This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong." Proverbs 30:20

One of the worst aspects of sexual sin is the way that is blinds us to the truth.  Here we have a proverb dealing with the women who commits adultery.  Her way is to indulge her sin as one would sit down to a big meal - then wipe her mouth afterwards and boldly state that she has done nothing wrong.  She is completely blind and arrogantly unmoved by her actions and by the Word of God which proclaims them wicked.

We are living in the days of sin that looks just like this.  We have those who live openly in their sin - and argue that such a lifestyle choice is not sin.  God has proclaimed that adultery is sin - and that commandment from the time of Moses still stands this day without having been weakened in the slightest.  Some might protest that Jesus forgave the woman caught in the very act of adultery.  I would agree - but would add that after he gave her the most gracious forgiveness, He also stated to her that she should go her way and SIN NO MORE.  When He gave her grace - it was the grace of God that teaches us NOT TO SIN.  It was not grace that condoned sin.  And just in case some have forgotten the rest of the gospel - He eventually bore her sin to calvary's cross and paid the full measure of God's wrath for it. 

When a society begins to weaken its moral stances on adultery and sexual sin, it is preparing that society for horrible consequences.  When that lax morality reaches the point where adulterous women and men are allowed to embrace their wickedness while openly proclaiming that they've done nothing wrong - such a society is at the breaking point.  It cannot stand much longer because its very foundations are crumbling to the ground. 

Please pray for the United States - praying for revival in the church and awakening among the lost.  We've abandoned our moral underpinnings handed down to us from our forefathers.  We need for God to first revive His church so that we will once again hold fast to biblical morals - regardless of what is currently morally in style in our nation.  Unless this work of revival happens among us first, there will be no awakening among the lost.  We must put our moral house in order - dealing with our sexual sins.  Then we will have the moral authority to speak to our nation - to pray for our nation - and to witness the people of our nation return to the Lord and to the sanity of sexual morality.  May God have mercy on us - and revive and restore us in this most desperate of days.

A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. Proverbs 27:15-16

Here is a proverb concerning contentious women and the problems that come from them.  First we read that the contetious woman is compared to a constant dripping on a day of steady rain.  Thus we see that such a thing is a constant annoyance.  This is someone who will bother us greatly.  That drip, drip, drip that we hear will wear on us over time and drive us crazy.  Such is the contentious woman.  But understanding the word "contentious" is very important for us to grasp what Solomon is saying. 

The "contentious" woman is the woman who is involved with strife and dissension.  This is the Hebrew word, "madon" which refers to a quarrel or dispute that gets out of hand quickly.  Once started, it cannot be stopped.  These are the kind of disputes that create barriers between people.  According to Psalm 80:6 an evil heart is the source of these contentions and bitter arguments.  These things come from someone with a hot temper and are very difficult to contain.  Thus we see that the "contentious woman" is not someone who disagrees with us, but rather someone who vehemently disagrees and who takes that disagreement to the level of fighting and quarreling.  This fighting is not a normal disagreement, but becomes something that can separate people for long periods of time as bitterness and resentment seethe because of the fighting.  

Too often I have heard of this proverb used to disrespect a woman who respectfully disagrees with her husband.  The contentious woman is anything BUT respectful - she is fiesty and cantankerous.  She is itching for a fight - and when given the slightest reason to enter one - does so with both feet firmly set in the middle of it.  It is not sinful for a woman to disagree with someone - even her husband or a person in authority.  That is not what this proverb is about.  It is about a woman who is ready to fight, and quarrel, and do so disgustingly.  The next verse says that trying to restrain such a woman and her venom is like trying to restrain wind or grasp oil and hold it.  It is impossible to do so, because such things cannot be done.  Thus, when we come upon such a woman, we should avoid her and keep ourselves clear from her path.  She is a dangerous woman - whose actions will prove very destructive in the end.  Rather than trying to restrain and hold her back, we need to withdraw from her and avoid her at all costs.

