Drink water from your own well—
    share your love only with your wife.
Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
    having sex with just anyone? (Proverbs 5:15-16)

For Meditation

The man knew the subject well. Only a fool learns nothing from adversity. Two slip-ups could usually be enough to hit the brakes and make a quick U-turn. But a thousand times down the road of polygamy (seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines)? Impossible for Solomon to not have learned. And how could he then, the wisest king on earth, not share his experiences and regrets with his son and tenderly caution him against sexual promiscuity. 

“My son,” he begins in Proverbs chapter five, “pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel” (5:1). 

The king might have reviewed his life and noted the slippery road that led him astray from godliness.

Having a useful tool is one thing, but using it is another altogether. Acknowledging the failures of life, Solomon focused on action instead of knowledge for knowledge’s sake. 

“Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned” (2).

Solomon now digs into the heart of the subject. He holds up the immoral woman and reveals the danger she poses to holiness.

“For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end, she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword,” Solomon says (3-4).

Now, Solomon describes the slippery slope into the throes of death.

“Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she cares nothing about the life path. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it” (5-6).

With a tender but firm voice, the wise king warns the son.

“Never stray from what I am about to say: Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house! If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved. Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor. In the end, you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body” (8-11).

Action is always better now than later. For later could be at a point of no return or brokenness beyond repair.

“How I hated discipline!’ you may say. “If only I had not ignored all the warnings! Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors? I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace” (12-14).

This anthem is the most popular one of failure and regret, with repeat performances since Eden! If only listeners will stop and heed —if only anyone in such distress will take the intensely repenting steps back to the Father in heaven! For He alone can forgive, cleanse, and restore the prodigal son or daughter.

Then it shall be well.