Proverbs 6: 1 - 5

Today’s study will cover the first 5 verses of Chapter 6. These verses cover a different kind of “folly” than those we have studied before in this book. The definitions of the word “folly” from the online dictionary is as follows: 1. A lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight.: 2. a. An act or instance of foolishness:.b. A costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome.

Here are our verses for today:

Proverbs 6: 1 - 5 (NIV)

Warnings Against Folly
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2 if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

The type of folly that is spoken of in these first 5 verses is about putting up collateral or “securities” for someone else, or doing or saying something that puts you in debt, in some way, to another. The Bible teaches us to help others in many ways, (Luke 6:35 says, But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest…) I think, in this verse, the key being not to expect something back. Be prepared to make it a gift…

In many verses, the Bible also warns people to be very careful about borrowing or lending money. Proverbs 22:7 says, The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

The first verse in Proverbs 6 doesn’t say not to lend, but tells us not to put up our things or livelihood, as collateral for someone else. The second part of this verse and the next one speak of making foolish promises, without thinking things through.

God takes vows or promises very seriously, which is why Jesus says in Matthew 5:37: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; or Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. James 5:12 goes on to say: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

These verses tell us not to make promises, but to, in essence say, “I will try my best to help in this manner…” There is even a story about a man who made a foolish vow to God that if God would help him, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his place when he returned home. That first thing happened to be his only daughter… You can read the story in Judges 11:30-39.

Verses 3-5 tell us that if we mess up and do get ourselves in a problem of this type, then we should try our best to get out of it as soon as possible. These verses say that once we realize what we have done, we shouldn’t even go to bed (Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids) until we get things straightened out. We should do WHATEVER it takes (Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!) to get out from under, for if the “neighbor” forgives us our debt, then we are free of it.

By stressing all the points in these verses, Solomon hopes to make it very clear that we need to think before we speak or make promises. I think that in these problem times, these words can help us to make some hard but wise decisions.

Proverbs 5:15 - 23

First, I want to say that I am sorry that I’m late with this next study. My eldest son came from Florida to visit for Mother’s Day, and I was doing some major catch-up cleaning all this week. It is so nice to see him. He is the one that lost his wife this January, and I have been praying for him a lot. It is such a blessing to have him here for a few days.

This chapter’s first study set the scene of a parent teaching their young son about adultery and warning against it. The second section discussed the problems that this kind of sin can cause for the one who commits it. This section uses the symbolism of water for the young wife that the young man is engaged/ married to.

As we studied in Chapter 2, in old Jewish tradition, a child was “betrothed” (engaged… promised) at a very young age. A pact, legal promise, or “covenant” was made. The couple would grow to know each other as they grew up, and while the “groom” was building their house. When the father of the groom proclaimed the house ready, the young man would go and call to his bride (often at a time she didn’t know) and then they would have the marriage ceremony. (This also reminds us of Jesus promise and his return for his bride…)

In Chapter 2: 17-19, adultery was looked at from the side of the young woman that decided to be immoral, while in this chapter and verses, the warning against adultery is to the young man. Let’s read today’s verses:

Proverbs 5:15 - 23 (NKJV)
15 Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love.

20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And be embraced in the arms of a seductress? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths. 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, (or “discipline” – NIV) And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Verse 15- 18 uses symbolism to warn the young man to satisfy his “thirst” (sexual urges) within his own marriage and home, and not by running around “in the streets.” The advice that is given, is for the young man not to stray, but to remain with the “wife of your [his] youth.”

Verse 19 reminds the young man of the beauty of his wife, and of their love when it was young, and urges him to “always be enraptured with her love.”

Verse 20-22 has the “father” reminding his son that everything that is done is seen by God, and thought about by Him. It is important for the son to keep this in mind as it will help him to resist the temptation to stray. Wicked men that don’t keep these things in their minds, will be “entrapped” by their own choices and caught in their sins. The picture is almost one of a spider’s web catching a curious bug…

The final verse of this chapter again warns that those that don’t listen to instruction or take heed of “discipline” will be led astray and can even die. Just as today there are so many STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) that can kill your body, the same was true at that time also. Even more than that, as we have seen, sin can cause spiritual death as well, and sexual sin has a very strong attraction for many people.