What we should remember as we read this is that God places great value on a woman who has a quiet and gentle spirit.  This is what God desires - so when a woman goes the opposite direction, it is not only against what He wants, but it places an example before other women that is not only lacking, but it encourages them to behavior that is completely outside of what God desires in a Godly lady.  May the Lord give us grace to see such godly women raised up in our fellowships - women whose testimony only makes the gospel of Jesus Christ more attractive and beautiful - like He has made them.

A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:13-14

Two different kinds of homes are shown to us in this proverb - the first in verse 13, and the second in verse 14.  These two different homes will make the difference between a life that is a joy - and one that is most likely pure drudgery. 

The first home has a son - a foolish son who is a destruction to his father.  The word used here for fool is different than we are used to seeing.  It is the Hebrew word "kestyl" and refers to one of several types of fools who are spoken of in Scripture.  He is a fool, according to Ecclesiastes 4:5, 13 who is unable to live life in a successful, practical way.  He is a fool who according to Proverbs 1:22, 32 who scoffs at the things of God and as a result has a lifestyle that is very self-destructive.  Other passages refer to this fool as someone who is rash in his decision making - who pursue foolishness - and who will not have honor but will experience shame due to their decisions and lifestyle.  The father of this fool watches his own life destroyed due to this son.  The word for destruction here refers to destruction that comes because of a rejection of God and a rejection of God's ways and truth.  The father's life is destroyed because of the consequences of his son's life wreaking havoc on his heart and most likely his finances.  To look at an example of this we have to go no further than the story of the prodigal son.  This son was a fool - and demanded half the estate of his father - who chose to give it to him.  Even though this son eventually returned - in the time of his discipline and foolishness he consumed not only half of his father's estate with his ungodly lifestyle - he also consumed numerous hours of his father's concern and heartbroken intercession.  Remember that his father was watching for him - longing for him to return from his godless choices and lifestyle. 

This passage also reminds us that the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping to a man as well.  The picture painted for us by Solomon is that of a wife who is unhappy - and who poures out her unhappiness upon her husband in contentious attitudes and words.  Fascinating is the definition of "madon" the Hebrew word for contention here.  It refers to quarrels and disputes that cannot be stopped once they are set in motion.  They are arguments that create barriers between people - usually caused by a person with a bad temper.  Imagine the poor man who has this to look forward to each day of his life.  He does not have a help-meet - but someone who tears him down every day when he comes home.  Like a dripping leak in the ceiling or a faucet that drives you crazy with the drip, drip, drip sound that never stops - so this man has to deal with an ungrateful, unloving wife who creates tension and dissention in the home rather than an atmosphere of love and peace.

Contrasted to this kind of home, we see in verse 14 the true wealth that God can bring to our lives.  Where a house and wealth can be given to us in the inheritance from our fathers - there is something far more valuable that we should long to receive.  I've watched as people have receieved a large inheritance from their parents.  If gratefully received it can be a huge blessing to the family for generations to come.  But without the second blessing that is mentioned here - entire families can be destroyed for multiple generations.  Whereas we can receive an inheritance from our fathers, a prudent wife is a gift from God Himself. 

The prudent wife is one who is discerning and filled with godly insight. She acts wisely, having understanding and wisdom from which to make her decisions and guide the things that she does each day.  She is intelligent - but with far more than just book-learning.  She is intelligent in the things of the Lord - which allows her to bless her husband and children not just with her teaching, but with the example of her life 24 hours every day.  Her wise prudence allows her to see what is coming - how choices will effect the future - and what choices will make for God's greatest blessing on her and her family.  Truly the gift of this kind of woman in a man's wife is a gift from God.  Whereas money can be good or bad for us - a prudent wife will be blessing at all times.  Her influence on a home and on children and grandchildren will bless a family for multiple generations.  When the Scriptures tell us that her worth is beyond gold, silver, and precious stones - it is not kidding us.  When you have a prudent wife - you are being blessing with a fortune that will last long after the money and things in your life are rusted and dust. 

