Author: iolaHC

I am an Artwork in progress

Whoso Commits Adultery

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Proverbs 6:27-35 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goes in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou give many gifts. 

‘So he that goes in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent.’ Just as a man cannot take fire into his bosom or walk on hot coals without being burned, so he that seduces his neighbour’s wife shall not go unpunished (6:27-29).

‘Despise’ [Hebrew: buwz] to disrespect; utterly despise; consider insignificant. People will not think it insignificant for a thief to steal when he is hungry.

‘But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold.’ If caught, the thief shall be restored sevenfold, even if it means being sold into slavery (Exo. 22:1-4; Lev. 25:39). The law does not clear a thief, regardless of how desperately in need he is.

‘But whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding.’ Solomon returns to his often repeated warning against adultery and giving oneself to a prostitute (2:16-19; 5:3-6, 8-11, 15-23; 6:24-29, 32-35; 7:5-23, 25-27; 9:13-18). This Scripture states that both parties commit adultery (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22), the woman is not the only culprit as most people choose to blame their part in sin on others.

‘He that does it destroys his own soul.’ Six evil effects of adultery: Spiritual death (Rom. 8:12-13). Physical death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22). Eternal death (1Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8; 22:15). A wound and dishonour (6:33). Lasting reproach. Blinding rage of the husband (6:34-35).

‘Wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.’ Among the Romans one caught in the act of adultery was delivered to the injured husband to be punished with infamy, disgrace, and even death if he chose (6:33-35).

A Whorish Woman

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Proverbs 6:24-26 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 

‘To keep thee from the evil woman.’ Seven things to be kept from: The evil woman (6:24) and her flattery. Lust after her beauty (6:25). Captivity by her eyelids. Poverty through her (6:26). Death by sin with her. Sin with her (6:27-29).

‘Strange’ [Hebrew: nokriy] Solomon had suffered much by sinning with foreign women, so could give warnings from experience (1Kin. 11:1-13). He should have followed his own advice because he became an apostate and fell away from God’s grace because he went into idolatry with these women.

‘Eyelids’ – Modern makeup or lipstick was unknown in the East, but they did line the eyes with a preparation of antimony to give them lustre. We are to pay more attention to the inward man than to the outer man (1Pet. 3:3-4).

‘Piece of bread’ – Here it seems that a man is brought to poverty by a prostitute, but in the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic versions it reads, “For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf.” There were so many prostitutes in the land that they hired themselves out for a bare living.

The Way of Life

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Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life

‘For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.’ Three things that the truth is: A lamp (119:105). A light (119:105, 130). Reproofs of instruction (2Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12).

‘The way of life.’ The way of eternal life (John 6:63, 68). No one is forced to obey the law of God, but disobedience results in death. No one is forced to serve God under grace either, but eternal hell is the alternative. Obedience has always been and always will be the condition of salvation and eternal life. No man has the blessing and curse of God – life for obedience and death for sin – at the same time. No man can be saved and unsaved at the same time. The only way one can serve two masters is to serve one at a time, not both together. When sin is committed it brings forth death, not life (Gen. 2:17; Ex. 32:32-33; Ezek. 18:4, 20-24; Matt. 6:24; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21).

God commands men to choose life by choosing His grace and means of eternal life, thus cancelling death and the curses that separate from Him. People can and must choose because God does not force anyone to surrender to Him or remain obedient. All people are free to choose life or death, blessings or curses (Deut. 30:15-20).

It Shall Lead Thee

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Proverbs 6:20-22 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou go, it shall lead thee; when thou sleep, it shall keep thee; and when thou awake, it shall talk with thee. 

‘Keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.’ Parents must train their children in the ways of God and set a godly example by following Him in obedience.

Duties of parents: To love God wholeheartedly (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30). To have God’s words in the heart (1Jn. 2:5). To teach them diligently to children (Eph. 6:4). To remember God and serve Him in prosperity and success (Ps. 2:11; 100:2; Rom. 12:11; Col. 3:24). To fear the Lord and serve Him (Ps. 112:1; 128:1; Matt. 10:28; Acts 10:35; 1Pet. 2:17). To detest idols (Acts 15:20; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; 1Jn. 5:21). To refrain from tempting God (Ps. 78:17-18, 56; 1Cor. 10:9). To diligently keep the commandments, testimonies, and statutes (Matt. 5:19; 19:17; John 14:15, 21; 1Cor. 7:19; 1Jn. 2:3; 3:22, 24; 5:2-3). To do that which is right and good in the sight of God and man (Matt. 23:23; Acts 8:22).