I will finish this study with this scripture from 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NIV):
15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Proverbs 5:7 - 14

Today's study covers the next 8 verses of Chapter 5. These verses change from addressing a single son to addressing multiple children. This whole chapter deals with adultery and the warnings against it, and this section specifically discusses the problems that this kind of sin can cause for the one who commits this deed.

Proverbs 5:7 - 14 (NKJV)

7 Therefore hear me now, my children,

And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

8 Remove 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 cruel one;

10 Lest aliens be filled with your wealth,

And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;

11 And you mourn at last,

When your flesh and your body are consumed,

12 And say: “ How I have hated instruction,

And my heart despised correction!

13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,

Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!

14 I was on the verge of total ruin,

In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”


We have studied this allegory before in Chapter 2: 16-19 and I am going to put part of that post here to remind us of the way that God looks at adultery and why …

Throughout the Bible, an “adulterous woman” is used to portray other gods or things that would “seduce” us away from God in some form or another. God’s plan for marriage was for “two to become one,” heart, soul and mind. Marriage is the form He chose to use as an example, or symbol, of the relationship He wants us to have with Him.

He wants us to become “one with him”… to know Him intimately, as He knows us. Living in today’s world often makes it hard for people to understand the “perfect-ness” that a truly good marriage can be after years of intimacy… sharing the good times AND the hard times, and learning from them… learning to TRUST a partner that will never leave you nor forsake you.

THIS is why adultery is so horrendous in God’s sight. The breaking of a “trust” of this nature, is a cut to the very soul and heart of a person. It is like thrusting a sword into the heart to cut it and separate it back out from one, into two! God understands, because He keeps putting Himself out there for His people (both Old and New Testament followers and believers) and they have, so often, turned away from Him. He showed just what love and forgiveness can do to help reestablish trust in a relationship through the example of giving His son.

The first verses in this section are warnings to stay away from areas of our lives that we know are dangerous to us… things that separate us from God… things we put “above Him” or make into idols that we “worship” instead of keeping our eyes on Him and putting Him first.

Verse 9 warns that IF you do these things, and put other things in front of God and His ways, then you are “giving your years to the cruel one…” You have CHOSEN to take yourself out from under God’s protection and allow Satan to have reign in your life. This will result in the loss of wealth (not just physical wealth, but the gifts that are spiritual wealth) and you will end up working for others (and spiritually speaking, this would be for the spirits that are against God.) This kind of life leads to ruin and pain, both physically and spiritually.

Often when people have rejected God’s paths and instead have chosen this evil course for their lives, and then bad things happen, They tend to blame God instead of acknowledging their own part in where they have ended up. They don’t want to face the shame of the ruin they have allowed to happen in their lives… especially in front of others that are watching them: “In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”

Proverbs 5:1-6

Today we will start studying chapter 5 of Proverbs. This chapter is primarily about avoiding adultery and staying with “the wife of your youth…” It warns that getting involved in adultery will cause you to have many regrets later on in your life. Today’s study will be on verses 1 through 6.

Proverbs 5:1-6 (NKJV)
The Peril of Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

Lend your ear to my understanding,

2 That you may preserve discretion,

And your lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,

And her mouth 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 lay hold of hell.

6 Lest you ponder her path of life—

Her ways are unstable;

You do not know them.

In these verses, Solomon is speaking to one of his sons, while in later verses, he speaks to more than one of them. He starts out as he has in the last few chapters by trying to get his son’s attention and asking him to “listen” to him… how many of us have started out our conversations to others, particularly young people, or our children, with these two admonishments. “PAY ATTENTION!... LISTEN to me!...”

We studied, in Proverbs 2: 11, that discretion is - the trait of judging wisely and objectively; AND the ability or power to decide responsibly. This ability will “preserve” us, or keep us out of trouble. In this case, it goes on to suggest that the “discretion” in this case, would be in regard to speech.

Verse 3 tells us that “an immoral woman” uses her mouth and lips to draw a man… through her words and also, through sexy looks. We’ve all seen movies and pictures where women use their mouths in ways that many consider tempting or “sexy.” It uses a word picture of “dripping honey” and “being smoother than oil.” Both of these things are symbols that are often used in the Bible as being things to desire or entice.

