Proverbs 06

Lesson 6 of 28

OTHER WARNINGS - Proverbs Chapter 6

Solomon has been warning his sons against the sins of sexual immorality. This is continued in the last part of Proverbs 6:20-35, but we have other warnings in the first part. It is foolish to guarantee the debts of someone else, Proverbs 6:1-5. The lazy person will become poor, Proverbs 6:6-11; the bad person will be judged suddenly, Proverbs 6:12-15. There are seven sins which the Lord hates,
Proverbs 6:16-19.

1. WARNINGS TO A SON: THINGS TO AVOID, Proverbs 6:6.1-19

Proverbs 6:1-5 - Do not guarantee another person’s debts.

Proverbs 6:1 - My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger. - Sometimes you may meet a stranger who wishes to borrow some money or cash a cheque. You do not know him but you believe his story. He could cash a cheque at the bank if you will sign it on the back. Or he may try to get some money from the church or some other believer. You are
willing to help him but he may disappear and you will have to pay.

Proverbs 6:2 - Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. - It is not wise even to guarantee payment by a friend. Solomon told his son that giving a promise can be like falling into a trap; - A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. Proverbs 17:18.

Proverbs 6:3-5 - Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. - The best thing to do is to go at once to your friend and to tell him you want to cancel your promise. This may make you feel ashamed but it is better than losing all you possess. Paul promised Philemon that he would guarantee to pay any money which Onesimus owed his master, - If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with
mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Philemon 1:18-19.

Paul was a picture of Christ our Redeemer, who paid the great debt and set us free, - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14; And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Revelation 5:9.

Proverbs 6:6-11 - Don’t be lazy. Laziness is another way to become poor.

Proverbs 6:6-8 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Here the wise man told his son to think about the ants whenever he wanted to be lazy. Ants are wise; they do not have any king or ruler, yet they all work busily together to prepare their food for the long winter, - The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; Proverbs 30:25.

Proverbs 6:9-11 - How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, a nd thy want as an armed man. Proverbs 6:9-11. - A lazy person loves to sleep in bed. Every morning he wants just a little more time before he has to get up and work, but he will soon find out that he has become poor.

The New Testament also teaches that everyone should work for his living, - And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus
Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12.

Proverbs 6:12-15 - The wicked man.

Proverbs 6:12 - A n aughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. - Some people are no good; they are not worth anything important. Others are really wicked. They all are in the habit of telling lies and so they cannot be trusted.

Proverbs 6:13-14 - He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in h is heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. - They use their eyes and feet and fingers to make you think they are really telling you the truth. But they are planning
in their minds to do evil and are trying to stir up trouble. A seed is very small but can grow into a large plant or tree, - Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matthew 13:32. So a wicked person can just say a word which will spread a lot of trouble among people - Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! James 3:5.

Proverbs 6:15 - Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. - God knows everything these persons do and He will send judgment on them just when they think they are succeeding. Then they will not be able to escape, there will be no remedy.

Proverbs 6:16-19 - Seven things the Lord hates.

Seven is the number of completion in Scripture and here it suggests that the Lord is totally opposed to these seven things.

1. PRIDE.

A person may not even say anything to show what is in his heart, you can tell by his eyes that he is proud. And of course the Lord knows and He works against pride, - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5.

2. LYING.

God is the God of truth and He wants truth in our hearts, - Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Psalms 51:6, All liars will be thrown into hell, - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8.

3. MURDER.

God punished Cain who killed his brother, and all murderers also will be thrown into hell, - For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Revelation 22:15. God hates hands that hurt someone by cutting, stabbing or shooting, even if the person does not die. Some criminals wound or kill a person just to grab their money, - If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Proverbs 1:11. Others try to get power for themselves or to overthrow the government. Still others kill someone for revenge. God hates their wicked actions.

4. THOUGHTS.

All these things come from the heart, - For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Mark 7:21-22. - You think about sin, then you talk about it, then you do it. We need a new heart, - A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26.

5. ACTIONS.

The feet take the body to the place where the hands can do what the heart has been thinking about. Evil thoughts may not result in actual sin unless your body is in the place where the sin is to be committed. Some people are in a hurry to do what God hates, - For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Proverbs 1:16. They should stop and think.

6. FALSE WITNESS.

It is bad enough to tell a lie at any time but it is worse to declare before a judge that we are going to tell the truth, then say what is false, - Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16; Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Exodus 23:1.

