Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 5, 'Verbatim', Post 6, September 7, 2020

​My friends, 

The introduction (chapters 1–9) of the Proverbs constitutes the youngest unit in the book. It consists of a series of poems or discourses in which a father exhorts his son to acquire wisdom and in which wisdom personified intervenes. These chapters have a more speculative quality than the remainder of the book. They do not treat wisdom simply as a human quality and achievement or as a cultural legacy imparted by teachers and parents; they present it as a universal and abiding reality, transcending the human scene.
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Wisdom is the first of God’s works and participated with him in the creation of the world. A constantly debated aspect of this section concerns the identity of “the loose [strange] woman” who is set over against Wisdom.

Take the proverbs of other nations, and we shall find great numbers founded upon selfishness, cunning, pride, injustice, national contempt, and animosities.

The principles of the Proverbs of Solomon are piety, charity, justice, benevolence, and true prudence. Their universal purity proves that they are the word of God.

Without further, let us continue from August 24-26-28, 2020; September 1-3, 2020; this week, September 7-9-11, 2020, our verbatim posts of the Book of 'Wisdom', 'Proverbs', specifically, Chapters 5,6,7. Continuing from:
​​Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 1, 'Verbatim', Post 2-AM, August 26, 2020
Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 1, 'Verbatim', Post 2-PM, August 26, 2020
Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 2, 'Verbatim', Post 3, August 28, 2020
Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 3, 'Verbatim', Post 4-AM, September 1, 2020
Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 3, 'Verbatim', Post 4-PM, September 1, 2020
​Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 4, 'Verbatim', Post 5-AM, September 3, 2020
Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 4, 'Verbatim', Post 5-PM, September 3, 2020
Studies in 'the Proverbs' Chapter 5, 'Verbatim', Post 6, September 7, 2020

​Chapter 5 ​audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ​w/Notes.
Exhortations to wisdom. The evils of licentiousness. (1-14) Remedies against licentiousness, The miserable end of the wicked. (15-23)
​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 twoedged 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.'

Notes of Matthew Henry Commentary 1710.

'Solomon cautions all young men, as his children, to abstain from fleshly lusts. Some, by the adulterous woman, here understand idolatry, false doctrine, which tends to lead astray men's minds and manners; but the direct view is to warn against seventh-commandment sins. Often these have been, and still are, Satan's method of drawing men from the worship of God into false religion. Consider how fatal the consequences; how bitter the fruit! Take it any way, it wounds. It leads to the torments of hell. The direct tendency of this sin is to the destruction of body and soul. We must carefully avoid every thing which may be a step towards it. Those who would be kept from harm, must keep out of harm's way. If we thrust ourselves into temptation we mock God when we pray, Lead us not into temptation. How many mischiefs attend this sin! It blasts the reputation; it wastes time; it ruins the estate; it is destructive to health; it will fill the mind with horror. Though thou art merry now, yet sooner or later it will bring sorrow. The convinced sinner reproaches himself, and makes no excuse for his folly. By the frequent acts of sin, the habits of it become rooted and confirmed. By a miracle of mercy true repentance may prevent the dreadful consequences of such sins; but this is not often; far more die as they have lived. What can express the case of the self-ruined sinner in the eternal world, enduring the remorse of his conscience!'

​Remedies against licentiousness, The miserable end of the wicked. (15-23) ​audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

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.'​  Amen. Amen. 

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.
​
15-23 'Lawful marriage is a means God has appointed to keep from these destructive vices. But we are not properly united, except as we attend to God's word, seeking his direction and blessing, and acting with affection. Ever remember, that though secret sins may escape the eyes of our fellow-creatures, yet a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, who not only sees, but ponders all his goings. Those who are so foolish as to choose the way of sin, are justly left of God to themselves, to go on in the way to destruction.'

We shall continue, as the Lord wills, on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 with Chapter 6 and Notes.  Thank you in advance for returning.  Amen. Amen.