Warning Against Adultery
Proverbs 5:1-23
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
- What advice have your parents given you on marriage?
#People = Solomon, An Adulterous Woman, The Son/Solomon's audience
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith
#Sin
#Key Idea
Warning Against Adultery
5 My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip
honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
6 she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.
7 And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labors go to the house of a
foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a
forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of
the Lord,
and he ponders all his paths.
22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23 He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is led
astray.
Wisdom instructs about sexuality.
I. The Woman in the Street: Depart from Her (5:1–14, 21–23).
A. The pleasure she offers (5:3)
1. Her lips are as sweet as honey (5:3).
2. Her mouth is smoother than oil (5:3).
B. The price you pay (5:4–14, 21–23)
1. “The result is as bitter as poison” (5:4): It is “sharp as a double-edged sword.”
2. “Her feet go down to death” (5:5): “Her steps lead straight to the grave.”
3. “She does not care about the path to life” (5:6): “She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t even realize where it leads.”
4. The loss of one’s reputation (5:7–9): She will take your honor.
5. The loss of one’s self-respect (5:12–14): You come to the brink of utter ruin.
6. The loss of one’s wealth (5:10): Others will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
7. The loss of one’s health (5:11): Disease consumes your body.
8. The loss of one’s very soul (5:21–23)
II. The Wife in the Home: Delight in Her (5:15–20).
A. The rule: Remain faithful to her (5:15–18).
B. The reward: Her love will satisfy you (5:19–20).
Proverbs 5 provides timeless wisdom that speaks to the heart of human relationships and moral choices. It draws a clear line between the immediate allure of temptation and the long-lasting joy of marital fidelity, reminding us of the need for wisdom and understanding in our life choices. Most importantly, the chapter underscores God's watchful eyes, serving as an incentive to live righteously in light of divine accountability.
Section 1: A Call to Wisdom (Verses 1-6)
Solomon urgently implores his listeners to attain wisdom and understanding. He warns of the dangers of the adulterous woman, whose words are captivating but lead to a path of destruction. Her steps, while seemingly attractive, lead away from life's righteous paths.
Section 2: The Perils of Infidelity (Verses 7-14)
The reader is warned to stay far away from the adulterous woman. The disastrous consequences of succumbing to adultery are laid bare, highlighting the sorrow, reproach, and self-degradation it brings.
Section 3: The Virtue of Faithfulness (Verses 15-20)
The advice shifts from warning to the instruction of enjoying love and satisfaction within one's marriage. Marital faithfulness is presented as the joyful alternative to the destruction caused by infidelity.
Section 4: The Watchful Eyes of the Lord (Verses 21-23)
The chapter concludes by reiterating God's omniscience, emphasizing that He sees all deeds and weighs all paths. Those who ignore discipline and wisdom will be caught by their own iniquities, while those who adhere to wisdom will prosper.
In Proverbs chapter 5, the wisdom literature takes on a profoundly personal tone as it explores the intimate dangers of falling into the trap of sexual immorality. The writer, presumably Solomon, uses the chapter to stress the importance of fidelity, understanding, and making wise decisions. He provides vivid illustrations of the dire consequences of immorality and contrasts them with the benefits of maintaining purity within the confines of marriage.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- What bells and whistles ring in your ears after reading this? Can you hear the police bull-horn? The ambulance siren? The cheated spouse blowing the whistle?
- This chapter is filled with picture words. Do they enhance the point of the passage for you, or detract from it? What is the main point here?
- Why does adultery appeal (νν. 3-4,7-8,12-13,20-22)? What helps him resist?
- What consequences does this permissive lifestyle reap (vv. 9-11,14)? What benefits accrue to those who "drink from their own cistern" (vv. 15ff)?
- Why is wisdom personified as a woman in verses 6-7?
- What is the difference between adultery and sexual immorality?
- What does it mean to "reject" wisdom in verse 8?
- What are the consequences of adultery according to this passage?
- What does it mean to "stray" from the path of life?
- What are the consequences of rejecting wisdom according to this passage?
- What is the definition of adultery according to Proverbs 5?
- Who is the adulterer's "companion" in verses 3-5?
- How does Solomon describe the words of an adulterous woman in Proverbs 5, and what does this teach us about temptation in general?
- How does the depiction of infidelity's consequences in this chapter inform your understanding of sin's effects?
- What contrasts can you identify between the adulterous woman and a faithful spouse as described in this chapter?
- Why is marital fidelity emphasized as a safeguard against adultery?
- How does this chapter demonstrate the importance of heeding wise counsel?
- In what ways can the lessons from Proverbs 5 apply to areas of life other than marital fidelity?
- How can wisdom and understanding serve as a shield against immoral temptations in our contemporary society?
- Discuss a situation where you have witnessed the consequences of poor choices as described in Proverbs 5.