‘Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.’ Three places to bind truth: Upon the heart. Around the neck (3:3). Upon the fingers (7:3). Why is it necessary for man to have truth so close to him? The Bible is the only book that reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories true, and its decisions immutable. It contains light to direct, spiritual food to sustain, and comfort to cheer. Man should read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. He should read it that it might fill his memory, rule his heart, and guide his feet in righteousness and true holiness. He should read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully, meditatively, searchingly, devotionally; and study it constantly, perseveringly, and industriously – through and through, until it becomes a part of his being, generating faith that will move mountains.

‘It shall lead thee; when thou sleep, it shall keep thee, and when thou awake, it shall talk with thee.’ Truth is personified here as a guide, guardian teacher, and companion (6:22-23).

An Abomination Unto Him

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Proverbs 6:12-19 A naughty person, a wicked man, walks with a froward mouth. He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren. 

‘Naughty’ [Hebrew: beliya‛al] worthless or wicked; a man of Belial; a good-for-nothing. His seven sins (6:12-15): Froward (perverse) speech (cp. 6:17). Winks with his eyes (cp. 6:17). Speaks with his feet (cp. 6:18). Teaches with his fingers (cp. 6:17). Frowardness (deceitfulness) of heart (cp. 6:18). Continual plots, schemes, and plans of sin (cp. 6:18). Sows discord in families, communities, or nations (cp. 6:19).

Points 2 through 4 refer to sign language used to convey evil intentions and sinful practices of partners in sin.

‘Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly.’ Judgment will suddenly overtake the one who commits the seven sins of Proverbs 6:12-14 and the seven sins of verses 16-19.

‘An abomination unto him.’ Twenty things that are an abomination to God: The froward man [Hebrew: luwz] perverse; one who turns aside (3:32; 11:20). A proud look (6:16-17). A lying tongue (6:17; 12:22). Hands that shed innocent blood. A wicked scheming heart (6:18). Feet quick to sin. A false witness that speaks lies (6:19). A sower of discord. Wickedness (8:7). A false balance (scale, 11:1). Sacrifice of the wicked (15:8; 21:27). The way of the wicked (15:9). The thoughts of the wicked (15:26). The proud of the heart (16:5). Justifying the wicked (17:15). Condemning the just. Diverse weights (20:10, 23). Diverse measures. Refusing to hear the law (28:9). Prayer of the rebel.

Consider Her Ways – Part 2

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Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will thou sleep, O sluggard? when will thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelled, and thy want as an armed man.  

‘Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.’ This is the feeling and practice of a sluggard as well as his language.

‘So shall thy poverty come as one that travelled, and thy want as an armed man.’ This is the result of slothfulness.

‘Poverty’ – eight Hebrew words translated as “poor” and “poverty” in Proverbs: [1] Reysh, lack, need, want. Translated as “poverty” (6:11; 10:15; 13:18; 24:34; 28:19; 30:8; 31:7). [2] Ruwsh, in want of necessities of life. Translated as “poor” (10:4; 13:7, 8, 23; 14:20; 17:5; 18:23; 19:1, 7, 22; 22:2, 7; 28:3, 6, 27; 29:13). [3] Dal, impoverished; reduced to poverty. Translated as “poor” (10:15; 14:31; 19:4, 17; 21:13; 22:9, 16, 22; 28:3, 8, 11, 15; 29:7, 14). [4] Machcowr, to be in want (6:11; 21:5; 22:16). Translated as “poor” (21:17); and “poverty” (11:24). [5] ‛Aniy, wretched. Translated as “poor” (14:21; 30:14; 31:9, 20). [6] ’Ebyown, destitute; helpless. Translated as “poor” (14:31). [7] Yarash, dispossessed. Translated as “poor” (30:9); and “poverty” (20:13; 23:21). [8] Checer, poverty or want. Translated as “poverty” (28:22).

‘As one that travelled’ Slow as the steps of a traveller, or as sure as a traveller will soon spend his money and be in need.

‘As an armed man.’ Poverty will come with irresistible fury and you will not be prepared to cope with it. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic add the following verse, “But if thou will be diligent, thy harvest shall be as a fountain; and poverty shall flee far away from thee.”

Consider Her Ways – Part 1

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Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will thou sleep, O sluggard? when will thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelled, and thy want as an armed man. 

