Proverbs 5:3-5 - LUST AND SEX AS HONEY.
Proverbs 5:3-5 (NLT) For the lips of an
immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth
is smoother than oil. 4 But in the end she is
as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a
double-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her
steps lead straight to the grave.
INTRODUCTION
This "immoral woman" is a prostitute.
Proverbs includes many warnings against illicit sex
for several reasons. First, a prostitute's charm
is used as an example of any temptation to do
wrong or to leave the pursuit of wisdom. Second,
sexual immorality of any kind was and still is
extremely dangerous because it destroys family life,
erodes a person's ability to love, degrades human
beings and turns them into objects, can lead to
disease, and can result in unwanted children. Third,
sexual immorality is against God's law.
Any person should be on guard against
those who use flattery and smooth talk (lips that
"are as sweet as honey") that would lead him or
her into sin. The best advice is to take a
detour and even avoid conversation with such
people. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy. 1 Corinthians 3:17. Nature
has affixed terrible penalties to these crimes -
penalties which, sooner or later, will be inflicted
upon every transgressor. It is these sins more
than any other that have caused the fearful
degeneracy of our race, and the weight of disease and
misery with which the world is cursed. Men may
succeed in concealing their transgression from their
fellow men, but they will no less surely reap the
result, in suffering, disease, imbecility, or death.
And beyond this life stands the tribunal of the
judgment, with its award of eternal penalties. They
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom
of God, but with Satan and evil angels shall
have their part in that lake of fire which
is the second death. Galatians 5:21;
Revelation 20:14. PP461
COMMENTARY
Sex As Honey.
Sin is always sweet in the mouth and
poisonously bitter in the stomach. Sin always "shows us
the bait but hides the hook," as a good
fisherman does to the fish he wants to catch and fry.
Anything contrary to the Word and will of God, even
if it leads initially to pleasure and
prosperity, will disappoint.
Using honey as a metaphor for sexual sin
is apt, because honey can be electrifyingly
sweet and pleasurable but cannot provide even the
nourishment of a single square meal. And too much honey
can make you ill. According to the Bible, then,
sex outside of a lifelong covenant of marriage
is like trying to live on honey alone. Sex
without a promise of mutual whole-life commitment
can lead one party to make a far greater
emotional investment than the other, with agonizing
results. Or it can teach both parties to use sex for
pleasure and not for radical self-giving. Either way,
it's honey followed by hunger.
Think of the ways that sex outside of a
lifelong covenant of marriage is like eating honey
rather than enjoying a full meal.
Lord, keep me from falling for the false
promise of sexual joy and intimacy apart from
marriage. That lie has destroyed so many. Help me
learn how to defeat sexual temptation. Amen.
[Gods Wisdom for Navigating Life by Timothy Keller
with Kathy Keller]
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