Proverbs 5 - 6

Immorality

Today's reading, chapter 5 and the last part of chapter 6, deals with the pitfalls of immorality. From the beginning of time Satan has used the lure of sexual pleasure to deceive and destroy humanity. Solomon gives his son's a stern and graphic warning to shun the temptation of sexual conduct outside of marriage. The temptation is always so cunning and sly, Solomon likens it to the sweetness of poison, but the end is always death - poison in a man's veins. It brings on heartache, disease, murder, the destruction of the family unit, and alienation from God.

In addition to the lessons on immorality between a man and a woman, chapter 5, in particular, is a type (or metaphor) of spiritual immorality between a believer and a God-denying religion. Women are always symbolic of the church in scripture.  Thus, and immoral woman is symbolic of a church system that would lure a believer away from the truth of the Gospel and the teachings of the Bible.  Just like it brings on natural death and disease when a man commits fornication with an ill-famed woman or prostitute, spiritual death is brought on the believer when he shuns God's words and believes false teachings and doctrines.

Chapter 6 digresses from the teachings on immorality in verses 1-20, discussing instead the mistakes of co-signing or collateralizing the debts of others to the point that your own financial security is compromised.  The sin is in not rectifying the situation promptly and getting out from under the burden immediately.  Solomon discusses the virtues of hard-work and the vices of laziness.

The remainder of the chapter returns to the lessons on adultery and sexual misconduct - emphasizing the evil of taking another man's wife.  Solomon calls the adulterer a fool and a person subject to murder.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.