“21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
the cords of their sins hold them fast.
23 For lack of discipline they will die,
led astray by their own great folly.
”
Proverbs 5 is about as straight-shooting wisdom as you will find – don’t sleep with another man’s wife.
What I find interesting in Solomon’s writing about the consequences of this action, beyond the obvious destruction of your honor, dignity, marriage and your soul, is that even thousands of years ago when this was written there were significant financial consequences to this as well. Look at verse ten, “lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another.”
The verses that caught my attention in this chapter are at the end. Solomon reminds us first that all our ways are in full view of the Lord; we are not getting away with anything! In verse twenty-two he provides this wisdom that the real consequence of our evil deeds is the entrapment of our own souls. Our minds and our hearts wither as we struggle with shame and guilt. The primary consequence of our sin is internal – we become ensnared in it.
This language points me to Galatians 6 where Paul instructs us to help those who have become ensnared in sin with gentleness lest we also become ensnared. The picture in my mind is of a friend stuck in some sort of trap and my role is to help him out, but I must be careful or I will also become stuck. Perhaps not in the same sin, but for me it is most likely the trap of pride as I pharisaically thank God that I am not like those sinners! The real wisdom here is the understanding of the internal pain and struggle of sin; it’s a killer. Let’s work to help each other become unstuck because it’s clear our role is not to make others feel bad about their sin; they already do. I know I do.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Have you felt ensnared by your own sin? Do you have helpful thoughts for the rest of us on how we can create a culture of helping others who have become ensnared? Share your thoughts below.