Year 8, Day 297: Proverbs 6

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Proverbs 6 is two-fold.  The first half is a warning against folly.  Essentially, David wants to make sure that Solomon understands why wisdom is important.  Without wisdom, we can become entrapped in the schemes of other people.  We can be tempted into doing things that we regret.  The first half of this proverb just makes sense.

It was in the second half of this chapter that I really found an image into which I could dive deeper.  People don’t despise a thief if he steals to feed while he is dealing with his hunger.  Yes, David acknowledges that the thief still has to deal with the consequences should he get caught.  But it is understandable.  If a person is starving or has a family that is starving, it is possible to recognize the thought process that leads up to the stealing.

However, nobody respects a thief who steals just because it is fun.  Nobody respects a thief who takes when they aren’t in need.  Nobody cares about the thief who steals just because they can or because of the challenge.  Stealing is always wrong, but when there is no reason for it there is not even a rationale for it.

The deep part about this passage is when David comes back and relates this to adultery.  After all, when a person is married, don’t they already have a person to whom they can relate and be intimate with?  What, then, is the point of adultery?  There is no logical reason for it.  Committing adultery is just like stealing when a person isn’t in need.  It is an act that is solely based on a person’s thoughts in the moment.  It is a passionate response not based on need but solely on desire.

There are always consequences to adultery, just like there are consequences with stealing.  The difference is that there is never a time when adultery is even understandable.

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