Proverbs 2:16-22

 

Prov 2:16 (KJB)

To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

 

Strange - Foreign or unlawful

 

Here we have a passage which gives a double warning. First of all, Solomon is warning that a man must be very careful by using the wisdom he has attained to keep himself away from the strange woman, that is the woman who entices him with sexual advances. Sexual advances by a woman on a man is very hard to repel unless we do it in the power of the Lord’s wisdom. The flesh will cry out to go on but the spirit will give the wisest advice and that is avoid it at all costs. During the time of Solomon, Israel had a history of getting into trouble by marrying women of other nations and those women had brought their false gods into the land of Israel. So this verse may also be a warning to Solomon’s sons that they were to marry only Israelite women. Solomon would have known the trap that foreign women bring since he had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

 

This passage also serves as a warning to believers to be astute when coming into contact with false religions who always flatter with the right words. In the Bible the body of believers is also known as the bride of Christ and if we go after other gospels, then we are committing adultery against our husband the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we must be very strong in the Scriptures and pray for wisdom everyday so we will not be snared by false gospels which many times, looks like the real thing.

 

Prov 2:17 (KJB)

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

 

Guide - Partner

 

Here the thread continues by telling us that the adulteress has forsaken the husband which she married while in her youth. Then goes on to state that the marriage is a covenant between husband and wife and God made marriage part of His covenant community because it is one of the most staple institutions which under girds society. When one commits in marriage, they are in essence, telling the Lord during that ceremony that they will forsake all others for this one person thus making a covenant. Basically, the word “forgetteth” in the Hebrew carries with it the meaning of “an intentional putting aside.” It does not mean that a person has forgotten by means of bad memory. It means a conscious decision was made to forsake the covenant of marriage. Any time we choose to sin against God, or to follow a false or misleading gospel, we are also forsaking the covenant of marriage to Christ.

 

Prov 2:18 (KJB)

For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

 

Here is the consequence of following the adulteress and that is her paths lead to death. Television programs portray adultery as fun and a regular part of life with no consequences. I wonder how many that watch those shows would be so happy if their spouse followed the same paths on those programs? Adultery on TV is something that is so common that it has desensitized us to the fact that it is a sin against God and marriage. The adulteress path can lead a person right to death. With so many sexually transmitted diseases today, it is easy to contract one which can eventually lead to our physical death and if a person does not become saved, then they will suffer the second death which is eternal damnation.

 

Prov 2:19 (KJB)

None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

 

The fact is that those who follow the path of the adulteress will never be able to return again to the paths of life, since every encounter is a continual leading away from the paths of life. Eventually a person becomes seared in their conscience and no longer look to be rescued from this evil path. They are comfortable in their sins and the trap is that each sin is built upon the previous sin. (John 3:19 KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Here is the reality that men love darkness rather then the light. If a person has a love affair with sinning, you will not be able to draw them away from those evil delights. The only way they can be delivered is if God breaks through the darkness with Grace and salvation.

 

Prov 2:20 (KJB)

That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

 

When one is delivered from the paths of death just described, they are transferred to the paths of the righteous by means of salvation. No one delivers themselves from sin, some may reform their life of something but only God can transform their life through salvation. It is also for those who have not walked the paths of destruction that they may continue to walk in the ways of righteousness. This is the wisdom God gives in that those who have been delivered from these ways will now have the wisdom to avoid these paths and stick to the paths of righteousness. As previously stated, one of the tenets of wisdom is that we are able to see the big picture and assess the consequences of actions.

 

Prov 2:21 (KJB)

For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

 

(Ezek 34:13 KJV) And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. When one speaks of the land concerning the righteous, that is, those who are saved, it is not speaking of a strip of land in the Middle East. The land which God has in view is the spiritual land of Canaan. We read in Ezekiel 34:13 that God is going to bring His people from out of all the other countries and bring them to their own land and that land is Heaven. This is where the believer remains and where we dwell. (Ezek 34:28 KJV) And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. In Ezekiel 34:28, the believer has the assurance that they will no longer be persecuted by the heathen, that is, the unsaved. The only place the unsaved cannot exist is in Heaven and that is why the believers are freed from their evil presence.

 

Prov 2:22 (KJB)

But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

 

Just as the believers will inherit the New Heaven and the New Earth, the unbelievers will be taken from the earth and judged. No longer will there be any unbelief on earth. (Isa 65:17 KJV) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. There will be no remembrance of the old order as God will create everything new and there will be no unrighteous in the New Heaven and Earth. (Rev 22:15 KJV) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Those who follow the paths of destruction will be removed from the earth for judgment and sentence. Only those who have become saved by the grace of God will be in the New Heaven and New Earth.

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