“…but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of Sheol.” (Proverbs 5:1-6, NASB)

Warning signs alert us to hazards that may lie ahead. Following these signs helps protect us from potential harm, while ignoring them can lead to facing the consequences of our actions. In many ways, today’s reading is a big sign that says, “Danger ahead, Watch Out for Sexual Sin!” It says,

“My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding; that you may observe discretion, and your lips may reserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of Sheol. She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable, she does not know it.”

It’s amusing when we see who posted this danger sign. It’s ironic because Solomon had relationships with about a thousand women in his life: 300 wives and 700 concubines. Yet, he was warning us against the dangers of sexual sin, particularly adultery. It’s like an alcoholic warning us against the dangers of drinking. It’s like a criminal warning us against the dangers of criminal life. It’s like a person who is addicted to pornography warning us against the dangers of pornography. According to Jesus, God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman (Mt. 19:4-5). If this is the definition of marriage and the definition of adultery is sexual sin outside of marriage, then Solomon was guilty of it 999 times! God even warned the nation of Israel concerning multiplying wives, especially those in leadership (Deut.17:17). This warning was known to Solomon, and yet he walked down that path.

The Scriptures provide the reason for his failure as a leader, that his many wives turned his heart away from God. 1 Kings 11:3-4 says, “He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For it came about when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” It’s funny that this man was warning us of the dangers of sexual sin! However, if you can overlook the messenger and focus on the message, we can gain much wisdom from it.

This isn’t just true for Solomon. There are many like this in the Bible. Abraham pretended that his wife was his sister because he feared for his life, yet we respect him as the father of faith. King David committed adultery and murdered her husband to cover it up, yet we sing his psalms. Peter denied Jesus three times and later became hypocritical towards Gentile believers, yet his words are taught in churches today. We must overlook the messengers and focus on the message.

What is the message? What is the danger sign Solomon was putting up? It is that all forms of sexual sin, particularly adultery, are dangerous to our lives. He doesn’t deny that it is pleasing to the eye and satisfying. He says that her lips dripped with “honey” and her words were “smoother than oil.” In other words, sin gives pleasure and is enjoyable at first. This is the danger of it. The consequences of falling for her are many. She tastes sweet like honey but will turn bitter quickly. Her words are smooth, but they will stab you like a sword. Her ways lead to death and to “Sheol” (the grave). The danger is not just the consequences of such actions, but that God will “judge” them. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” “Fornicators” are those who commit sexual sin before marriage, and “adulterers” are those who commit sexual sin while they are married. God will judge them, and this isn’t from the Old Testament. This warning is found in the New Testament, and the book of Hebrews was written to the believers. Pay attention to the warning, as sexual sins—especially adultery—can lead to serious consequences.

• How can sexual sin be sweet and smooth, but become bitter, painful, and even deadly?
• What do you think it means for God to “judge” fornicators and adulterers today?