Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 5

Verses 1-14

PONDER this chapter — ye that know not the poison and corruption of fleshly lusts. Perhaps painful experience (1 Kings 11:1-8 . Ecclesiastes 7:26 ) had given the wise man wisdom and understanding. Therefore attend to it with fear and trembling. Man’s own strength, the restraint of education or self-discipline, is powerless, as the green withs to bind the giant. (Judges 16:9 .) Engrafted wisdom is the only effectual safeguard. This heavenly influence teaches us, both to regard discretion for the covering of our souls, and to keep knowledge for the warning of our fellow-sinners. (Proverbs 2:10-11, Proverbs 2:16 ; Proverbs 6:20, Proverbs 6:24 ; Proverbs 7:1-5 . Psalms 17:4 ; Psalms 119:9, Psalms 119:11 .)

The extreme plausibility of the temptation calls our attention. The deluded victim only tastes, or expects to taste, the honeycomb: only hears the wily smoothness of the charmer’s voice. (Proverbs 2:16 ; Proverbs 6:24 ; Proverbs 7:21 .) But never is the beginning so sweet as the end is bitter. God shows the wormwood — the two-edged sword (Compare Psalms 55:21 ) — her path of death — every step taking hold of hell, as if invading it with a high hand; grasping it as her home. One feature of the tempter’s wiliness is most remarkable.†1 She winds herself in a thousand moveable ways, to meet the varying humours and circumstances (Proverbs 7:21 ); she works upon every weakness; seizes every unguarded moment — all with one deeply-hidden object — lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life. The checks of conscience must be diverted. No time must be given for reflection. The intrusion of one serious thought might break the spell, and open the way of escape. (See Psalms 119:59 . Ezekiel 18:28 . Luke 15:17 .)

Can we wonder then at parental earnestness, forcing back the children playing on the brink of a precipice? Hear now, O ye children! We mean no austere restraint upon youthful pleasures. Only avoid the tempter’s touch, her word, even her look. Remove thy way far from her. Not only go not in to her; but — such is the contagion — come not near the door. (Compare Proverbs 4:14-15 ; Proverbs 6:27-28 .) To thrust ourselves into temptation, is to throw ourselves out of God’s protection. The snare as it approaches becomes more enticing. The voice of wisdom therefore is — "Flee youthful lusts."

The loss of honour (Proverbs 6:32-33 . Genesis 38:23-26 ), taking the crown from the victim’s head (2 Samuel 12:11 ; 2 Samuel 15:30 . Nehemiah 13:26 ); years given to the cruel mockers of his misery (Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 6:35 ; Proverbs 29:3 . Job 31:12 . Hosea 7:9 . Luke 15:13, Luke 15:30 . Compare Sirach 5:6 ); servitude in a stranger’s house (Luke 15:15-16 ): consumption, slowly bringing the body to the grave (1 Corinthians 6:18 ) — such is the bitter fruit of the neglected warning. Add to this the voice of conscience at the last; telling of slighted privileges, stifled convictions, abused knowledge. And will not this be the sting of thousands instructed in our schools, or the children of godly parents, now despising the reproofs of God, and the voice of their teachers; proclaiming their shame openly; perhaps making Christian assemblies the scenes of almost all evil? (Numbers 25:6-7 . Ezekiel 8:5-16 .)

Such is the picture of sin. Its "pleasure is but for a season;" "its wages death eternal." (Hebrews 11:25 . Romans 6:23 .) Every sin unrepented here will bring its perpetual torment in eternity. Impenitence does not put away its sorrow. It only delays it to mourn at the last, when mercy shall have fled away for ever (Proverbs 1:24-31 ), and nothing will remain, but the piercing cry of the accusing conscience — "Son! remember." (Luke 16:25 .) There are no infidels in eternity, and but few on a death-bed. Sinner! the path of life is now open to thee. Ponder it anxiously, prayerfully. The light of the word, and the teaching of the Spirit, guide thee to it.

Footnotes:

†1 Schultens in loco. Proverbs 1:18 ; Proverbs 7:17 ; Proverbs 9:18 . 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 . Revelation 21:8 .

