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Saturday, February 24, 2024

Proverbs 6:1-35 Warnings Against Folly = Week 07 - Saturday

Warnings Against Folly

Proverbs 6:1-35


Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
  • What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE(Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. Great app, better on computers or on phone)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)


#Hashtags:


Themes
Wisdom and Foolishness
Laziness vs Diligence
Warning against Adultery
The Consequences of Sin

Topics
Financial wisdom and pitfalls
The virtue of hard work
The sins of a false witness, a liar, and an adulterer
Seven things God hates


Potential Sermon Titles: ??

Intro Questions to get us thinking:
  • What is your favorite animal? Why? 
  • Who is the person you most admire? What is it about their personality that you admire?
  • Which of your dad's or mom's sayings can you recall? Which do you use? 
  • What were you disciplined for most often? How were you disciplined?

ESV Text with Highlights
#God
#People = Listener, Borrower, Guarantor, Ant, Sluggard, Adulterer, God
#Time =
#Place = Field, Vineyard, Home of the Neighbor
#Obedient faith
#Sin
#Key Idea

Proverbs 6 ESV

Practical Warnings

6 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
    have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
    caught in the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, and save yourself,
    for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
    go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep
    and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
    like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
    officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
    and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
    goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
    points with his finger,
14 with perverted heart devises evil,
    continually sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.

Warnings Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father's commandment,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
    tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
    when you lie down, they will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from the evil woman,
    from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
    and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,
    but a married woman hunts down a precious life.
27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
    and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals
    and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
    none who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;
    he will give all the goods of his house.
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
    he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor,
    and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy makes a man furious,
    and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no compensation;
    he will refuse though you multiply gifts.







OBSERVATIONS(Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)
Thematic Bible(Books and Chapters Structure)
Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions





STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
StudyLight (LEB) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)
NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)
BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BlueLetter  (KJV) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)
Literal Word (NASB) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)
Biblia.com (NCV) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)
KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
  • When have you pledged yourself to something you later regretted? How does humility (v. 3) work to get you out of difficult situations? 
  • What does sluggard-like and ant-like behavior look like in your friends? In yourself? In what one way can you be more like the ant this week? 
  • If all your material needs were met without having to work, would you still work? Why? 
  • Where have you seen the character described in verses 12-14: In a TV melodrama? In church? In the mirror? How do you deal with the villain within you? Likewise, the villain in your fellowship? 
  • Solomon gives a checklist (vv. 16-19) to evaluate our relationship to the Lord: How do you measure up? How would your closest friend rate you? How can your small group help you improve in one of these areas?
  • What do you suppose this "father-son" (or mother-daughter) talk involved: Monologue? Q & A? Trial and error? Bedtime prayers? 
  • What images help picture what the "commands" and "teaching" are like? And what sexual sin is like? What does it mean that a "prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread"? 
  • How does the use of poetry (exaggerated language, parallelism, emotional pull) help to make the point vividly? 
  • What do you see in verses 30-31: Situation ethics? Moral relativity? Justice? Or what? 
  • Do you think God's judgment (vv. 32-35) is brought on by ourselves, or exacted by others? Why?


APPLICATION(God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)
The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)

Proverbs 6 presents idleness as a pathway to sin, including adultery, illustrating how laziness in one area of life can lead to moral compromise and spiritual downfall in other areas.

In our bustling world, idleness might seem a small concern. Yet, Proverbs 6 alerts us to its covert dangers.

1. The allure of laziness is deceptive, luring us into a false sense of security. (Proverbs 6:6-11)
    A. The passage uses the ant as a model of diligence, contrasting with human laziness.
    B. Idleness leads to poverty, symbolizing broader spiritual and moral decay.
2. Idleness breeds a culture of irresponsibility and deceit. (Proverbs 6:12-15)
    A. The 'worthless person' exemplifies the consequences of a lazy spirit.
    B. Such behavior not only affects the individual but undermines community integrity.
3. Engaging in laziness opens the door to more egregious sins, like adultery. (Proverbs 6:20-35)
    A. Adultery is depicted as a result of not prioritizing wisdom and godly instruction.
    B. The severe consequences serve as a dire warning against moral complacency.
 Proverbs 6 not only condemns laziness but also illustrates its perilous trajectory towards spiritual downfall. Let us strive for diligence, not just in our work but in our spiritual lives, guarding against the subtle encroachments of idleness.

