In Proverbs 5:20 the father asked the son, Why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman and embrace the bosom of a stranger. What does this mean?
What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:20?
The meaning of Proverbs 5:20 is that the marriage between a man and a woman is sacred and being faithful to each other is God’s will and the best thing to do. Why would you long for another woman (or for the women another man) and commit adultery? What is so good about a strange woman (or a strange man)?
There is nothing better than to live and be together with your spouse; the man or woman you love. You’ve made the decision of sharing your life with your spouse by entering into a marriage covenant.
What is the marriage covenant?
The marriage covenant is a sacred covenant that is instituted by God between a man and a woman. The marriage covenant is a covenant that no one can break, except the death. No one can break it, not by separation and not by a legal divorce.
You’ve made a choice to get married for good reasons. You should always remember that.
In Proverbs 5:20, the father asks the son, why the son wants to be ravished with a strange woman and embrace the bosom of a stranger.
The marriage covenant is a life long commitment until death
Many people consider the marriage covenant as a legal formality, and nothing more. They are not aware that according to the Bible, the marriage is a life long commitment until death. For a man to be married with a woman, and for a woman to be married with a man until death do them part, is the will of God.
Today, many people are not faithful and patient anymore. They are easily bored in every aspect of their lives, including their marriage.
They are in love and get married. However, after some time the excitement is gone. They become bored with their spouse and do things in secret, which they shouldn’t do.
Nowadays, it’s very easy to get out of the marriage covenant. You just go to a divorce lawyer and get a divorce and you are free to go (you think).
Is there any difference between marriages of Christians and marriages of non-Christians?
There used to be a difference between Christians (the Church) and non-Christians (the world). Christians would fear the Lord God and follow the Word of God. Christians considered the Word the highest and final authority in their lives. Despite of their change of feelings, boredom, temptations, hardships, or difficult marriage, they remained faithful to their spouse. But nowadays, there’s hardly any difference anymore between the lives of people, who call themselves Christians (believers) and the lives of non-Christians (unbelievers).
Why is that? That’s because the church allowed the spirit of the world into the church.
The spirit of the world gained access in the lives of Christians through all kinds of means and modern resources, and cause them to compromise and love the world (the darkness) instead of being separated from the world as the Bible says.
Many people don’t follow Christ. They don’t renew their minds with the words of God. Instead, they follow the world and are conformed to the world by believing and adopting the words of the world.
They have the mindset of the world. Therefore, they do the same works as the world. And so, many Christians get a divorce.
But who is walking in that self-sacrificial love in which Jesus Christ walked? How many Christians died to ‘self’ and are faithful, patient, loving, merciful, forgiving and has a serving attitude towards their spouse?
How many are faithful and stick by their spouse during hard times and difficult circumstances, when things aren’t go the way that they planned? Who stays faithful when he is tempted?
What if God would break His covenant?
If God would have a change of mind about you and leave and break His covenant with you, how would you feel and what would you do?
God is holy, faithful, patient, loving, righteous, merciful, serving, forgiving etc. and don’t forget His covenant and promise. If you are born again in Christ and are born of God and the Holy Spirit abides in you, you shall have the same characteristics as your Father.
In the spirit realm you have become a new creation and entered into a covenant through Christ with God. Now this spiritual transformation from the old creation into the new creation must become visible in your walk.
During the process of sanctification, your (worldly) carnal character shall cease, and God’s character shall become your character.
The children of God consider the marriage covenant holy and stay faithful to their spouse
When God’s thoughts become your thoughts and His character becomes your character, you shall consider the marriage covenant holy and stay faithful to your spouse.
You shall not be led by your senses, emotions, feelings and the lusts and desires of your flesh, which could lead you into infidelity and cause you to become a covenant breaker.
You’ll not cheat on your spouse with a stranger, because you are happy and content with your spouse.
You love your spouse with the love of God that is poured out into your heart by the Holy Spirit.
When you are truly born again and the Holy Spirit abides in you and you renew your mind with the words of God, you shall have no desire to leave your spouse and become unfaithful. Because you don’t have a carnal mind and are not led by the flesh. But you have the mind of Christ and be led by the Word and the Holy Spirit
When you give into the temptation and decide to cheat on your spouse and become unfaithful, you are still carnal and still walk after your flesh. It means that your mind and your character have not been renewed with the Word of God and through the Spirit, but you still walk after your flesh; being ruled by your senses en feelings.
Don’t embrace the bosom of a stranger, but stay loyal to your spouse.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
