Proverbs 5:9
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Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
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Fornication or adultery is self-destructive! Whores are cruel! They will steal and destroy your reputation, time, money, family, soul, and health. Pretending great love, loyalty, and pleasure, they will use you until you are no longer profitable for them and then dump you. Without a miracle of God's grace, your reputation and soul will be ruined forever.
Solomon warned his son and children against the strange woman - an adulteress or whore that preys on men (5:1-7). His advice was simple, "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house" (5:8). His remedy was just as simple, have a great relationship with your legitimate wife and have lots of legitimate children (5:15-23).
Solomon's son was a precious life, the kind of noble person whores pursue (6:26; 23:27-28). They despise base and wicked men; they dream about seducing a man of character and principle, a man with ability, confidence, intelligence, leadership, and spirituality. Only a precious life has honor to give away, and only a precious life is free from other vices. Solomon's sons, princes all, were in grave danger, so Solomon warned them.
When a girl gives away her virginity, or a wife commits adultery, God declares they are humbled - reduced greatly in value and polluted (Gen 34:2; Num 5:11-31; Deut 21:14; 22:24,29; Judges 19:24; Ezek 22:10-11). Therefore, virgins carry a high premium to godly men (Ex 22:17; Lev 21:14; Deut 13:22-31; II Sam 13:18-19; II Cor 11:1-2). If it is true for the woman, it is much more true for the man, who is the image and glory of God (I Cor 11:7). When a man falls to a whore, he is spoiled in the sight of God and men.
Samson gave away his honor as the strongest man to a conniving, conspiring, and seducing prostitute of the Philistines. Though he knew she was deceitful and wanted to destroy him, he could not resist her wiles. He lost his strength, reputation, office, sight, and his life. His story should be read and reread by men to learn the danger of women.
Solomon married a thousand such women, and he said of them, "And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her" (Eccl 7:26). It is these kind of women that increase the sinners among even strong men (7:26; 23:27-28).
Nehemiah wrote, "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin" (Neh 13:26).
The danger is real! An attractive woman can easily flatter and seduce a man into the heinous sin of adultery. Her beauty and offers of intimate favors are too powerful (6:25). Therefore, Solomon warned against her honey-like words (2:16; 5:3; 6:24), and he even illustrated her methods in a lengthy parable (7:6-23). Safety is by staying far away (5:8)!
It is amazing that even the basest women in ability, character, and intelligence can exert power over men who should know better. But their sexual sins have enslaved them (5:22), and they give up everything for the fantasy of love from women who are not even capable of love. What a cheap exchange! What a wretched future! Stay far away!
A whorish woman is a cruel creature. She is selfish, without any sense of loyalty, and totally without compassion for her victims (30:20). She will steal a man's reputation and money and break his heart without a pang of conscience. When the prodigal returned home, where were all the harlots that eagerly took his money, promising him their love by word and/or action (Luke 15:30)? As in all similar cases, they were lying leeches.
Men sacrifice reputations, squander money, waste time, lose jobs, leave their families, destroy their wives, ruin their children, break their parents' hearts, get judged by their churches, contract sexual diseases, and are despised by family and friends to pursue the fantasy of love with a whore! Why? Because he did not keep his heart with all diligence and wandered too close to her house (4:23; 7:8)! Reader, how is your heart?
Young man! Can you hear the sober warning? A thought or step toward any woman you have not married is a thought or step toward death and hell (5:5; 7:27; 9:18). She does not love you, and she never will; she is not capable of true love. Keep your honor! Save your life! Be a hero like Joseph, who was stronger than Samson and David in sexual character!
Can an adulterer reclaim his honor? Hardly! Solomon understood this question, because his father was an adulterous murderer; and he did not offer hope with natural men (6:29-35). Yet, David remained king and prophet, and saints have admired him and his psalms most highly. There is forgiveness with God and good men (II Sam 12:13; I Cor 6:9-11).
The woman of Samaria and Mary Magdalene were sinners, but they are two wonderful women in the annals of the New Testament. Many harlots entered the kingdom of God, for Jesus forgave them all (Matt 21:31-32). He came into the world to save sinners (I Tim 1:15). And He forgave even the incestuous fornicator at Corinth (II Cor 2:6-11). The honor of being a son of God cannot be taken away, even if your reputation is sullied.
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