(Proverbs 7)
Adultery?
I don’t know about you, but when I get to chapter 5, chapter 6 and chapter 7 of Proverbs that topic stops me in my tracks every time I read through the book.
I think it is because (even though I know it’s there) I never really expect the opening statements of wisdom to be about adultery and staying far away from it. Even here the writer begs us to listen to what he has to say, because he feels it is important, its almost like he is saying if you miss everything else, do not miss this…
Stay away from Adultery, do not get sucked into it…
stay far away.
Why?
Because it is destructive, not only to your relationships but it also destroys part of your soul. Once it happens, things are never the same again. Yes, you can be forgiven for doing it and God does that without question. But the consequences of it are with you the rest of your life. Adultery cuts you and damages the deepest part of your soul. It is both a spiritual and physical sin. It effects every aspect of your being.
The bottom line is…
Stay away from the temptation of it, run if you have to (Joseph), guard your eyes from viewing lustful images and actions (King David), keep your speech the way it should be (clean) and keep your relationship with your spouse strong (Paul – I Cor. 7:6-8).
“Call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words ” (Proverbs 7:4b-5)
What did you see in the passage today? What verse stood out to you?
phillipbrande.com 
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend;
As you know, I have been reading this with my young daughters. I actually skipped over some of the more “graphic” verses (they are only 11 and 12). I don’t want to skip the lesson, so I will revisit them (probably tonight) with the girls. They understand “cheating” and so I did explain that cheating was wrong (which they already knew). But after lots of thought, I think it is okay for young children to know that God holds the relationship between a married couple as sacred. And when a married person makes someone besides their wife/husband more important for any reason (emotionally, physically) it is wrong and it leads to destruction of the relationship and the soul; that there is peripheral damage (the adulterer’s family, etc.) and many times, the damage is permanent. It hurts lots of people and it hurts God. And how important it must be to God to let us know how wrong it is because it is mentioned over and over. I know it’s hard to explain to children these adult lessons, but God gave the Bible to everyone, including the children, so I think it’s an appropriate lesson for them.
Great response