Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the
Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 5:14-23 (Amplified): "[The extent and boldness of]
my sin involved almost all evil in the estimation of the congregation and
the community.
15 Drink waters out of your own cistern [of pure marriage relationship], and fresh,
running waters out of your own well.
16 Should your offspring be dispersed abroad as water-brooks in the streets?
17 [Confine yourself to your own wife] let your children be for you alone, and not the
children of strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain--of human life--be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity], and
rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe [tender, gentle, attractive]; let her
bosom satisfy you at all times; and always be transported with delight in her love.
20 Why should you, my son, be infatuated with a loose woman, embrace the bosom of an
outsider, and go astray?
21 For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the LORD, and He [Who would have us
live soberly, chastely and godly] carefully weighs all man's goings.
22 His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, and he shall be held with the cords of his
sins.
23 He will die for lack of discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of
his folly he will go astray and be lost."
Thoughts for the Day:
The Bible often uses poetic symbolism when
describing the details of life. The above verses in the book of Proverbs
reflect the principle of monogamy that is found in the Ten Commandments. In fact, we might
say that the entire book of Proverbs is a detailed discussion of the Ten
Commandments and the folly of disregarding them. Proverbs pays
particular attention to the destruction that is caused by the sin of adultery.
Verse 14 begins by stating that an individual's sin will affect the whole
community.
In the symbolism of the above verses we see that a
marriage/family relationship is likened to a cistern of water. Water is a good
symbol of an intimate love relationship, because it speaks of what quenches our thirst. We
are all thirsty for intimacy. Inevitably, we will look for something to quench that
thirst. These verses show us (that as far as marriage relationships go), the key to true
and lasting refreshment is in an intimate, unique relationship between one man and one
woman. Song of Solomon also refers to the exclusivity of the
marriage relationship, poetically likened to "a secret garden."
Solomon talks of his beloved being a sealed fountain--closed to to others, but
fully open to him alone.
Song of Solomon 4:12,15 (KJV): A
garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. A fountain
of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
When a third party intrudes into this relationship
it spoils the "water." The "cistern" or well of love where both
husband and wife find refreshment becomes bitter. This bitterness will affect not
only the marriage relationship, but the rest of the family as well.
Verses 16 and 17 asks an
interesting question. These verses say (in a paraphrase), "Should your
offspring be dispersed out into the streets? Will you share your children with
another family?" In other words, adultery can produce children with those
who are outside of the marriage covenant. This creates a breakdown of the family
unit. The verses above extol the joy that can be had within an unbroken family unit,
composed of a father and mother with mutual offspring. This is the ideal family
unit, and the way that God intended it to be.
We live in a time when the marriage covenant is
being weakened by society in every way imaginable. There can be times when that
initial delight in the wife (or husband) of their youth can slip away. It is in
those times when the enemy tries to tempt one to seek the embrace of an outsider to
quench their thirst, rather than turning to their own spouse. Yet, the Bible
promises that if we will obey the Word of the Lord, we will reap the harvest of a happy
marriage. Some people may be facing a great temptation to embrace someone outside of their
marriage. The Bible warns of the consequences of unfaithfulness and the rewards for
faithfulness in a marriage. We should take to heart these verses from the Lord. Not
only is there a great reward to be found in following the laws of God, but there is also a
great punishment to be found when we disregard them.
This segment of verses concludes with the
observation that, "one's own iniquities will ensnare and bind one up." The
final picture we see of the adulterer is one who is tied up in his own sins and continuing
to go astray--or be lost. In marriage, as with everything else in life, the stakes are
high. We can experience the depths of pleasure and contentment from obeying the
precepts of God, or we can bring unimaginable pain and confusion into our lives, by
following our lusts. What will we choose? By God's grace, let us choose to do
right, not just for our sake, but for the sake of our offspring
Prayer for the Day:
"Father, I thank you for Your grace toward
each of us, that when we are tempted, You help us to do what is right. Lord, I intercede
for all who are facing temptations and are struggling to do what is right. Lord, have
mercy on them. Provide an open door of escape from the traps of the enemy! Give them
eyes to see the way of escape, and the conviction and strength to flee from sin. I
pray for marriages that are reeling from adultery and are on the brink of collapse.
God, I pray that you comfort those who have been wounded by adultery, both the one
who has committed adultery, and the one who has been betrayed. I pray for healing in
their relationship, healing for the children and the grace for true repentance and true
forgiveness. Only You can restore the most broken relationships, and I ask now for you to
show yourself mighty on behalf of all who call on you with a sincere heart. Answer
their prayers, God, and fill them today with faith, hope, and love. In Jesus Name I
pray! Amen."
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