February 14 -- "Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth"

 Today’s Reading: Proverbs 5

"Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth"

The Bible speaks so much of the beauty of the love and the love relationship within marriage. God has ordained marriage. In the beginning when God made them male and female. He said, "For this cause shall a man leave his mother and father, and cleave to his wife: and they two shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)  

God wanted the earth to be populated by man. And so, God created the reproduction organs in the body. And God created strong sexual drives, powerful sexual urges. And He made the experience very exciting, very pleasurable. It is a God-created drive and must be used in a God-honoring way. God has ordained that these drives be satisfied and be fulfilled solely within the bonds of a marriage covenant, where two persons of opposite sex make a covenant before God that they will love, honor, cherish one another until death separates them. 

Chapter 5 of Proverbs presents a strong warning to men about seeking sexual pleasures from an immoral woman. In no uncertain terms, Solomon says “Beware of the prostitute and the temptations she offers.” The temporary pleasure that an illicit sexual encounter brings is short-lived, but the bitterness that follows is lasting.  Every man must flee the temptations offered by such immoral company,

In verses 18 & 19, Solomon focuses on the married man. The married man should be faithful to his wife and seek his sexual pleasures in her alone.  He should seek no pleasures from the immoral women found around the streets, offices, work places, and market places trying to seduce people. Married or single, a man must bear in mind that God sees everything. You cannot hide your sin from Him.

When you move sex out of the environment for which God has created it, then that which was created to be beautiful and meaningful and glorious becomes sinful. So God speaks very frankly here to all of us as Solomon speaks to his son and exhorts him about this beautiful gift that he has from God, fountains of life. Don't go spilling them on the street with just anybody. But enjoy the wife of your youth. "Be ravished always with her love."

The Lord here points out that fidelity to one’s marriage partner is His way, and results in His blessing. Strict faithfulness guards us from the heartbreak and tragedy that accompany promiscuity. Let your fountain be blessed and rejoice in the wife of your youth – and her alone.