Day 155.  Reading Proverbs 4 – 6.

Solomon continues to instruct his son in the benefits of loving, cleaving to, prizing, and seeking “wisdom.” He tells his son how to do that.

• take heed to your wise father’s words
• don’t enter or walk in the path of the wicked, but keep to the path of righteousness
• keep your heart with vigilance
• put away crooked speech and devious talk
• keep your eyes looking forward, watch your feet, and don’t swerve to the right or left.

Proverbs 5.

Next, Solomon warns his son (and all sons and daughters) about the danger of Adultery.

The “forbidden woman” has lips that drip honey and are smoother than oil … but the end of involvement with her is as bitter as wormwood.  SHE does not watch the path.  HER feet wander and follow the way of death.

The son is given ways to resist her temptation —

• keep your way FAR from her
• do not go near the door of her house

Solomon reminds him of the TRUE WAY, the way God planned from the beginning.  Keep to the wife of his youth and rejoice in her, be satisfied in her, delight in her.

‘For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths.”

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Proverbs 6.

Solomon gives his son wise words on practical living.

• if you find yourself caught in snares of your own making, stop, go to the person, confess, and plead mercy. Do it before the sun sets, and you go to bed.
• Look to the creatures of God’s creation – you might learn some things.  The ants do their work without being told. They labor all summer and put away for the future.  Then, in winter, they have no worries.  So, don’t be a late-sleeping, afternoon-napping sluggard!
• Don’t be a bragging blow-hard, tricking people, winking at them, waggy fingers.  His end is quick and sure.

Then Solomon lists seven “detestable” things that the LORD hates.  HATES!  Yikes! This is serious. We should read and contemplate our own lives…

1. haughty eyes (pride)
2. a lying tongue,
3. hands that shed innocent blood,
4. a heart that devises wicked plans,
5. feet that make haste to run to evil,
6. a false witness who breathes out lies,
7. one who sows discord among brothers (a trouble-maker)

This reminds me of the children’s rhyme.

Be careful, little eyes, what you see,

little tongue what you say,

little hands what you do,

little feet where you go,

little heart, what you plan …

for there’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love, so be careful, little ones, what you do.

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Then, again, Solomon cautions his son about Adultery and the Adulteress. KEEP HIS WORDS!  The commandment, the teaching, and the discipline (the Word of God) lead to safety away from the “evil woman.”

Then Solomon describes how the prostitute woos, tricks, lures, and captures her victims through her beauty, her eyelashes, and her smooth tongue.

BEWARE!  BEWARE!  “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?”  Can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?”   He who commits adultery lacks sense. He destroys himself!  Dishonor and disgrace are his wages.

(And more tomorrow.)

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I wonder when Solomon wrote these words. Probably early in his life.  For eventually he would have a thousand wives and concubines.  He became foolish and did not take his own words seriously.  He forsook the command, the teaching, and the discipline of the LORD in Moses’ books of the law.

Oh, my heart, be not like Solomon!  O LORD, keep me in Your word and make my heart tender to obey You. For heeding Your teaching will keep me safe from my sinful ways!