That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Proverbs 5:2
Dear Church and Friends,
Solomon touches on one of the ten conditions or outcomes he gives us in chapter 1, discretion. Then he launches into a discussion of the problem of the strange woman. You’ll notice that this chapter is neatly divided into three “my son” lessons and all three deal with this subject.
The heart of the matter is found in the second lesson. The Lord gives us four commandments dealing with the strange woman. I think we can expand this to include all idolatry. At the heart of spiritual idolatry is replacement. We have a need that is not being met and instead of seeking the Lord we go out and find a replacement for it on our own.
Our excuse might be that we think we deserve it, or we’re angry that we don’t have it, or we’re fearful that we’ll never achieve it. Whatever the motivator, we end up at the foot of some idol meeting our own need our way.
The video today is a little longer than normal because I go into the four commandments and how they can help us to walk away from our idolatry. Watch the video (The Strange Woman) and download the outline by following this link. I’ve also posted the School of Wisdom podcast for additional commentary on Proverbs 5.
Podcast: The School of Wisdom, Proverbs 5:1-23.
Prayer Request: Please lift up the following requests.
- This morning I spoke with Mrs. Wyder who runs the Princeton Closet, a charitable arm of the Princeton School district. Denise and I have been donating to the closet since the boys were in school. She told me that Princeton district has a poverty rate so high that 7 out of 10 students face hunger on a weekly basis. (With the shutdown that number will probably go up.) The closet spends nearly $1200 a week purchasing essential food items and then packaging that food for weekly and emergency distribution. Please pray for her and her team. If you want to donate items she said, “peanut butter, jelly, and crackers because they are easily packaged, non-perishable, and last the student longer.”
Catechism: The Principles of the Christian Religion.

Question 112: What is the general judgment?
Answer: That which Christ shall in a solemn manner give upon all men at once when he shall come at the last day with the glory of his Father, and all men that ever have been from the beginning of the world until that day shall appear together before him, both in body and soul, whether they be alive or dead.
“Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
All my best.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
Proverbs 5:21
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