7. QUARRELS.

God loves to see His children living together in peace and harmony - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1. So He hates the effort of those who bring quarrels into a family or church, - Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Proverbs 6:14; As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. Proverbs 26:21; He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. Proverbs 28:25; An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. Proverbs 29:22.

2. THE WICKED WOMAN, Proverbs 6:20-35

The son has been warned-against-sin-with a strange woman; - To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Proverbs 2:16; For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: Proverbs 5:3; And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? Proverbs 5:20.

This is so important that the Holy Spirit adds more in chapter 6.

1. Proverbs 6:20-23 - The father advised his son to pay attention to his command
2. Proverbs 6:24-26 - This would keep him from sinning with a strange woman, either a prostitute.
3. Proverbs 6:27-35 - or another man’s wife.

1. THE FATHER’S COUNSEL, Proverbs 6:20-23

Proverbs 6:20-21- My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. - Both father and mother gave the same command and the wise son should listen, remember and obey. He should store their words in his heart and never forget them.

Proverbs 6:22-23 - When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: - The law of God will lead us and keep us all day and all night and tell us the right way. God’s law is like a light, - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105. It will certainly teach us the way of life, - In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death. Proverbs 12:28; Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39.

2. THE PROSTITUTE, Proverbs 6:24-26

Proverbs 6:24 - To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. - God’s law of wisdom will keep a man from yielding to temptation, including the evil woman. She may flatter him with her smooth words, praising him for his strength, his good looks or his smart mind. The Lord warns us to be careful about people who praise us, either men, - A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. Proverbs 26:28; He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. Proverbs 28:23; A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5; or women, To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Proverbs 2:16; For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: Proverbs 5:3; That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Proverbs 7:5; With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. Proverbs 7:21.

Proverbs 6:25 - Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids - Her beauty may be genuine or artificial, - And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. 2 Kings 9:30; And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments, Ezekiel 23:40. She may wink with her eyes to attract attention, as men do, - He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Proverbs 6:13; He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. Proverbs 10:10. The wise son should not think that such a woman is desirable nor fall into her trap.

Proverbs 6:26 - For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. - A prostitute must be paid for her services and this may become very expensive, Who so loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. Proverbs 29:3.

Many men are poor because they pay so much for their immoral habits. A woman should be satisfied with her own husband but some wives always want more. This is not only the desire for pleasure, such a woman is hunting, as a hunter follows a wild animal, - Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; Genesis 27:3.

The wicked woman is hunting for the precious life of her victim. She would feel proud, and superior to other women, if she could catch another man. It might cost a man his life and the Holy Spirit gives clear warning in this verse. The woman also will be punished because she has broken God’s law, - Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14.

3. ADULTERY, Proverbs 6:27-35

Here the Holy Spirit warns men against the sin of adultery by showing what the sad results will be.

Proverbs 6:27-28 - 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? - The penalty is certain. Here are two questions both with the answer NO. A man may try to carry fire too close to the body, but his clothes will be burned. You cannot walk on hot coals without getting burned.

Proverbs 6:29 - So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. - It is also true that you will be hurt if you commit adultery with another man’s wife. A touch may be the first step toward the complete act, - And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Genesis 20:6; Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 1 Corinthians 7:1; and so it may be a sin in itself. It depends on the heart; even looking at a woman may be a sin, - I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? Job 31:1.

Proverbs 6:30-31 - Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.. - Adultery is stealing what belongs to another man and is worse than stealing things. A person may be so hungry that he steals some food. He has to pay back what he took and much more, but people do not despise him. The law of Moses said he must pay back two or four or five times as much, - If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. Exodus 22:1, If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. Exodus 22:4. Here Solomon said seven times, even if this punishment took everything in his house.

Proverbs 6:32-33 - But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. Proverbs 6:32-33. - Adultery is worse than stealing. A man is not wise if he commits this sin, - And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. Proverbs 7:7; Who so is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Proverbs 9:16.

He is destroying himself, he could be punished with death, - And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10. He will always be dishonoured.

Proverbs 6:34-35 - For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. - The woman’s husband blames the man more than his own wife and will make sure that people do not forget his act. The husband will not accept any payment from the person who has done this wrong thing. The husband is jealous because another man has stolen his wife’s affection and this makes him very angry. Both anger and jealousy are bad, - Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? Proverbs 27:4.

The sin of adultery became very common in Israel, - I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Jeremiah 23:14; Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 29:23, and later also in the time of our Lord Jesus Christ, - But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Matthew 12:39.

Today it is a common sin in many countries but God has never changed, - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1 Corinthians 6:9.