Proverbs 6:20-35

Proverbs 6:20-35

If there was ever a place that a chapter break was needed but not given, it is here. This section, if followed, will save endless grief in any life.

As parents we are often big on education. From preschool to college, we are very attentive to the value of our children's education. No doubt academic education is important, but marriage and sexual purity are a million times more important. A person with no formal education who has a good marriage and is sexually pure is better off than a triple PhD whose life is marked by immorality. How could someone follow the godly teaching of parents (vs. 20-23) if their parents never gave them these teachings? From an early age, we need to teach our children the priority of pursuit of a godly spouse.

This foundational teaching serves to protect our children from adulterous women. The word “to keep” in Hebrew is “shamar.” It can mean a hedge made of thorns or a guard or sentry on duty. Without this guard in place, our children are unprotected from the flirtations of evil people (vs 24-26). By the time puberty arrives and sexual attraction begins, it is almost too late to begin talking about the importance of a godly spouse.

The man who is pulled away by such a woman has endless grief. He does harm to himself (vs 27-29); he is marked with shame and reproach by the community (vs 30-32); he also faces the fury of an enraged husband, and there is no bribe to solve that problem (vs 33-35).

“Lord, grant me the wisdom to hold as a priority a godly spouse. AMEN."