Provérbios 5
Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
Provérbios 5
Cole writes that... I was scared by the devastation wreaked in the life of a friend who was ruined by sexual sin. When I graduated from seminary, I checked out several ministry situations. One opportunity involved working as an associate with a man I’ll call Bob who is about eight years older than I. He had founded a thriving church in Southern California and needed help with the growing demands. I was attracted to working with him because he seemed to be a deeply spiritual man. He would often get away by himself for times of meditation and prayer. His family life seemed solid. He had been married for almost twenty years and had four children, the oldest in his teens. I thought I could learn a lot about ministry working with him. I finally decided to accept another pastorate which allowed me to preach regularly. About a year later, I had not heard from Bob, in spite of a letter or two on my part. When I mentioned it to a mutual friend, he said, “Haven’t you heard? Bob left his wife and family and moved in with a woman from his church.” I was dumbfounded! A few months later I was at a Francis Schaeffer conference. I rounded a corner in that crowd of over 2,000 and came face to face with Bob. His countenance reflected his agony. We went out for coffee and he recounted the whole mess to me. It had started when he and his wife went too far as teenagers. She got pregnant and they married under pressure. He had always harbored doubts in his mind as to whether she was God’s best for him. Satan used those thoughts as the crack to drive in his wedge—another woman who was “more attractive.” About three years later I saw Bob at another conference in another part of the state. He was there to counsel with one of the speakers, a well-known pastor. I’ll never forget the continuing look of devastation on his face. He looked haggard and much older. I hung the memory of his face in the gallery of my mind. I stop and gaze at it whenever I’m tempted to pursue the sin of lust. (Beloved, if you are a man you MUST read this pithy and powerful testimony on Winning the War Against Lust ) (Bolding added to emphasize the loss of "vigor" the fallen pastor experienced.) Cruel one (0394) (akzar) is an adjective and means cruel or merciless as it relates to ruthless behavior of one to another. In one use akzar refers to the Day of the Lord, and there although the day is "cruel", it is a day of judgment which is deserved by Israel specifically and mankind in general. And even then in the midst of wrath, God will remember mercy (cp great harvest of souls in this time Rev 7:9, 14). There are 8 uses of akzar in the OT - Pr 5:9; 11:17; 12:10; 17:11; Is 13:9; Jer. 6:23; 30:14; 50:42. All uses in Proverbs... (Prov 5:9) Or you will give your vigor to others And your years to the cruel one; (Prov 11:17) The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm. (Prov 12:10) A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. (Prov 17:11) A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Who is the cruel one? Some think this refers to the adulteress, "who though she pretends ardent love and kindness to thee, yet in truth is one of the most cruel creatures in the world, wasting thy estate and, body without the least pity, and then casting thee off with scorn. and contempt; and when her interest requires it, taking away thy very life, of which there are innumerable examples, and damning thy soul for ever." (Matthew Poole) Others think that in context it could also be the husband of the adulteress woman. The German Common Language version translates it... Otherwise you will be without honor and her cruel husband will kill you to get what you have acquired over many years. Adam
Provérbios 5:1-14
Cole writes that... I was scared by the devastation wreaked in the life of a friend who was ruined by sexual sin. When I graduated from seminary, I checked out several ministry situations. One opportunity involved working as an associate with a man I’ll call Bob who is about eight years older than I. He had founded a thriving church in Southern California and needed help with the growing demands. I was attracted to working with him because he seemed to be a deeply spiritual man. He would often get away by himself for times of meditation and prayer. His family life seemed solid. He had been married for almost twenty years and had four children, the oldest in his teens. I thought I could learn a lot about ministry working with him. I finally decided to accept another pastorate which allowed me to preach regularly. About a year later, I had not heard from Bob, in spite of a letter or two on my part. When I mentioned it to a mutual friend, he said, “Haven’t you heard? Bob left his wife and family and moved in with a woman from his church.” I was dumbfounded! A few months later I was at a Francis Schaeffer conference. I rounded a corner in that crowd of over 2,000 and came face to face with Bob. His countenance reflected his agony. We went out for coffee and he recounted the whole mess to me. It had started when he and his wife went too far as teenagers. She got pregnant and they married under pressure. He had always harbored doubts in his mind as to whether she was God’s best for him. Satan used those thoughts as the crack to drive in his wedge—another woman who was “more attractive.” About three years later I saw Bob at another conference in another part of the state. He was there to counsel with one of the speakers, a well-known pastor. I’ll never forget the continuing look of devastation on his face. He looked haggard and much older. I hung the memory of his face in the gallery of my mind. I stop and gaze at it whenever I’m tempted to pursue the sin of lust. (Beloved, if you are a man you MUST read this pithy and powerful testimony on Winning the War Against Lust ) (Bolding added to emphasize the loss of "vigor" the fallen pastor experienced.) Cruel one (0394) (akzar) is an adjective and means cruel or merciless as it relates to ruthless behavior of one to another. In one use akzar refers to the Day of the Lord, and there although the day is "cruel", it is a day of judgment which is deserved by Israel specifically and mankind in general. And even then in the midst of wrath, God will remember mercy (cp great harvest of souls in this time Rev 7:9, 14). There are 8 uses of akzar in the OT - Pr 5:9; 11:17; 12:10; 17:11; Is 13:9; Jer. 6:23; 30:14; 50:42. All uses in Proverbs... (Prov 5:9) Or you will give your vigor to others And your years to the cruel one; (Prov 11:17) The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm. (Prov 12:10) A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. (Prov 17:11) A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Who is the cruel one? Some think this refers to the adulteress, "who though she pretends ardent love and kindness to thee, yet in truth is one of the most cruel creatures in the world, wasting thy estate and, body without the least pity, and then casting thee off with scorn. and contempt; and when her interest requires it, taking away thy very life, of which there are innumerable examples, and damning thy soul for ever." (Matthew Poole) Others think that in context it could also be the husband of the adulteress woman. The German Common Language version translates it... Otherwise you will be without honor and her cruel husband will kill you to get what you have acquired over many years. Adam