Verses 4 & 5 goes on to warn that though these type of women look like something that is to be desired, if a young person uses “discretion,” they will see that only bad things will result if they follow those desires. It describes the consequences as being “bitter as wormwood,” and “sharp as a two-edged sword.” It goes on to say that “her feet go down to death… her steps lay hold of hell (sheol).”

“Wormwood” is “something harsh or embittering,” and anything that is as “sharp as a two-edged sword,” can be dangerous and even deadly, as verse 5 makes clear. There were STD’s even in Bible times, and some of the kings even died from them. Today, we are still seeing deaths being caused by the old sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis, as well as many new strains.

Another thing that often happens is that a person’s conscience will eat at them and this can also cause stress and problems in life

Verse 6 warns us that pondering the way of life of an immoral woman will show that her “ways” are unstable and that a young person has no idea of what they are getting into by following this slippery path. There are several Bible verses that tell us that those that continue in an adulterous lifestyle will not make it into heaven. ( see I Cor. 6:9 and Rev. 22:15 to name a few)

James 4:4 (NKJV) says: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God,” and Malachi 3:5 says, “And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts.

Adultery is so important that it is even one of the ten commandments. Our verses today are talking about an “immoral” or adulterous woman, that a father is warning his son against, but it also applies to men that commit adultery, as we will see farther on in this chapter.

One last note: Even adultery can be and IS forgiven when we repent of it, turn away from it, and accept Christ's free gift that paid for this sin the same as for any other.

Proverbs 4:23 – 27

Today, we will finish up Chapter 4 of Proverbs. These last verses speak to us of keeping our “SELVES” under control. Self-control is one of the Fruits of the Spirit, and to really have “self” control, we need to give our whole “selves,” everything WE have control of, over to God’s Control, and let the Holy Spirit guide us. We do this through trusting that God really loves us totally, and only does what is best for us if we are putting HIM first. Here are the verses for today.

Proverbs 4: 23 - 27 (NKJV)

23 Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,

And put perverse lips far from you.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,

And your eyelids look right before you.

26 Ponder the path of your feet,

And let all your ways be established.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;

Remove your foot from evil.

Verse 23 reminds us that we should keep our “heart with all diligence…” The word diligence is defined as: 1. Earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort; 2. Attentive care; heedfulness. We must be consistent about keeping our hearts (and in the Bible, the word “heart” usually means our souls… that which makes us what we are—our “selves”) under God’s control and guidance. We do that by constantly praying and seeking God’s guidance before each move we make. He says that “out of it (our hearts/selves) spring the issues of life.

If our “hearts” are centered on God and His ways, then what springs out of our lives are fruits of the Spirit: gentleness, kindness, love, joy, peace, faithfulness, goodness, patience, and self-control, these “issues” are the ones we want.

If our “hearts” are centered on our “lusts of the flesh”, then what will spring out of our lives are the many types of sexual sin, the types of sin that put something else in front of God such as idolizing something like drugs and witchcraft—Horoscopes, Tarot Cards, etc. Galatians 5:19-21 gives a list of many of the “lusts of the flesh,” while Galatians 5: 22 & 23 lists the gifts of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV)

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Verse 24 essentially tells us to keep our mouth’s under control: stop lying and speaking in evil ways (i.e. cursing, planning evil, etc.), and verse 25 exhorts us to keep our eyes under control: look straight ahead at the path that God has placed in front of us. Verses 26 & 27 tells us to “ponder” or “think diligently about” that path, and to let our ways be established in that Godly leading, not turning aside either way, from it.

This chapter ends with the warning, again, to “Remove your foot from evil…” If we have put control of our “selves” into God’s hands, we WILL remove our feet from following evil paths that will cause us to stumble and get hurt badly.

Proverbs 4:10 – 22

Today we will be looking at verses 10 through 22 of chapter 4. Most of these verses simply state in different words, the same things that we have studied in the first couple of chapters of this book. I think that they are pretty self explanatory after the word studies we have done before. Let’s read the verses.

Proverbs 4: 10 - 22 (NKJV)

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, (literally – light)
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is like darkness,
They do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.

As you can see, in summary, wise living adds to your life in every way, while we are warned against following the paths of evil for it only brings pain and sorrow in the end.