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Day 4: The Proverbs 5 Woman

The 'Proverbs 31 woman' has become synonymous with the ideal wife: industrious, hard-working, and entrepreneurial. She's not your stereotypical housewife! But the ideal woman, and her negative counterpart, the adulteress, keep cropping up in Proverbs. 

Before we accuse Solomon of misogyny and sexism in his mention of sexual enjoyment within marriage, we need to reflect on whether we're being prudish. The Bible has no such qualms, secure in the knowledge that God designed sex for man and wife to enjoy for their married lives. 

Once the honeymoon is over, and the 'seven-year-itch' might start, Solomon would urge us not to make his mistake and go after some other woman, against God's plan and purpose. If we're sexually tempted, like many of us are, the Bible doesn't just command against adultery, but demands lifetime faithfulness within marriage between husband and wife. 

Of course, marriage doesn't always work out, ask Solomon himself! I'm with the traditional view that Ecclesiastes is Solomon's repentant swansong after his wives had turned his heart away from the Lord. The fact that Solomon's writings are recorded in Scripture suggests that he found peace and reconciliation with God in the end. After all, we know from Scripture that God is faithful and compassionate even when we stray from Him.

'God in heaven, in our dysfunctional world, we thank You for the wonderful gifts of marriage and sex. Please forgive us for adulterating them, and help us be faithful. For Your glory, amen'.

Women: What kind of woman are you? How would you seek to attract a husband?

Men: What do you look for in a wife? Are you wise to avoid unhelpful influences?