Proverbs 5
In Proverbs 5, Solomon warns his son about the “immoral woman.” While her lips are as sweet as honey and her mouth smoother than oil, she is dangerous. She is careless and blindly staggers down a crooked path leading to death. Solomon warns all his sons to stay away from her.
This is a universal warning because the immoral person described can be either man or a woman. You can see the enormity of such sinful and corrupt behavior in the Bible if you fast forward to Revelation 17-18, where John the apostle told of the great prostitute—the great prostitute who sits on many waters, enticing the kings of the earth with her luxury and pleasure. She represents a whole system of damaging temptations—a world dressed in splendor but drunk on immorality and rebellion against God.
In contrast to immoral women, one must only share their love with their wife. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
The chapter concludes with a reminder that God is all knowing, and clearly able to see all that man does. Proverbs 5:23 is a stern warning about an evil man: “He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.”
Proverbs 6
Proverbs 6 offers several lessons for daily life. My favorite lesson here is when Solomon uses ants to describe how one should work. Using ants to exemplify the way we should work is a stark comparison to what the Bible says in Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” In Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” But here, Solomon is using a simple creature to form an important lesson on how we need to just work – faithfully and steadily while preparing for the future.
Proverbs 7
Solomon gives wise advice about avoiding promiscuous women again as he did in Proverbs 5. In Proverbs 7:2, Solomon proclaims that his commands are of upmost importance stating, “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” He wants his orders on avoiding immoral women to be tied around one’s fingers to commit them to memory and written down deep in one’s heart.
The behavior of the immoral woman is like that in Proverbs 5 where she tries to persuade you with words but follows a wayward path. In Proverbs 7, the immoral woman describes an entire situation that she set up for sinful exploits. Following this woman has led to ruin for many, where Proverbs 7:27 says, “Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”
Proverbs 8
Wisdom is again personified as a woman calling out as it was described in Proverbs 1. Wisdom gives herself attributes here such as truthful, good, ethical, and loving to all who love her. In Proverbs 8, Wisdom declares that she was an architect at the side of God when He marked the earth’s foundations meaning that wisdom is a vital element to our lives.
It is interesting how Proverbs 8:21 states, “Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries,” and Proverbs 8:35 states, “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.” This implies that seeking wisdom is godly and righteous and can lead to material gain. Wisdom brings blessings like riches and honor. However, wisdom itself is more valuable than gold: “Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it” (Proverbs 8:10-11). The priority is wisdom first, then blessing follows.
Proverbs 9
Wisdom has built her house and prepared a great banquet. She invites the city including those who lack good judgment. Then the chapter goes on to state not to bother trying to correct a mocker or the wicked because they will only hate you. Correct the wise and they will love you. Always work for the wise and righteous because they will benefit from it.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” Always seek God in your endeavors.
The chapter concludes with a personification of Folly – which is the opposite of Wisdom. Folly is brash and calls out to men going by in the city from her doorway. She tells lies such as, “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” Proverbs 9:17. What the men don’t know is that inside her dwelling are the dead.
Proverbs 10
This chapter contrasts the life of the wise and the foolish, and the difference is like light and darkness. It’s a call to choose wisdom daily in our work, our words, and our walk with God. The fruit of wisdom lasts - the path of folly fades.
