a stranger, 5:20, think of this reason: the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and He watches all his paths.  Jehovah absolutely does not condone anyone "having sex" outside the marriage relationship.

For any who are guilty, there is hope, Jehovah is a forgiving God.  If the guilty repent of their actions, turn away from them, past sins can be forgiven.  There is a story in the life of Christ where a woman, guilty of adultery, was brought to Christ by the Jewish leaders.  After a reprimand to the accusers, Christ asked her, where are those men that accused you?  The woman said I don't know.  Christ made an end of the subject; He said,  Just like those that accused you, do not condemn you, publicly, I also do not condemn you, but don't you ever commit that sin again! John 8:11

104. The Path to Death

Proverbs 5-7

Proverbs chapters 5-7 enlarge on the difference between wisdom and foolishness and, according to the author of these chapters, the climax of foolishness is adultery; the first example is adultery with a harlot and the second is adultery with "the neighbour's wife".

For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice. I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding (foolish), passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house, (stay away from there) in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness. Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent. She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house. Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner. So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:  ... I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you (any man would have suited her purpose, these words were just flattery). 

Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving. For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey. ...” With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose. Until an arrow strikes through his liver, the ancients thought of the liver as the seat of passion; we would use the word, heart, to express the same meaning. Pulpit Commentary.

Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth. Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths, for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army. A mighty army of men has fallen victim at her bedside. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the rooms of death. 7:6-27 World English Bible.

For the commandment, the seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Ex. 20:14, is a lamp; and the law (of Moses) is light; ... to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Prov.6:23-24

For the lips of a strange woman drip honey, and her palate is smoother than oil; 5:3  Wisdom ... and knowledge ... will deliver you from the strange woman, the stranger who flatters with her words. 2:9-10. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart; nor let her take you with her eyelids. 6:25.  Many a man has fallen victim to a sweet talker, especially if she is pretty; one who knows how to flatter.

For by means of a harlot a man comes to a piece of bread.  6:26.  that strangers not be filled with your strength, and your labors be in the house of a stranger; 5:10. Why would you spend your hard earned money on a prostitute so that she can share it with her friends; with those people who are strangers to you?

Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 6:27.  The modern version of this is: You play with fire you're gonna get burned.  This was true in Solomon's day and it is just as true now.
   
but afterward she is as bitter as wormwood.  Wormwood is very bitter and is used to flavour the drink: absinthe.  For health reasons this drink is illegal in some countries.   But prostitutes who are as bitter as wormwood are allowed everywhere.

Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell, lest you should meditate on the path of life, (she certainly does not want you to think of taking the high moral path) her tracks are movable.  She will change her tactics if she feels she is losing her grasp on you.

Remove your ways far from her, and do not come near the door of her house. 5:3-8.  Do not even walk in "the red light district" just to see what it is like there.  The temptations there, for a young man, are just too strong.  Do you pray, lead me not into temptation?  Then, answer your own prayer and do not go there, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; 1 Peter 5:8.  The devil will entice you into her house, and after that "one thing leads to another".

But he does not know that ... her guests are in the depths of hell. 9:18

and you moan when your end comes, when your flesh and muscle are eaten away, 5:11.  The woman who abandons herself to prostitution soon contracts, and generally communicates, that disease, which, above all others, signs the speediest and most effectual passport to the invisible world. Clarke.

103. Wisdom is the Main Thing

We have now come to the third book on the third shelf of our imaginary library; the Book of Proverbs. For a review of the setup of the Old Testament see:                           http://spaceshiptheology.blogspot.com/2014/10/38-old-testament-library.html

Proverbs 1

Are we willing to accept the words of Proverbs 1:1 as to its authorship: The proverbs of Solomon.  Not likely, considering Solomon's penchant for having many women, (He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, 1 Kings 11:3.  The contents of the first nine chapters of Proverbs do not fit his lifestyle.

Also, in 10:1 we find these words repeated: The proverbs of Solomon.  It is there that the proverbs actually start.  Many Bible students believe that the first nine chapters were written by someone else and that later they were attached to Solomon's list of proverbs.

Right at the start, the book tells us why it was composed:
1. to know wisdom and instruction; to recognize the words of understanding;
2. to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and uprightness;
3. to give sense to the simple, knowledge and judgment to the young man; the wise                   hears and increases learning; and understanding ones get wisdom;
4. to understand a proverb and its meaning; the words of the wise, and their acute sayings. 1:2-6

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:7.  The word, fear, is better translated as, respect, or reverence.  This certainly excludes blasphemy and deliberately living a life contrary to Jehovah's ideals.

1:10-19 tell the story of a young man who refuses to pay attention to his parent's advice, joins the wrong crowd and ends up dying young because of it. 

1:20-33 shows that a better course of life was available but it was ignored. The consequences were fatal, but repentance came too late.

Those who like to lurk in dark alleys and carouse in the streets to steal and kill still have no excuse for not knowing better, because Wisdom cries outside; she utters her voice in the streets; (Wisdom says) I called, and you refused; ... you have despised all my advice, and would have none of my warning. Instead they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Jehovah. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own desires. For the turning away of the simple kills them, and the ease of fools destroys them. 1:20-32.

Jehovah is known. Psalm 9:16. Saint Paul repeats this thought: For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, ... because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them. ... for them to be without excuse. Rom 1:18-20.  No one who is mentally balanced can murder, rape or otherwise wilfully harm another person, and in honesty claim, I did not know that I shouldn't do that. 

Proverbs 2

Perhaps a good way to sum up this chapter is like this: Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction must be used to secure the great principle of godliness, the fear of God. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Com. If you cry after knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding; then you shall understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God. 2:3+5.

Proverbs 3

My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments; for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace to you. 3:1  At this point it is good to remember that we are now studying Proverbs.  Someone has said that the Book of Proverbs should be called the Book of Probablys.  It is the nature of a proverb to generally be right, but if it isn't, no one should be very surprised; 3:1 proves that point.   There are many who have lived an upright life and still have died young.  This does not invalidate the Scriptures; it merely shows that proverbs must not be taken as absolute proofs.

Proverbs 4

Wisdom is the main thing; get wisdom; and with all your getting get understanding. 4:7.  Don't settle for material riches when so much more is available.