Proverbs 5:21-23: Freedom

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. Proverbs 5:21-23

God sees and ponders the course of life each man chooses. Nothing 'gets by' the Lord!

There are many photos and videos of pets who have gotten into trouble, but give the sad "puppy dog eyes" when confronted. The pet is sitting in the middle of foam which he tore out of the sofa, or the red lipstick as colored the fur of the one who ate it, or the toilet paper is still stuck to the cat who unrolled the entire roll. They could not hide from their mischievous actions—they were captured "red handed". That is how sin is in our lives. We can become so entangled that no matter how we try to hide it, it's very evident; for sin has consequences.  

When a man sins, he becomes captured or seized by his own sins. He is entangled by the ropes of sin.  Many say that they sin because they have "freedom". However, when you look at their life, they aren't really free at all.

We want freedom to "do drugs". But we see over and over the sadness and even death that addiction and drug abuse cause.

We want freedom to "be sexually free". Yet, we continue to see the damage that "causal sex" has on relationships and self-esteem. We see the medical consequences of immoral sin as diseases increase. 

We want freedom to ...... the list continues. 

Yet, we continue to see that the freedom that sin promises is not true freedom for it comes with the ropes that entangle and trap in despair and death.

Proverbs 5:23 states it very clearly. For want of, or without discipline, chastening, correction man will die prematurely, by neglect of wise moral conduct. The abundance of his foolishness go astray morally. 

Freedom. Freedom following Wisdom. Or the false freedom that neglecting wise moral conduct offers. Which will you choose? 

When a heart is permeated by a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then there is a  desire to hear and obey wisdom—which leads to ultimate freedom! 

Proverbs 5:7-20: How did I get here?

And say: “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! I was on the verge of total ruin, In the midst of the assembly and congregation.” Proverbs 5:12-14

Proverbs 5:7-20 discuss what happens with you throw Wisdom aside and follow after the "strange, foreign woman"—the one who leads a you away from Wisdom. In the middle of these verses we find Proverbs 5:12-14. 

Hated: despised

Instruction: discipline, chastening, correction

Heart: mind, will

Despised: abhor, treat with contempt

Correction: reproof, chiding

Obeyed: hear, absolute be obedient, "do obey"

Voice: thing said, often of advice, command, entreaty

Teachers: archer who shoots straight, aiming toward the bullseye

Inclined: especially incline (bend toward) the ear, of men (in obedience to God)

Ear: attention, listen

Instructed: to exercise in, learn

On the verge: within a little, almost

Total ruin: evil, distress, adversity

Assembly: properly company assembled together by appointment, or acting concertedly (planned or devised together)

Congregation: assembly specially convoked: for evil counsel

How did I get here? That is often the question when we find ourselves in bad situations. How did I get here? I don't belong. I am miserable. I have NO right be to here. 

How did I get here? It all begins with those hating discipline and despising correction. Once you say, "NO!" to Wisdom it is followed by disobedience, ignoring all that you've been taught.... and soon you find yourself in a situation surrounded by evil, distress, adversity asking the question: "How did I get here?" 

How did I get here? It's was based on a choice you made. A decision to treat wisdom with contempt and choose to join those that love evil. It's not by happenstance that you find yourself in the middle of people who provide evil council—rather it's PLANNED. I didn't "plan" to end up HERE! Well when you abhor Wisdom—where did you think find yourself? 

How did I get here? If you find yourself asking that question, then the first thing you need to do is turn to God and ask forgiveness. 

If you want to keep from having to ask yourself "How did I get here?" then you need to make sure that your heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when you fear God, you are open and willing to hear and obey His Wisdom. 

Proverbs 5:1-6: Real vs Counterfeit. Can you distinguish between the two?

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding,

That you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge.

For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth 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 lay hold of hell.

Lest you ponder her path of life—her ways are unstable; you do not know them. Proverbs 5:1-6

Pay attention: cause to hearken, give heed, prick the ears

Wisdom: ethical and religious

Lend your ear:  especially incline the ear, of men (in obedience to God)

Understanding: the object of knowledge

That you may preserve: observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

Discretion: power of devising, purpose

Keep: guard with fidelity (strict observance of promises, duties, faithful, loyal)

Knowledge: discernment, understanding, wisdom

Lips: language (babbling)

Immoral woman: stranger, not of the family, harlot

Mouth: speech

Smoother than oil: figurative of mouth uttering smooth, flattering words

But in the end: the future, later

Bitter: angry, discontented

Wormwood: to curse; regarded as poisonous, hemlock

Two-edged: mouth

Sword: instrument of war; of grievous end of dealings with strange women

Go down: to descend, to go downwards

Death: state of death or place of death

Steps: course of life

Lay hold: keep the path to it, grasp

Hell: Hades or the world of the dead

Lest: might readily acquire

Ponder: weigh (mentally)

Life: appetite, way of living

Ways: course of action, or life, track

Unstable: to waver

Know: discriminate, distinguish, recognize

Did you know that when learning to distinguish between real and counterfeit money, the people study the real thing? They get to know the real money so well, that if they see something amiss, they instantly know the fake. 

The same is true with Wisdom. We are to pay attention so closely to true wisdom, that when we hear the babbling or random advise, although it may sound amazing, we will recognize it as fake. And notice that we are NOT to ponder the sweet sounding words of strangers (sinners). For although they should amazing, they will lead to death. 

Difference between real and counterfeit wisdom, is recognized when one practices pondering true Wisdom—God's wisdom. That begins with a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Act 9:31 MSG), and continues as one studies God's Word and applies it daily. 

Real vs Counterfeit. Can you distinguish between the two?