“And say: ‘How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.’” Proverbs 5:12-13
In context, these verses appear right smack in the middle of two contrasting women. Chapter 5 begins with a plea for the son to pay attention, hear, preserve and to keep the wisdom, understanding, discretion, and knowledge that is being given to him. It’s an admonition to heed the word of God.
Heeding instruction will keep you from the immoral woman. The rest of the first half of chapter 5 is a description of the seductive ways of the immoral woman whose door leads to death and hell. While the powerful nature of sexual temptation is clearly in view, the immoral woman also more broadly represents the seductive nature of sin in general. All sin is like a woman whose lips drip honey luring you to your death.
Being someone who loves instruction, someone who is not like a horse or mule who only obeys because a bit is in their mouth, someone who is humble and can be corrected by their teachers, and who obeys the word of God, will keep you from her traps. The one who does these things experiences an abundant, joyous life.
The abundant life is described as marriage to a godly woman. In the place of the immoral woman stands the glorious wife. Again, the joys of actual marriage are clearly in view, but the wife also more broadly represents the wonderful, blessed result of heeding instruction from godly teachers and obeying the word of God.
Hating instruction makes one susceptible to the immoral woman and vulnerable to sin which leads to utter ruin and public disgrace. Humbly heeding instruction leads to the pleasures and joys of a godly marriage to a glorious wife and an abundant, rejoicing life.
Seems like a pretty simple choice! That’s why Proverbs calls the one who will not be instructed a fool. Don’t be a fool is the theme of proverbs in a nutshell.
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn