Wisdom Lived in Marriage

Introduction

Marriage has become a controversial topic in our society as our society has become less interested in the teaching of the Word of God.

We have many confused ideas about what a human is, and that has also resulted in confused, but also strange ideas about human sexuality and marriage.

Our young are mental Frankenstein’s with bits and pieces of bad ideas cobbled together in a way that sounds right, but in the end, are monstrous and destructive.

We do not live as perfect people in a perfect world. But, the depraved human mind has the ability not to recognize the confusion. It also has the ability to celebrate evil as good (see the Ro. 1:32).

Could we have a more important topic given the crisis of aloneness and declining birthrates in all major countries?

From Prov. 4, last week, we learned of the need to be attentive and to prepare for the kind of person we will be.

We can do this when we are young.

One of the key points which will be contrasted in this section is the appeal to “ponder” in Prov. 4:26 with the lack of interest in pondering by the seductive woman found in Prov. 5:6.

Two things are taking place within the text:

An example of an area of live that can be planned for, especially the kind of person we will be.

A warning against the seductiveness of bad ideas, and thus, the importance of being attentive to wisdom gets stressed.

Wisdom Reminded

This has become an expected topic by now.

What might not be so obvious to us is the tie between Prov. 4:20 and 5:1.

Notice how Prov. 5:1 repeats the structure of Prov. 4:20.

But, it has now intensified where “words” (Prov. 4:20) have become “wisdom” and “sayings” have become “understanding.”

The play with the ideas becomes obvious in Prov. 5:2-3.

Notice the emphasis on the lips in both a literal and figurative manner.

Revisit relevant passages from the list of the uses of the adulterous woman from earlier messages.

Wisdom = Be a Faithful Spouse/Husband

“You will not commit adultery” the Lord command the Israelites just three months after bringing them from Egypt to Sinai.

We have learned that all corruptions of marriage and human sexuality are to be expected in a fallen world.

Faithfulness in marriage is being taught. This is a real world need, and it is holy in the sight of God.

This is made obvious with a very graphic, yet picturesque set of illustrations. See Prov. 5:15-20.

Proverbs deals with important instructions about marriage. We could break down two ways wives and husbands can be fools:

Adulterous (both)

Nagging/Embittered (wives)

Not assuming responsibility for the attitude his wife takes toward him (what seems to be implied is that his lack of faithfulness could lead to her embittered treatment of him, and thus, it will create misery in the home).

Wisdom = Be Prepared for Destructive, Yet Seductive Ideas.

The adulterous woman serves as a metaphor for this truth.

Part two must include a discussion of the freewill at stake in these passages.

To be repetitive about the different choices that are available doesn’t mean that all choices are right.

It must also include some discussion about the inability of modern people to form meaningful relationships.

Death is the end result of a life of sin.

God knows our way of life, and nothing is hidden from his eye.

The word of the Lord provides a straight and level path.

There is no innocence in being unprepared to live life in a sinful and deceptive world.

We have been warned the way the world is.

We have been warned about our own unreliability.

Notice the danger expressed in Proverbs 19:3.

Those who expect the Lord to intervene to stop them from committing folly will be sorely disappointed.

In Prov. 1, we learned the Lord is willing to let human beings engage in their own folly.

Part of our judgment is to be permitted to go our own way.

Through the picture of the seductive woman and the warning about her, we are reminded of God’s willingness to give us free will.

God is gracious to us by giving us information.

We have to live with the consequences of our choices