Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 5

Highlight Verse:

“Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is very clear from this and other passages that the human experience is best with one marriage partner for life.

I love the way this chapter deals with the subject.

It tells us to stay away from those who would tempt you into sexual sin.

Don’t just avoid sinning, don’t even flirt with it. Verse 8 says to not even go near the house.

This chapter doesn’t leave it there.

It paints a picture of sexual satisfaction within marriage.

Sex is a beautiful and godly thing within the safe walls of marriage.

There are three proverbial elephants stomping around this room.

First, Solomon did not follow his own advice. He married many women.

I don’t know if this were true before he wrote this. Even if it were, it does not make the advice any less true. We know from earlier readings that Solomon reaped the consequences of not following his own advice.

Second, I am using gender neutral terms here as I believe this advice is valid for both genders. It should be noted that in that day as well as today, men seem to be more susceptible to temptation to sexual sin. While the advice is valid for both genders, it is appropriate that Solomon directed it to his son.

Finally, many of you know that I have been divorced so enjoying the wife of my youth is not possible. As my first wife left me for another man, I believe I was released from my vows. Going on 12 years ago, I remarried to a widow with three children. We have raised them together and have enjoyed each other’s faithfulness since we made our vows to each other.

We can debate divorce and remarriage in different circumstances, but I do believe that salvation, forgiveness and new life allow us to start afresh.

What have you been taught about the joy of sex within marriage? (Keep it PG please).
What pressures have you seen to be unfaithful? How do you avoid them?