Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20000326.htm

PROVERBS: ALIGNING TO GOD'S FIXED MORAL ORDER
Part II: Sparking The Reader's Motivation To Heed God's Fixed Moral Order
G. Motivating YOUNG MEN To Adhere To God's Fixed Moral Order Regarding Sexuality
(Proverbs 5:1-23)
  1. Introduction
    1. It is common knowledge that young men [and young women] must deal with a sudden increase in sexual drive, for the way their Creator planned it, they are to be fruitful and multiply, Genesis 1:28.
    2. Yet, the misuse of the sexual drive, as we parents know, creates havoc in a youth's long-term welfare.
    3. Solomon addressed his son on this subject that patterns how we can speak to our children on the it:
  2. Motivating YOUNG MEN To Adhere To God's Fixed Moral Order Regarding Sexuality.
    1. We recall that Solomon structured Proverbs after the Egyptian sboyet, a literary genre designed to train young princes on an observed fixed moral order that must be heeded for a leader to be successful.
    2. Of necessity, this instruction must deal with the misuse and proper use of human sexual expression, a very powerful force in a young man's experience. Solomon addresses this subject as follows in Proverbs 5:1 -23:
      1. Solomon began his address of human sexuality by a strong warning to avoid its ABUSE, Prov. 5:1-14:
        1. He called upon his son to heed his wisdom to maintain discretion and knowledge on the subject, 5:1f.
        2. The reason for needing discretion and knowledge is that an immoral woman has great power over a young man, but that power must be resisted and understood to preserve a young man from long-term calamity: (a) an immoral woman speaks words that appeal to a young man's ego and infatuation with femininity, and thus tend to pull a young man along into her control with great force, Prov . 5:3. (b) Yet, such speech if heeded will lead a young man to a very painful and quick death, Prov. 5:4-5. (c) A young man must be aware that such a woman gives no thought to a pathway leading to life, is also even ignorant of such a wholesome pathway, and her ways are twisted (deceptive), Prov. 5:6.
        3. Accordingly, a young man is best staying far from an immoral woman's location or he will be left open to her wiles and the tragedies that relating to her will bring, Proverbs 5:7-14: (a) Solomon detailed how a young man's uniting sexually with an immoral woman will leave h is physical and emotional strength drained, Prov. 5:7-10. (b) Immorality with a harlot will lead to one's wealth becoming the possession of others, and lead to venereal diseases and a short life, Proverbs 5:11. (c) It will also lead to deep regret (5:1 2-13) and (d) devastating, public humiliation, Proverbs 5:14.
      2. Yet, though supplying a warning on immorality, Solomon gave the correct OUTLET for a young man's God-given sexual drive -- the outlet of private sexual interaction with his WIFE, 5:15-19:
        1. The reference to drinking water from one's own cistern and running water from one's own well in verse 15 as seen in its context with verses 16-17 (NIV) pictures gratification through the directing of one's sexual expression to be limited to his private marital union, Prov. 5:15. Thus, Solomon urged his son to find fulfillment for his sexual drive by sexual interaction only with his WIFE.
        2. In view of this proper expression of sexual interaction, Solomon rhetorically noted how foolish it was for one to use his sexual organs with an immoral woman to produce children by an adulteress, children who would be illegitimate and suffer for it to the father's own pain and shame, Prov . 5:16.
        3. Accordingly, Solomon announced a benediction on his son's own sexual organ use and urged him to find fulfillment thereby with his own wife throughout his whole married life, Proverbs 5:18-19.
      3. In summary, Solomon laid out three major arguments for heeding his advice so far on sexuality:
        1. First, it does not make sense for a young man to be sexually gratified with an immoral partner who is so careless and loveless just opposite one's caring, loving wife, Proverbs 5:20.
        2. Second, God judges men on their sexual conduct, making proper sexual expression wise, Prov. 5:21.
        3. Third, the results of sinning by way of immorality ensnare and bring one to awful ruin, Prov. 5:22-23.
Lesson: We can EFFECTIVELY instruct young men [and young women] on handling their sexual drives by (1) warning them of the DANGERS and WASTE of immorality, (2) telling them of the BLISS of fidelity in proper marital sexual conduct (3) and of thei r accountability to Almighty God regarding sexual expression! In the process, we exemplify a BALANCED [negative AND positive] outlook on human sexuality so that our children can CONSTRUCTIVELY deal with this influential, critical drive!