One matchmaking website urges: “Life is short. Have an affair.” Our culture increasingly understands adultery to be an unfortunate but legitimate means of finding fulfilment. But is marital infidelity part of the good life? In our next three readings we will be considering more of Proverbs’ teaching on adultery.
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TIME OUT
Think about what kind of person you want to be.
• How do you want others to think of you? For what would you be like to be known?
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Deadly eyes
Read Proverbs 6:24
Solomon warns his son about the dangers of being seduced by a married woman who is willing to cheat on her husband.
In verse 26 Solomon sends up a warning flare: this lady is going to cost you your life!
• What is it about the forbidden woman that is likely to attract and ensnare the young man (v 25)?
Read Matthew 5:27
• At what point does adultery begin?
Painful consequences
Read Proverbs 6:27
• What's the brilliant image of verse 27?
• What's the point that's being made?
Read Proverbs 6:30
Adultery usually brings a social stigma (v 30-31). If the young man falls into this sin, his marriage could be ruined (if he’s married): and certainly he’ll be helping to ruin her marriage.
Adultery also brings anger. The young man will surely face the insatiable fury of the defrauded husband (v 33-35). His justifiable jealousy will make him lash out.
Solomon is heaping up words here so that we’ll understand: no one gets out of this unscathed. The person who goes on the path of adultery destroys himself.
Steer clear
ReadProverbs 6:20
• Solomon’s solution has not changed: what does his son need to do?
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APPLY
• What consequences might sexual sin have in your life (or perhaps it has already, in some way)?
• Do you want to pay that price in the future?
• How will you remind yourself of these consequences when you are tempted?
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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