Proverbs 6:20-35 Adultery Take Two
Adultery is a sin Solomon takes very seriously. This is his second warning to his sons. God does too, or He wouldn’t have put it so strongly on Solomon’s heart.
Solomon starts out by imploring his son to keep the commandments of his parents; both mother and father. He is also addressing one singular son here. He may have actually said these same words to each of his sons separately so they would all feel as though he were speaking to them alone.
The commandments of the parents were to be so engrained in the son’s life that they were on his mind morning and night. In the morning “they will talk with you” (verse 22b). In other words, always flowing through his heart and mind; so clear they have a life of their own and offer direction without even being asked.
One lesson Solomon specifically wanted them to offer day and night was a constant defense against getting entangled in adultery. Solomon boils down the task of the teachings “to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress” (verse 24).
Jesus talks about lusting after a woman in your heart as being sin. Solomon shares this conclusion. “Do not desire her beauty in your heart” (verse 25a). Solomon knows where letting sin into your heart leads.
Solomon would rather see his son spend time with a prostitute than a married woman. The prostitute will cost but nothing compared to the price entering into a relationship with a married woman will. The second is a lifelong stain on the man’s character. The husband has every right to revenge and jealousy. And nothing can truly satisfy such a sin against another.
The words of Solomon aren’t strictly for the one who commits physical sexual sin. This is also how God looks at following after other gods. Israel was His bride. But she got ‘hungry’ for a taste of what else was out there. SHE sought after other gods. In Solomon’s case it was those “eyelashes” that pulled him into sin. Apparently he wasn’t listening to his own instructions. Maybe he wasn’t seeing the parallel as he wrote these instructions. Is it possible he was seeing the correlation and he was praying that his son didn’t follow in his footsteps by chasing after other gods? Is he saying it in this fashion to keep his wives from realizing that he is speaking of his own folly? Speaking of his wish that he had never gotten himself into this situation?
The exacting “husband” would be God. Because of Solomon’s folly, his sin would cost David’s line all but two of the twelve tribes of Israel. This was the punishment that Solomon was unable to rectify. I wonder if things would have been different If Solomon had recognized his own admonishment applied to him as well, and if he would have repented and brought Israel back to the Lord. Was there a point of no return that Solomon crossed, just like Manasseh crossed when he was king? Even though the nation returned to God when Josiah was king, God still punished Israel for the sins of Manasseh.
David, Solomon’s own father, committed this sin of adultery but God was able to redeem that relationship. David ‘changed’ the relationship by making Bathsheba a widow. Their child that was conceived in the sin of adultery paid for their sin with his life. Only the children borne AFTER the relationship was made right were accepted by the Lord; Solomon being chief among them.
In this age of grace is there a point of no return? A point when repentance isn’t enough? Is there a point where God can’t/won’t redeem our wrongs? If so, what is that point? Is it blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? This is the one sin Jesus said would not be forgiven.
Father God, THANK YOU for Your forgiveness! NEVER let me find the point of no return. Don’t let me run after other gods. NONE compare to You!!! Don’t let me even contemplate such a thing in my heart. Forgive me for EVER contemplating in my heart the affections of anyone by my husband. Thank You that I have never acted on such passing thoughts.
Let Your words be a constant dialogue running through my heart and mind. Let me hear them so clearly that they speak to me without even having to search for them. Keep me coming to You so often that they become embedded in my heart. Thank You Holy Spirit for speaking God’s words to me, even in the depth of sleep. I want to truly listen and obey at ALL times.