‘Ant’ – The ant is a remarkable creature – an emblem of industry in the East (cp. Pro. 30:25). Fifteen ways of ants: The most laborious insects in existence. The most highly industrialized. They collect food in proper seasons (30:25). They are fondly attached to their young. They have keen foresight for others. They work quietly without show. They work tirelessly until the work is done. They work together in astonishing systems of organization for the best good of the whole community. They are ingenious carpenters and masons, building their own system of homes and underground tunnels. They keep their homes scrupulously clean. Each has a specific job to help meet the needs of the community. They fight to the death to protect their own homes and young from enemies. Their social life compares with that of human beings in many respects. They are intelligent and wise (6:6). They carry out life’s work without being forced to do so by a guide, overseer, or ruler (6:7).

‘Sluggard’ [Hebrew: ‛atsel] slothful; sluggard. Eighteen facts about the slothful: They are unteachable, careless, and indifferent (6:6-9). They love excessive sleep (9:9; 19:15; 24:33). They are irritating to others (10:26). They are servants to others (12:24). They are too lazy to cook food (12:27). They are wishful thinkers (13:4; 24:34). They have a life full of troubles (15:19). They are great wasters (18:9). They are lazy (19:24; 24:30-34; 26:14-15). They refuse to work (20:4; 21:25). They make the most senseless excuses for their laziness (22:13; 26:13). They are void of understanding (24:30). They permit property to ruin (24:31-34; Eccl. 10:18). They are too lazy to move themselves (26:14). They are conceited (26:16). They are unfaithful to trust (Matt. 25:26). They are unbelievers (Heb. 6:12). They lack business ability (Rom. 12:11).

To be continued…

Surety

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Proverbs 6:1-5 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou have stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou are snared with the words of thy mouth, thou are taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou are come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 

‘Surety for thy friend.’ Pledging to stand good for anyone tends to relieve the borrower of the responsibility he should feel, and often lowers the respect of a co-signer in the sight of the one he helps. Five facts about surety: The command against surety (22:26). The command to get out of surety as quickly as possible (6:1-5). Surety is a sign of lack of understanding (17:18). Suffering and disappointment are what is promised in surety (11:15). To refrain from surety is the only safe way (11:15).

‘Stricken thy hand.’ Shaking hands was considered the ratification of a verbal contract or promise, and thus a man became ensnared with the words of his mouth (6:1-2; cp. Job 17:3).

‘Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou are come into the hand of thy friend.’ Continue to press the one you are surety for to pay his debt, or you will be left to pay it. If you are ensnared and obligated, make every effort, as the antelope taken in a net or a bird in a snare, to free yourself from captivity (6:3-5).

The Ways of Man

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Proverbs 5:20-23 And why will thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. 

‘Ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his goings.’ The ways of man are before God and every word and deed are recorded. How deeds are recorded is unknown, but every idle word and every cup of cold water given or refused will be brought up before man on the day of judgment (Matt. 10:42; 12:37-38). God can see through the consequences we carry what goes on in our hearts (Jer. 17:9-10).

Ten examples of man’s ways before God: Cain (Gen. 4:5-6); Babel’s builders (Gen. 11:1-11); Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:21); Uzzah (2Sam. 6:6-7; 1Chr. 13:10); David (2Sam. 12:1-31); Baasha (1Kin. 15:29); Ahab (1Kin. 21:19); Belshazzar (Dan. 5:22-28); Nathanael (John 1:48); the seven congregations (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15).

‘His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.’ The 5th prophecy in Proverbs (5:22-23) is fulfilled at the end of the wicked.

‘Iniquities’ – Sins shall trap the wicked and hold him in cords that only God can break.

‘Holden with the cords of his sins.’ Four examples of men held by sin: Saul (1Sam. 18:8-9; 28:5-20); Ahithophel (2Sam. 17:23); Judas (Matt. 26:47-49; John 12:6); Paul (Rom. 7:7-25).

Thine Own Cistern

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Proverbs 5:15-19 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 

‘Drink waters out of thine own cistern.’ One must be satisfied with his own companion and his children must not be illegitimate (5:15-18).

‘Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.’ Let your own wife be blessed, and be satisfied with her at all times (5:19).

‘Let her be as the loving hind.’ To be content with the wife you chose as a partner in life and obey the Word according to the Biblical standard of treating your wife (Eph. 5:25-33; 1Pet. 3:7, etc.) loving her will be a blessing rather than a chore.

Be just as faithful to your wives as you want them to be to you; give them no excuse for sin and give honour to the wife, using your superior strength in protecting her and as being heirs together of life. Many prayers are hindered because of the unfaithfulness of husbands and wives.