Wisdom is female in our previous chapter, now we are warned to flee from a different sort of female character, the adulteress, another female figure representing sensual pleasures. She urges the son to run after wisdom not women, to keep his lips for speaking wisdom and knowledge rather than using them for sensual pleasure, the honey and oil...same lips. The writer uses a technique called ‘parallelism’ throughout Proverbs, so in each verse the idea is repeated which emphasises the importance of each point.

Avoiding adultery is a repeated theme in these early chapters, its path is aimless in contrast to the clear path of wisdom. It interests me that Solomon who is credited with writing the book of Proverbs and had been given wisdom by God (and indeed had asked for it) seems to have made many political alliances by marrying the daughters of his powerful neighbours. Committing adultery for political gain, perhaps, when God would have given him that power anyway. Nothing to be gained, everything to be lost.

The writer urges ‘the son’ to avoid this snare which creates a lack of purpose, lack of discipline. The path to wisdom, to life is contrasted with the meandering path to regret.

It sometimes seems that we live in a time of no regrets, living in the moment, doing what we’re comfortable with rather than what we are told. Discipline is for the gym or an eating plan. Accountability, apology, repentance are not words used by our governments, neither is compassion, but they are the golden words of our path.

Verse 15 counsels single mindedness, faithfulness, exclusivity in life and then in marriage. The path image reminds me: we are urged to run after God with all of our hearts. “I will run the way of Your commandments for you give me a heart that is willing” (Psalm, 119.32)

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Questions:

Why do we have the self-discipline for a workout but are unable to focus for half an hour on our Bibles or at prayer?

How are we doing with those buzz words: accountability, apology, repentance and compassion? Let’s run the way of His commandments! Amen

Action:

Listen to https://youtu.be/nqDWJ-8Sk7w “Hold me now” by Hillsong United