Smooth Words – Proverbs 2:16-22

I have seen it too many times.  That person they threw over their spouse for has now become someone they can barely stand to be around.  The grass was greener on the other side until they started living on the other side.  But people are people, and living together with them brings out all our selfishness.  That person who was so pretty or handsome, so fun to be with, so positive and exciting, is a sinner just like you, and when the freshness has worn off, just as hard to love as your original spouse.  If only you had known!

So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.

So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. (Proverbs 2:16-22, ESV)

Wisdom protects us from hurting ourselves and hurting others.  And because Solomon is talking to his son he warns him about the forbidden woman who has adultery on her mind.  But if this was written to someone’s daughter it would have warned against the forbidden man with adultery on his mind.  There is no shortage among us, both male and female, who have adulterous thoughts and way too many who are acting on those thoughts and pursuing illicit partners.

The one with adultery on his or her mind always has a smooth story line.  “My wife doesn’t love me,” “My husband is always gone,” “You are so wonderful and would make me so happy,” “I will love you like no other.”  But he or she is a covenant breaker, violating vows made to God about loving their spouse “like no other.”  And if they are willing to break that covenant why would you expect them to be faithful to you?  The end of their way is death.  It is the absence of God’s life of protection and of bearing fruit in the lives of others through you.

Because this is written to an Israelite, a reminder of God’s covenant conditions for His people is expressed.  He will give the land of Canaan to His people if they keep His righteous commands and prosper them in it.  But the wicked, those who refuse to keep His ways, will be punished by being removed from the land gifted them by God.  It is the meek who inherit the earth, those who humbly recognize God’s wisdom and ways and trust Him by obeying Him.

Lord Jesus, teach me to stay on the path of life with my spouse.  Teach me the hard parts about loving someone who is as much a sinner as I am.  Make me impervious to smooth words and attentive to Your voice.