We continue our discussion of Proverbs with Chapter 5, which continues many themes presented in previous chapters.
1. Discretion is Important. We should "keep discretion" that "our lips may guard knowledge" (Proverbs 5:2 ESV). If we track the Lord's ministry we see that he had at various times advised people he was ministering to as well as his disciples that they should tell no one of certain of the things he had done or said (or not until an appointed time, such as the resurrection). We are also advised not to cast our pearls before swine or to give what is holy to the dogs (Matthew 7:6). There are certain people who will not, because of their hardness of heart, hear the things that we have to say to them.
It may also not be the right timing for the reveal of certain information outside of a certain group of people because of their lack of faith (as we see with Jesus' selective disclosure of his death and resurrection to the twelve; although this might not have been the only reason and Judas does ultimately betray Jesus and Jesus knew beforehand he would). Outside of the religious context it may be that certain disclosure of information would incite panic without producing any benefit. This is not to condone covering up misdeeds but to say that we should be careful what we disclose, to whom and when (and sometimes even where and how). Moreover, we may not want everyone to know what we know as this may not be productive to certain relationships. Again, this is not to promote or condone lying or even covering things up but to say that the revelation of all knowledge we have about a situation to all people is not always called for (perhaps even rarely appropriate), sometimes discretion is needed.
On the other hand there are times when certain information needs to be disseminated immediately (as when Jesus commanded the former demoniac to tell the people what he had done for them). The disclosure of certain information has its seasons, and we should be prayerful and prudent in regards to this.
2. Sin is Sweet (at First...). We are not tempted for no reason and we should be honest about our tendencies. There are certain sins we indulge in because we enjoy them, therefore it is not for nothing that "the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil" (Proverbs 5:3 ESV; emphasis mine). However, what is sweet in this case will ultimately end up in bitterness and rot for "in the end she is bitter as wormwood" (Proverbs 5:4 ESV). This is an important principle to keep in mind and one mentioned previously in Proverbs: what is the end result of a given course of action? The end result of sin is death (Proverbs 5:5 ESV).
3. The Ignorance of the Wicked Will Slay Them. The wicked are not always deliberately planning schemes to destroy the upright, in fact they may be bringing you down out of sheer ignorance because they don't know what the righteous action is, for the forbidden woman "does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it" (Proverbs 5:6 ESV). I think this is important to remember and should provide us some compassion for those who are blinded by their sin; in some instances they are just ignorant. If we feel they are receptive, we should try to gently instruct them in the proper path and indicate to them what they are doing is sinful. We also need to lead by example.
4. Listen to Your Teachers. Chapter 5 states that the wicked person who follows the paths of the forbidden woman will be consumed ("flesh and body") by her (Proverbs 5:11 ESV). This person will lament because they "did not listen to the voice of [their] teachers or incline [their] ear to [their] instructors" (Proverbs 5:13 ESV). We need to heed the instruction not only of the Word but of our pastors and of life itself. We find wisdom and instruction in setbacks and disappointments as well as successes. It may also be wise to study the lives other godly men and women to instruct us in holy living. I believe we are always being instructed if we are receptive to being taught.
5. Build Yourself Up and Let Not Others Entice You to Sin. We are told to "[d]rink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?" (Proverbs 5:15,15 ESV). This is a difficult part to parse as the next section speaks on adultery, which I think this partially touches on but I think there is something else here about stewardship. We are to tend to our own wells, which I think of as our heart, mind, soul and spirit. These are the gifts that God has given to us and we are not give them away through sin and corruption for then we would suffer loss.
If we imagine ourselves as these wells or cisterns and the result of our sin nature as leaking water then we have a poignant image of the cost of sin and can picture the life actually flowing out of us as a result of sin, until we are no more than a barren hole in the ground.
6. The Lord Watches Over You. The Lord is omniscient and sees all that we do. Let us not deceive ourselves. He not only knows what you are doing but all the options you have before you in regards to every decision you make for "he ponders all his paths" (Proverbs 5:21 ESV). We should capitalize on his foresight and ask him what option before us is most pleasing to him since he knows them all. Let us use him as light for our path lest we walk in darkness.
Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that we do not heed the call of sin but rather turn away from it. Let us be loyal and steadfast to the Lord, who we are wed to for all eternity as part of the Church, his bride. May we always walk in the ways of life and prosperity and grow wiser each day.
