Proverbs 5 - a Warning Against Adultery

Solomon continues with the usual plea to seek wisdom, listen and learn from what he is saying. And then, to the subject of Proverbs 5. Adultery.

Adultery is defined as a sexual act between two people who are not married to each other, but either one or both are married to someone else. Adultery has been a problem since biblical times, but it seems to have grown to epidemic proportions in recent history. In fact, Alfred Kinsey, founder of the Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction at Indiana University; found in his studies that 50% of males and 26% of females had extramarital sex at least once during their lifetime.

So, while not all men cheat, half will. And of the fairer sex, a quarter of them will have extramarital sex at some point. This means a lot of people are affected by infidelity; myself included. (Hence the ex-husbands.)

Solomon warns about being tempted by a woman who is not your wife.

"For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it." Proverbs 5 :3-6

He is saying here that even though she is tempting and seems sweet and right; to give into the temptation is to invite death. It is the wrong path to take. In the end, it means the destruction of marriage; the destruction of trust; and it goes against all that God teaches about marriage and commitment. We are to give ourselves only to our spouses.

"Let your fountain be blesses, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths." Proverbs 5: 18-21

Clearly, God wants us to enjoy sexual union within the marriage. Not to look outside for someone to commit adultery with. If you have a wife, she is to be the one you are intimate with. God is watching what we do always.

Resources

Day 31 - Embracing The Wisdom Of Proverbs 4

English Standard Version Bible Online - Proverbs 5

Wikipedia - Alfred Kinsey

Wikipedia - Adultery