Walking with the Wise #24: The Anatomy of Adultery

“For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil,

but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

sharp as a two-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death;

her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not ponder the path of life;

her ways wander, and she does not know it”
—Proverbs 5:3-6

God gave us the book of Proverbs because He is good and wants us to live life in a manner that is pleasing to Him and beneficial to us. God created marriage in the Garden of Eden before the Fall of man (Genesis 2:20-25). It was to be between a man and a woman for life. Therefore, we can see that marriage is the foundation of human society, the expression of God’s nature (cf. Ephesians 3:14), with a portion of His Spirit given in their union in order to bring forth godly offspring (cf. Malachi 2:16). And because the foundation of human society is the institution of marriage, God has given us the right way for a marriage to work properly. He desires that a husband and wife cultivate their marriage relationship (Proverbs 5:19; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Peter 3:7). He has commanded us not to commit adultery (Exodus 20:4), and He hates divorce (cf. Malachi 2:16, NIV, 1984). Therefore, we can see that He wants us to guard our marital relationship, because it is the most intimate of relationships and one that is a reflection of Jesus’ love for His church (cf. Ephesians 5:22-33). This is why He desires that we understand the anatomy of adultery and how we might be able to guard ourselves against it.

Although men and women are both capable of initiating an adulterous relationship, today's passage begins with the “forbidden woman” targeting a married man. The “forbidden” woman is any woman other than his wife. It could be a woman who is already married, a single woman or a prostitute (cf. Proverbs 6:26; 29). It starts with a conversation between the married man and the forbidden woman. Her words are sweet, like “honey,” and are “smoother than oil.” She flatters him, playing to his ego in order to seduce him. Assuming he gives in to her advances, Solomon writes that the end result of their affair is poisonous (bitter as wormwood) and deadly (both spiritually and physically, cf. Proverbs 6:26-35).

Adultery always destroys the lives of those involved in it (save for restoration through God’s grace made available through the cross). It is a violation of God’s covenant, tramples on Christ’s relationship with His church, and tears apart the marital relationship between husband and wife. If the forbidden woman would have considered what she was doing and the potential results of it, she may not have gone after him. But she didn’t stop to think about God’s way of life (v. 6), and what it would mean to all involved.

Affairs are evil, horrid, despicable and destructive things. Anyone who has ever cheated or been cheated on knows the cruel penalty adultery inflicts upon all who do it. The only way of escaping from adultery is by finding enjoyment and contentment in what God has given.

God desires that we be content with our spouses, cultivating our marital relationship and guarding against adultery. But what about those who have fallen? What about those who have given in to adultery? Know that Jesus’ death on the cross was enough to forgive you. While there are consequences for your sin, there also is forgiveness. God will forgive. He may or may not take away the consequences, but if He doesn’t, He will give you the grace to bear up under them.

What about those who have had a spouse commit adultery? There is healing through the cross. He can take away your anger, bitterness, pain and sorrow. The cross wasn’t just for those who have sinned, but it is also for those who have been sinned against. Go to Him, lay out the troubles and pain of your heart and He will be to you a healing balm for your soul. He understands what it’s like to be betrayed and forsaken (cf. Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). He is well acquainted with our sorrows and our tears (Isaiah 53:3). He gives grace to bear up in our situation and He can remove the pain of our heart, and if not all now, He will in eternity (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:17, 21:4).

Run to God, beloved. Stay away from adultery, keep the marital bed pure (Hebrews 13:4), and keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Amen.

Comments

Popular Posts