PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words” (Proverbs 7:5 KJV).

Proverbs chapter seven is not the easiest chapter to find devotional material. Generally, when one thinks of a devotion they think of it as a reminder that God loves us and is good to us all the time. They are a light that shines out of the darkness to encourage us. Generally it uses a verse or two that can be used for meditation throughout the day. Practically every verse in chapter seven does not provide a cheery promise, but rather dire warnings on a rather vulgar subject—irresponsible and promiscuous sexual activity. Yet, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17 KJV).

The word adultery originates not from “adult”, as is commonly thought, but from the Late Latin word for “to alter, corrupt”: adulterare. Adulterare in turn is formed by the combination of ad (“towards”), and alter (“other”), together with the infinitive form are (making it a verb).

In God’s Word, the subject of adultery and fornication can be viewed either literally or figuratively. In the figurative sense we can understand these sins as religious compromise of the truth. The Old Testament Book of Hosea is rather a parable using the true experience of Hosea and his wife Gomer, a prostitute. God uses their infidelity to display Israel’s infidelity to Him.

Jeremiah calls upon Israel of repent of her sin of “spiritual adultery.”

“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 3:6-10 KJV).

So, not only is there a physical sense of the world, “adultery,” but there is also a spiritual sense. This entails those that have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ (and it may well be real), yet he loves the things of the world. This Christian compromises his convictions with the world and embraces the things that Satan offers. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” (James 4:4-5 KJV).

Father, let our hearts stay focused on You and let us meditate on the reality that we can be just as guilty of impure sins by desiring the things of this world, rather than the things of heaven. Forgive us where we have failed, strengthen us for tomorrow. Amen.

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