We know the wisdom of Solomon is God-inspired because it surpasses his own sinful tendencies. Throughout Scripture, God is pouring His truth through the pens and quills of sinful men of faith. Just as David would fall short of his own heart’s desires as expressed in the psalms, Solomon would fall short of all he knew to be true and wise in his words to his son in these proverbs. That does not make them any less true. How many times through the centuries have we seen ministers, pastors, or missionaries fail? Does that completely negate the work God did through them for a season?
Ponder that question as you read these words of Solomon on the importance of marriage.
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. (Proverbs 5:15-19 ESV)
If you blushed in reading this, you may have trouble with the Song of Solomon as well, as this passage echoes much of what we read in that special book.
Hold fast to your wife
After speaking about the bitterness that comes from pursuit of the forbidden woman, Solomon gives us a visual of the intimacy that is meant for marriage alone. As the life-giving waters of a deep well, so too is the relationship between a man and his wife. As the well fulfills the need of the owner, so too a man’s wife is perfectly capable to fulfill his needs.
She is not to be shared with others, nor are you to seek “water” from other fields. Be satisfied with the woman God has given you. Let her be yours and yours alone, as you are hers and hers alone. You may grow old with her, but rejoice always in her, as you did in your youth. Love her and be filled with the delight of her at all times. Drink fully of her love for you and make her drunk with your love for her as well.
Why have I chosen to press into this passage as a widow of “mature” years? Because I have known this love. Two days before my husband died, he pulled me close to himself in the kitchen and said, “You are the only woman I have ever loved,” and then laid a big kiss on me. I will carry that moment with me always, because it filled me with delight and carried me through the hard days to come. You do not know what tomorrow holds. Hold fast to your wife today.
God’s watching
The intimacy of marriage is a beautiful thing given to us by a loving Father. He is pleased and glorified when our marriages and homes reflect His love for us. He sees our love for each other, and He also sees us when we stray from that love. Thus, the warning again:
Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray. (Proverbs 5:20-23)
Because the love we have in marriage meets our every need, there is no reason to seek love elsewhere. You may think your words and actions toward another are hidden from God, but they’re not. He sees you. He knows that your deviation from the path of fidelity in marriage is taking you off the beaten path to one filled with traps and snares. Sin will easily entangle a person who is unfaithful, and it doesn’t end well.
As I noted in earlier posts, we are to look at the truth of these statements, not at Solomon’s adherence to them. If anyone was a poor example of fidelity, it was Solomon, and it did not end well for him either.
What is the ultimate takeaway from this passage? Don’t mess around! Stay true to your spouse. Enjoy the blessing of marriage as God designed it.
Grace and Peace
If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start this Walking in Wisdom series from the beginning.
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