Paths of Disappointment # 5

Paths of Disappointment # 5

Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said, "Give not thy strength unto women" (Proverbs 31:3). Solomon was speaking from the depths of bitter experience, teaching that the reproofs of instruction are the way of life, when he said: "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life; To keep thee from the evil women, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread; and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coats, and his feet not be burned?" (Proverbs 6).

Solomon had found out that in the path of women there is that experience that is as vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes. That is why he wrote: "A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city. To call passengers who go right on their ways; Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell" (Proverbs 9:13-18).

It was Solomon who had seven hundred wives, who said "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones" (Proverbs 12:4). "It is better to dwell in the corner of the house top, than with a brawling woman in a wide house" (Proverbs 21:9). "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman" (Proverbs 21:19).

It was Solomon who said many lovely things about women, lovely thing which are true altogether, such as, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor of the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22). "A prudent wife is from the Lord" (Proverbs 19:14); "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies" (Proverbs 31:10).

And this, moreover, this truth he uttered in language descriptive of ancient day indulgence and descriptive also of this jazz-day indulgence:

"Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman; That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which fluttereth with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; And, behold there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot,and subtle of heart. (She is loud  and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner). So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows, Therefore come I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; let us solace ourselves with loves. For the good man is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life...Her house  is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death" (Proverbs 7:4).

What has not woman meant to man? She is the synonym of all that is holy in relation- synonym of all that is encouraging, stimulating, and soothing in life's stresses and sorrows. Woman - God's loveliest gift to man. God pity the man who, in the dark hour of his dissolution, has no woman's hand to wipe away the death damp from his brow, or to smooth his pillow, and no woman's voice to whisper sweet words of cheer and comfort into his fast dulling ear.

Woman - synonym of home and love, of wifehood, of motherhood, of sisterhood of daughterhood. 

Woman - synonym of all gentleness, of charm, of winsomeness, of heart's ease, of sacrificial service.

~Robert G. Lee~

(continued with # 6)