The Sin That Is A Sharp Two-edged Sword

Armando reflects on Proverbs 5 and the warning the God gives the reader.

My son, give attention to my wisdom,

Incline your ear to my understanding;

2 That you may observe discretion

And your lips may reserve knowledge.

3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey

And smoother than oil is her speech;

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

Sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death,

Her steps take hold of Sheol.

6 She does not ponder the path of life;

Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

This morning in my devotional time I read Proverbs 5. I've read it before and most times I have I focused on the path one goes down when one succumbs to sexual temptation. Today I noticed the contrast the writer tells us about the facade adulteress’ words and what they actually are. The writer says that the adulteress' lips drip like honey and her speech is smoother than oil. The symbolism is that the words will satisfy the recipient. Her words entice a man because they are sweet and smooth. All sexual temptation seems like it will satisfy, but in the end, it is bitter like wormwood. In the OT, wormwood is associated with a punishment when God's people rebel against His law. Deuteronomy 29:18 warns Israel to not turn their heart away from God and produce wormwood and poison. In Jeremiah 9, God promised to punish the people with wormwood and poison water for their sins. Though sexual sin may seem enticing, it leads to bitter consequences.

The writer also likened the adulteress and her temptations to a two-edged sword. This indicates that though her words are sweet, the effects of sin from her are as destructive as they come. A two-edged sword was able to inflict damage uniquely. Sexual sin is no different. It promises to satisfy but in the end, it cuts through the sinner in a way that leads to much destruction. In the NT, the writer of Hebrews calls the Word of God a two-edged sword because it can pierce the deepest parts of us. It reveals things about us and impacts the deepest parts of us. Sexual sin pierces the deepest parts of man. Sexual sin is dangerously unique in this way. Homes have been destroyed, churches have been thrown into upheaval, and lives have been destroyed by sexual sin. For the younger reader, purity has been tarnished, families have been altered, and lives have been changed due to sexual sin. There are no small sexual sins.

Drink water from your own cistern

And fresh water from your own well.

16 Should your springs be dispersed abroad,

Streams of water in the streets?

17 Let them be yours alone

And not for strangers with you.

18 Let your fountain be blessed,

And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 As a loving hind and a graceful doe,

Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

Be exhilarated always with her love.

Verses 15-19 show us there is a better way. Sex is not the problem. In fact, the writer tells us that God has provided a way for man to be satisfied within God's law. We see here that God's way is the best way. God is not trying to withhold from man, instead He is leading man to the way that can truly satisfy him. Instead of being enticed by the “other woman” (adulteress), the reader is encouraged to be exhilarated by his own wife's love. He is told to be satisfied by his own bride and to drink from his own well. Sex in its proper context is not sin. Sex outside of the marriage is destructive. Sex inside of God's appointed means is satisfying and a blessing.

What does this mean?

1. We should guard ourselves from sexual temptation. We must be diligent in our relationships, digital environments, and more to flee from sexual temptation.

2. For those who are not married, you must view your future spouse as the one you are to be satisfied with. Until you are married, your sin is still adultery before God. Guard your future marriage by walking in purity now.

3. For those who are married, be satisfied within your own marriage. Do not look outside of your marriage or on screens for this satisfaction, but instead, find satisfaction within the means God has graciously given.

4. For those who have fallen, there is grace for you. The two-edged sword of sexual sin may have pierced you, but for those who use the Word of God to expose that sin, the Word of God can pierce even deeper. When the Word pierces us, it produces repentance and leads to forgiveness. While there will still be consequences to those sins, there is grace and forgiveness that can only be found in Jesus.