*ESV=English Standard Version
1. Discretion is Important. We should "keep discretion" that "our lips may guard knowledge" (Proverbs 5:2 ESV). If we track the Lord's ministry we see that he had at various times advised people he was ministering to as well as his disciples that they should tell no one of certain of the things he had done or said (or not until an appointed time, such as the resurrection). We are also advised not to cast our pearls before swine or to give what is holy to the dogs (Matthew 7:6). There are certain people who will not, because of their hardness of heart, hear the things that we have to say to them.
It may also not be the right timing for the reveal of certain information outside of a certain group of people because of their lack of faith (as we see with Jesus' selective disclosure of his death and resurrection to the twelve; although this might not have been the only reason and Judas does ultimately betray Jesus and Jesus knew beforehand he would). Outside of the religious context it may be that certain disclosure of information would incite panic without producing any benefit. This is not to condone covering up misdeeds but to say that we should be careful what we disclose, to whom and when (and sometimes even where and how). Moreover, we may not want everyone to know what we know as this may not be productive to certain relationships. Again, this is not to promote or condone lying or even covering things up but to say that the revelation of all knowledge we have about a situation to all people is not always called for (perhaps even rarely appropriate), sometimes discretion is needed.
On the other hand there are times when certain information needs to be disseminated immediately (as when Jesus commanded the former demoniac to tell the people what he had done for them). The disclosure of certain information has its seasons, and we should be prayerful and prudent in regards to this.
2. Sin is Sweet (at First...). We are not tempted for no reason and we should be honest about our tendencies. There are certain sins we indulge in because we enjoy them, therefore it is not for nothing that "the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil" (Proverbs 5:3 ESV; emphasis mine). However, what is sweet in this case will ultimately end up in bitterness and rot for "in the end she is bitter as wormwood" (Proverbs 5:4 ESV). This is an important principle to keep in mind and one mentioned previously in Proverbs: what is the end result of a given course of action? The end result of sin is death (Proverbs 5:5 ESV).
3. The Ignorance of the Wicked Will Slay Them. The wicked are not always deliberately planning schemes to destroy the upright, in fact they may be bringing you down out of sheer ignorance because they don't know what the righteous action is, for the forbidden woman "does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it" (Proverbs 5:6 ESV). I think this is important to remember and should provide us some compassion for those who are blinded by their sin; in some instances they are just ignorant. If we feel they are receptive, we should try to gently instruct them in the proper path and indicate to them what they are doing is sinful. We also need to lead by example.
4. Listen to Your Teachers. Chapter 5 states that the wicked person who follows the paths of the forbidden woman will be consumed ("flesh and body") by her (Proverbs 5:11 ESV). This person will lament because they "did not listen to the voice of [their] teachers or incline [their] ear to [their] instructors" (Proverbs 5:13 ESV). We need to heed the instruction not only of the Word but of our pastors and of life itself. We find wisdom and instruction in setbacks and disappointments as well as successes. It may also be wise to study the lives other godly men and women to instruct us in holy living. I believe we are always being instructed if we are receptive to being taught.
5. Build Yourself Up and Let Not Others Entice You to Sin. We are told to "[d]rink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?" (Proverbs 5:15,15 ESV). This is a difficult part to parse as the next section speaks on adultery, which I think this partially touches on but I think there is something else here about stewardship. We are to tend to our own wells, which I think of as our heart, mind, soul and spirit. These are the gifts that God has given to us and we are not give them away through sin and corruption for then we would suffer loss.
If we imagine ourselves as these wells or cisterns and the result of our sin nature as leaking water then we have a poignant image of the cost of sin and can picture the life actually flowing out of us as a result of sin, until we are no more than a barren hole in the ground.
6. The Lord Watches Over You. The Lord is omniscient and sees all that we do. Let us not deceive ourselves. He not only knows what you are doing but all the options you have before you in regards to every decision you make for "he ponders all his paths" (Proverbs 5:21 ESV). We should capitalize on his foresight and ask him what option before us is most pleasing to him since he knows them all. Let us use him as light for our path lest we walk in darkness.
Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that we do not heed the call of sin but rather turn away from it. Let us be loyal and steadfast to the Lord, who we are wed to for all eternity as part of the Church, his bride. May we always walk in the ways of life and prosperity and grow wiser each day.
*ESV=English Standard Version