- How can you apply the lessons of this chapter to foster a healthier, stronger marital or romantic relationship?
- How does the omnipresence and omniscience of God, as stated in Proverbs 5, affect your personal decisions?
- How can the principles in Proverbs 5 help guide us in using social media and the internet responsibly?
- Can you think of any examples where the media or popular culture glamorizes behavior similar to the adulterous woman? How can we counteract these influences?
- How can you encourage friends or family members to make wise decisions in their relationships based on the principles in Proverbs 5?
- How does Proverbs 5 underscore the value of listening to and learning from those who are older and wiser?
- How does the book of Proverbs teach us to deal with our desires in a healthy way?
- How can the warnings of Proverbs 5 help you approach temptation in your life?
- How does the idea of divine accountability affect your actions, according to Proverbs 5?
- How would you use the teachings of Proverbs 5 to counsel someone entangled in an affair?
- In what ways does understanding the dangers of infidelity, as laid out in Proverbs 5, influence your thoughts about commitment and loyalty?
- In the face of temptation, how can we develop the discipline to remember the long-term consequences of our actions, as suggested in Proverbs 5?
The consequences of adultery extend beyond the immediate, inflicting long-term damage on one’s relationship with God, family, and self.
Introduction: Adultery: A hidden trap that promises pleasure but delivers pain.
1. Adultery corrupts the integrity of one's soul, leading to spiritual alienation from God.
A. Proverbs 5 describes the seductive and cunning nature of adultery, warning that its path leads to death and separation from God's wisdom (Proverbs 5:3-6, 22-23).
2. Adultery fractures the sacred bond of marriage and devastates families.
A. The passage admonishes the reader to rejoice with the wife of their youth and warns against the destructiveness of engaging in adultery (Proverbs 5:18-19).
B. This underlines the value God places on the marital bond and the deep harm caused when that bond is broken.
3. Adultery leads to a loss of honor and resources, affecting one’s self-worth and societal standing.
A. The text warns that engaging in adultery can lead to a depletion of one’s resources and dignity (Proverbs 5:9-10, 14).
Conclusion: Adultery is not just a momentary lapse of judgment, but a serious sin with far-reaching consequences. It alienates us from God, destroys familial bonds, and undermines our self-worth and resources. By adhering to God’s wisdom and seeking his strength, we can safeguard our lives from the hidden snares of adultery, nurturing our relationship with him, our families, and our own selves. We are called to cherish and honor the commitments we make, particularly in marriage, as a reflection of our faithfulness to God.
- What has influenced your understanding of sexual Dos and Don'ts: TV sitcoms? Real-life sitcoms? Classroom courses? Locker room discussions? Bull sessions? AIDS? Pop love songs? Porno mags? Parents? Scripture?
- What was lacking in your sexual education as a youth?
- What causes a man to think "the grass is greener on the other side"? Are wives tempted by the same things as husbands? Why?
- Martin Luther said of sexual temptation: "We can't do anything about the birds flying over our head, but we can prevent them building a nest in our hair." How does that metaphor fit your experience and Proverbs 5?
- "If only I knew then what I know now": What sexual advice have you once rejected but later discovered was sound? What happened? What problem remains unresolved? Where can you get help?
- The adulteress does not even realize that "her paths are crooked" (v. 6). If you were going down the wrong path would you want someone to correct you? Who? How?
- Given verse 21, what difference will that make in your future thoughts and decisions regarding sex?
- What does it mean to "flee from sexual immorality"?
- What should I do if I am tempted to commit adultery?
- What does it mean to "run from it"?
- What does the Bible say about adultery?
- What are the consequences of adultery?
- What does it mean to "embrace wisdom"?
- What is the Biblical view of sex outside of marriage?
- How can I avoid adultery?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Other Resources:
Discovery Bible Study
Devotions
"It's God's Fight"
Psalm 147:10-11 “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”
We live in a world that celebrates strength, intellect, ambition, success, and being self-made. These are all wonderful as well as God-given attributes, but if pursued incorrectly they can short-circuit your relationship with God.
The Lord wants you to be all that He made you to be, but He wants you to live under His Lordship and direction. Throughout history, human beings have shown how great character traits used in excess and outside of God’s influence can hurt others while consuming oneself.
Proverbs 5:22-23 says, “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.”
Learning to harness your God-given talents through God’s presence and work in your life will not only accentuate your talents, but also elevate Christ for the world to see. You walk with Christ in this way by fearing (revering) Him while stepping out in faith and believing that His ways are best. It is this type of lifestyle that puts your hope in Christ’s unfailing love instead of you.
Romans 12:1 describes it this way: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Your spiritual worship of God is not what you bring to the table; it is placing yourself on God’s altar as a living sacrifice dedicated to trusting Him with your every desire and hope.
1 Sam 17:45-47 “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give all of you into our hands.’"
