Wisdom Like Family
4 Love wisdom like a sister;
make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,
from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
A theme of these early chapters in Proverbs is the value one ought to place on godly wisdom. In this passage, Solomon continues to extol the importance of wisdom, here comparing it to one's trusted family and friends. These are the kinds of people who can be trusted to understand what a person is experiencing. They can empathize with him in times of trouble and counsel him when he faces decisions.
Wisdom and discretion enable a person to persevere in trials, knowing God's purpose is to prove our faith and make us spiritually mature. James invites us to ask God for wisdom when we encounter "trials of various kinds" (James 1:2–5). He also promises the crown of life to those who, by faith, endure trials (James 1:12). Romans 8:28–29 assures us that God uses the sufferings of this present time to work for our good so that we will become like Jesus. According to Colossians 1:9 god-driven wisdom and knowledge enable believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10).
Solomon credits wisdom and insight (Proverbs 7:4) with demonstrating their value in avoiding temptation, and the consequences which come with it. This forms an interesting contrast to the prior statement. There, wisdom was portrayed as a woman, specifically a sister, or as a close friend. Here, sin and temptation—as well as literal sexual sin—are mentioned in the form of a tempting adulteress.
A sister and a close friend would counsel a young man to stay clear of a tempting situation that might lead to an adulterous affair. And like them, wisdom and insight persuade whoever possesses those qualities to avoid the evil woman and the seductive adulteress. Letting one's lust lead him into adultery is foolish, and it results in personal calamity. An adulterer loses self-respect and others' respect. Adultery results in many personal wounds and possibly disease and death.
Giving God's Word a good reception enables us to see the folly of sin and therefore set up a good defense against falling victim to temptation. Psalm 119:9–11states, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word…I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
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