A man needs to look at these two verses and grasp wisdom.  Wisdom means choosing eternal things - such as the blessing of your family for generations to come by submitting your "love life" fully into the hands of God.  It means choosing a wife under His direction and with His values fully guiding your thinking.  It may mean waiting - or turning away from a relationship with a young lady who looks good on the outside - but whose lack of discernment and godly wisdom will make her a serious liablilty to you and your family in the future.  The wise man surrenders himself to God in every area - including the choice of a future wife.  Remember you can have a constant dripping and a destructive son - or a purdent wife whose worth cannot be measured in gold, silver, and precious stones.  The choice is yours - choose wisely!

So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him:
Proverbs 7:13

Here we have the continued description of the immoral, adulterous woman.  It is a description that warns us of the actions of a woman that should cause us to pause if a woman we meet acts in this way.  Some, after reading today's post will probably disagree with me, saying that I am taking this too far.  But the fact is that today immorality is running rampant in the church today.  We might be wiser to consider steering clear of the kind of behavior that is mentioned here.

The immoral woman is very forward in how she approaches men.  This woman seizes this guy and kisses him.  In today's society woman are encouraged to be more forward with men.  They are told that to sit idlely by and wait for a man to make the move is from the Victorian era - and it does not work any longer.  Those who say such things are those who also explain away the Scriptures.

The Word of God states that it is good for a man not to touch a woman.  In regard to the relationship between a man and a woman before they are married, when we ingore this statement, we do so to our own peril.  What usually happens is that touch leads to more.  When the barrier of kissing is breached, it will lead to more.  The next barrier is that of making out - which often also has sexual petting that goes with it.  One that barrier is breached it is only the mercy of God that keeps a couple from engaging in sexual intercourse.  That is why it is so important that unmarried young ladies (or any age for that matter) refrain from becoming bold in their approach to physical contact with a man.  When they do this - the man, who is stimulated much easier than her - will push the relationship beyond where she takes it. 

Note that Solomon states that it is with a brazen face that this woman speaks to the man whom she has seized and kissed.  The word "brazen" here means that it is a face filled with pride and indicates that she has seriously stepped beyond where any godly woman would go.  Her arrogance is at a very high level.  When you realize that she is about to propose sexual intercourse with this young man next - you see that she is truly a godless, immoral woman.  Her "forward-ness" is a warning that she is going to push this encounter all the way to sexual intercourse if she can.  It indicates to the man that she is a harlot, an adulterer, an immoral woman.  The warning given to the young man is serious - keep your way FAR from her.  If she gets this close - you are in grave danger. 

Today the film and television industry just about salutes such women.  They think it is great that women are grabbing life by the horns and pushing the envelope sexually.  But such a thing is not to be saluted - it is reason for grieving.  When the women of a society begin acting like this - the society itself is moving toward destruction.  The women are a society are meant to be ones who hold it back from destruction.  They are called the fairer sex.  This means that they are more spiritually astute - and tend to keep the society back from actions that would harm it.  But when they reach this level of degregation, things are moving fast toward a total breakdown of societal stability. 

I offer a word of encouragement to parents and to young women who desire God's best for themselves and for their future families.  Teach your daughters how to be chaste, godly, reserved women.  Help them embrace their femininity.  Teach them to wait on God for their husbands - and to reserve their purity and virginity for God and His glory - and the man God brings to them to be their husband.  This will require rejecting the forwardness of our society - and the push that feminism has made to make women just like men.  You will find with this choice that your daughters will be far more humble.  They will learn trust and reliance upon the Lord as they wait for God to bring them their husbands.  Oh, and it will do one other thing.  It will begin to bring our sexually crazed society back to godliness - at least as they see these young ladies.  What is amazing is as they see this - they will both mock and wonder.  They mock because doing so alleviates their own trashed consciences.  But they will wonder because deep down within themselves they will know that this is right.  There will even be a tinge of regret that they did not make the same decision.  May God give us grace to train up our daughters to be such women of holiness . . . and . . . may we also teach our sons to value such ladies - and become the kind of men who can become their husbands.