  • How would you describe the "intensity" of this passage: Fireside chat? Fiery sermon? Political filibuster? Ad for a TV mini-series? Or what? 
  • What is Solomon's point? How well does he present it? How effective are his figures of speech? 
  • If he were writing for a modern audience, would he have to change anything? If so, what? Why? 
  • From verses 1-5 (also Psalm 15:4b), what are the dangers of "co-signing for a loan"? Why? 
  • From verses 6-11, why work? Why use an ant to make this point? 
  • What is the ultimate end of the "scoundrel and villain" (vv. 12ff)? Is this a natural consequence? Or the judgment of God? Why do you think so?
  • How have your parents' instructions guided, watched, or spoken to you? If their instruction is wrong or not of God, must you still obey? Why? What experience of parental discipline illustrates your point? 
  • When in your life, past or present, have you been burned when "playing with fire" (vv. 27f)? How does this passage suggest you keep your life pure?
  • 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.

#GodHates

#GodLoves
 

  •     Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
  •     Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
  •     Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
  •     Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
  •     Proverbs 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are an abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
  •     Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
  •     Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
  •     Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
  •     Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
  •     Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
  •     Proverbs 16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
  •     Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
  •     Proverbs 20:10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
  •     Proverbs 20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
  •     Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
  •     Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
  •     Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.




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Saturday, February 17, 2024

Proverbs 5:1-23 Warning Against Adultery = Week 06 - Saturday

Warning Against Adultery

Proverbs 5:1-23



Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
  • What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE(Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. Great app, better on computers or on phone)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)


Topics:
#Hashtags
#Wisdom
#Adultery
#Wisdom and Understanding
#Faithfulness in Marriage
#Consequences of Immorality
#Parental Guidance
#Life Choices
Do not be seduced by the adulterous woman.
Revere and honor God to stay on His path.
The consequences of not heeding wisdom.

Potential Sermon Titles: ??
Wisdom as a Protector
The Lure of Adultery
The Pain of Infidelity
Pleasure versus Consequences
Importance of Heeding to Advice

Proverbs 5 does not mention any specific geographical locations. It is a general discourse meant to provide wisdom for a righteous life, regardless of location.

This passage begins with a warning against the seductive woman, who is often portrayed as an adulteress. She is described as being deceitful and full of treachery, and those who are enticed by her will end up as an object of her scorn.????

This chapter in Proverbs gives advice on how to stay away from sinful women and how to be faithful to one's own wife.

Proverbs 5 is a warning against the dangers of adultery andforeign women. It describes the seductive power of an adulterous woman and the destruction that she brings. It also warns against the temptations of wealth and pleasure, which can lead a man astray.

A man who is immoral and adulterous will be destroyed by his own sin. He will be caught in the trap of his own evil deeds, and his own greed will destroy him.

Intro Questions to get us thinking:
  • What advice have your parents given you on marriage?

ESV Text with Highlights
#God
#People = Solomon, An Adulterous Woman, The Son/Solomon's audience
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith
#Sin
#Key Idea


Proverbs 5

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.

 








OBSERVATIONS(Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)
Thematic Bible(Books and Chapters Structure)
Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions

===============

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).


===============

Wisdom: The Shield Against Immorality

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.




STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
StudyLight (LEB) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)
NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)
BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BlueLetter  (KJV) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)
Literal Word (NASB) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)
Biblia.com (NCV) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)
KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)

  • 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?


APPLICATION(God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)
The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)

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.

#Adultery

  • Proverbs 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 
  • Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 
  • Proverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! 14  I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 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. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. 
  • Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 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. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. 
  • Proverbs 7:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the good man is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hathcast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. 
  • Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. 
  • Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 
  • Proverbs 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 
  • Proverbs 29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. 
  • Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.



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"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.’"

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