“My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
”
The first seven chapters of Proverbs have displayed a number of themes. Chapter seven focusses specifically on the wisdom of keeping oneself from adultery. At this point, the topic has become unavoidable. The language Solomon uses to warn of the danger is powerful; it will take your very life. This language has been used consistently over the first seven chapters to warn of the consequences of adultery.
At the same time, the imagery of life has been used to describe the value of wisdom. We see this in chapter 3:22, 4:13, and 6:23. Wisdom is the way to life! The juxtaposition here couldn’t be more clear – while adultery will take your life, wisdom will give you life!
In reading this, it seems like overkill on the warning against adultery in these first seven chapters. How slow must he believe his sons to be to continue to harp on this. At the same time, had he been alive today in the age of the internet, I think he would write exactly what he has written.
I also wonder if the language of life and the juxtaposition of wisdom with adultery is used intentionally to make a point. It seems obvious that adultery is a problem; a serious problem. Perhaps Solomon is using it as a way of showing how equally serious we should be about the pursuit of wisdom?
The first five verses of chapter seven are this serious. Keep my commands and you will live. Here is the life language again. In these verses Solomon uses the imagery of a family member to highlight how important wisdom is. My question for all us who are parents is this: do we take our role of educating our children as serious as Solomon does in this book? Do we understand this is about life and death?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How have you been intentional about passing on wisdom to your children? Do you have advice for those of us who still have young children? Are you still seeking out wisdom from your parents or a mentor in a manner as serious as Solomon presents it to be? Share your thoughts below.