A is for Acceptance and A is for Adultery

Welcome to MILLERWRITES and the 2016 April A to Z Challenge!
I will be finding two appropriate words from the Bible's Book of Proverbs each day through the month. A "good" word and a "bad" word to discuss.  I hope you take a look each day, and leave a comment!

Chapter two of Proverbs has (at least) two "A" words that work for today's post.

The "Good A" word is ACCEPT.  Here it is in context, at the beginning of chapter 2.

2 
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.Proverbs 2:1-5

I like the simple If/Then statements that are frequently found in Proverbs.  Outright "commands" seem to intimidate and maybe threaten people who come to the table suspicious of God, but these conditional statements are so matter-of-fact, and almost scientific in nature that it seems we can ACCEPT them that much easier.  And in this case the "then" part is such a comforting promise!  Who doesn't want to "understand the fear of the Lord"?  And "find the knowledge of God"?  (And even more wonderful fruit is promised in following verses

The "if" part may not be very easy, but anyone and everyone can do these things? No particular degree or class status, or age or position, or amount of wealth and power can make one more able to perform the actions mentioned.  We can all, simply by choosing to, can store up..., and turn an ear..., and apply the heart..., and call aloud...., and look for..., and search for....

But it all starts with ACCEPTANCE.

"Oh Lord, help me to ACCEPT ALL that you have in store for me."



The BAD A word from Proverbs today is ADULTERY.  I might say that if good things all start with ACCEPTANCE, then they certainly end with ADULTERY.  This is a common theme in the book of Proverbs. And while the word is so often associated with a woman (as is WISDOM, but that's for another day(April 27th to be exact), it takes, of course, two to tango, and both male and female participants are equally guilty.
But an even larger point about ADULTERY is that God sees all of us sinners in that disdainful light. In His view, every willful step we take on our own, ignoring the relationship we have as His own, is an act of ADULTERY.

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
Proverbs 2:16,17

There are so many seductive voices in the world that would call us away from Him, especially because we are so inclined to go. Why would a woman leave her partner and seduce another man? Why would any of us ignore the covenant we made before God?

My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
turn your ear to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
Proverbs 5:1-3

But we are told in both chapters 2 and 5 (above) that there is something that will preserve us, if we choose it! Come back on the 27th!

"Give us your WISDOM, we ask, Lord."




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