Verses 15-19

Desire after forbidden enjoyments naturally springs from dissatisfaction with the blessings in possession. Where contentment is not found at home — drinking out of our own cistern†1 — it will be sought for, however vainly, abroad. Conjugal love is chief among the earthly goods in mercy granted by God to his fallen and rebellious creature. Enjoy then with thankfulness thine own, and desire not thy neighbour’s well. (Exodus 20:17 . 2 Samuel 11:2-3 .) If a happy issue is given (Psalms 127:3-5 ; Psalms 128:1-6 .), let it be as fountains (Compare Numbers 24:7 ; Deuteronomy 33:28 ; Psalms 68:26 ; Isaiah 48:1 ) dispersed abroad, to fertilize with godly influence the way through which their course may be directed. (Compare Zechariah 8:5 .) Rejoice with the wife of thy youth. (Deuteronomy 24:5 . Ecclesiastes 9:9 .) Regard her as the special gift of thy Father’s hand. (Proverbs 19:14 .) Cherish her with gentleness and purity (Genesis 24:67 ), as the loving hind and pleasant roe.†2 Whatsoever interrupts the strictest harmony in this delicate relationship, opens the door to imminent temptation. Tender, well-regulated, domestic affection is the best defense against the vagrant desires of unlawful passion. Yea — it is consecrated by the Word of God itself to the high purpose of shadowing out "the great mystery — loving and cherishing our own flesh, even as the Lord the Church." (Ephesians 5:25, Ephesians 5:29 .)

Footnotes:

†1 The beauty of the figure is illustrated from the circumstance, that the houses of the East appear each to have had their own cistern. 2 Kings 18:31 .

†2 Compare 2 Samuel 12:3 . The hind and the roe were objects of special delight (Song of Song of Solomon 2:17 ; Song of Song of Solomon 3:5 ) and endearment — a picture of the lively delight, which the wife naturally engages; relaxing in her society from severer duties, and taking the liveliest pleasure in her company. As Bishop Davenant beautifully observes — ’Abroad the man may consider himself as tossing in the waves; but at home with the wife, in repose, as in a desired haven.’ — On Colossians 3:19 .

Verses 20-23

With such a view as we have had of the deadly enticement of sin on the one hand (Proverbs 5:9-11 ), and the calm happiness provided on the other by the ordinance of God (Proverbs 5:15-19 ), surely none but the infatuated would leave the wholesome fountain for the poisoned and forbidden spring. If he were not stupified, would he slight the "honourable" state of marriage (Hebrews 13:4 ), to embrace the bosom of a stranger, ’loveless, joyless, unendeared?’ Would not the thought, that the ways of man are before the LORD, arrest him in his course?†1 But no. Practical atheism is the root of human depravity. (Psalms 14:1-3 .) The eye of man, even of a child, is a check upon him (Job 24:15 . Isaiah 29:15 ); but the thought of an all-seeing God, even if it enters his mind (Psalms 10:4 ), inspires no alarm, conviction, or restraint. Oh! if men would but read — would but believe — their Bibles, how would this solemn truth — he pondereth all his goings — flash upon their consciences! Not only does he see and mark them as the Omniscient God (Job 31:4 . Psalms 139:1-4 ); but he ponders them as the just Judge. (Proverbs 16:2 . 1 Samuel 2:3 . Daniel 5:27 .) Not one is hidden from his piercing eye. (Hebrews 4:13 .) "He will bring every secret thing to judgment." (Ecclesiastes 12:14 .) He "will be a swift witness against the adulterers. No unclean person shall enter into his kingdom." (Malachi 3:2 . Ephesians 5:5 .)

But if no regard to reason, or to the all-seeing Eye, will restrain the sinner, let him think of the trouble that he is bringing upon himself. God needs no chains or prison to bring him under his hand. Wherever he goes, his sins go with him, as cords to hold him for judgment. (Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 11:5-6 ; Proverbs 29:6 . 1 Samuel 28:5-10 .) Does he think that he can give them up when he pleases? Repetition forms the habit. The habit becomes a ruling principle. ’Every lust deals with him, as Delilah with Samson — not only robs him of his strength, but leaves him fast bound.’†2 Shutting his eyes against the light, he dies without instruction (Proverbs 5:12 . Proverbs 1:29 ; Proverbs 10:21 . Job 4:21 ; Job 36:12 . Hosea 4:14, Hosea 4:17 ) — The greatness of his folly leads him astray — to perdition. (2 Peter 2:14-15 .)

But is there no remedy for this deadly curse? Thanks be to God! cleansing is provided for the impure (Zechariah 13:1 . 1 Corinthians 6:11 ); "deliverance is proclaimed to the captive." (Isaiah 61:1 .) Blessed Savior! cleanse the leper in thy precious fountain. Perform thy mighty commission. Set the captive free.

Footnotes:

†1 Job 34:21-22. Psalms 94:6-9 . Jeremiah 13:25-27 ; Jeremiah 16:17 ; Jeremiah 29:23 . Hosea 7:2 . See some striking thoughts in Mede’s Sermon on Proverbs 4:23 .

†2 Archbishop Tillotson quoted in Nicholl’s Commentary. Judges 16:19-21 . ’Thus I,’ — said Augustine — adverting to this hateful sin — ’delighted with the disease of the flesh, and with the deadly sweetness of it, drew my shackles along with me, much afraid to have them knocked off; and, as if my wound had been too hard rubbed by it, I put back my friends’ good persuasions, as it were the hand of one that would unchain me.’ — Confess. b. vi. c. 12. Compare Proverbs 23:29-35 .