of Proverbs 5. We are in verse 9. Let me go ahead and open a word of prayer and we'll get ourselves started. Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning, we praise you for our life in Christ, our salvation that came at great cost to your Son. Help us, Father, to walk in a way worthy of our calling, to walk wisely as we're learning in Proverbs. And in this particular chapter, help us to defeat sin your way. In Christ's name we pray, amen. All right, so we're going through Proverbs 5. As I said, this is a very specific book where There is a literal purpose to this book. It's talking about literal young man, don't mess with a literal married woman. But behind that are a set of principles to defeat sin God's way. And right now we're in number five here and verse nine, but I thought I'd give you a little handout. has all these principles and and so just this is a real helpful reminder of how to defeat sin God's way. All right so what page is the handout because I always get the numbers messed up. 231 is where we're at. And let me go ahead and read verses 9 through 14. And we've titled this section, Realize Sin Produces Deep Rooted Regret. Lest you give your honor to others and your years to the cruel one. Lest aliens be filled with your wealth and your labors go to the house of a foreigner. and you mourn at last when your flesh and your body are consumed and say how I have hated instruction and my heart despised correction. I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me. I was on the verge of total ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation. It's quite a statement by this individual that some, and it's picturing here, someone at the end of their life or at the end of these consequences looking back and they're going, oh, the decisions I made. I ignored everyone. And so in this passage, we actually see some key words. First one is give. That means to surrender, hand over. This is the cost. Honor, the weight, the value, the power, the splendor, the beauty, the dignity, sometimes translated even as glory, lets you give your honor. And then mourn is a picture of howling and growling and roaring like a lion. So you can just hear the anguish. And then hated means scorned, disliked, did not love. and instruction, the chasing with the consequences. So you have this picture of this individual who was told, hey, that's sinful. That's unwise. That's going to result in problems. And they said, pfft, I'm good. I'm good. Now, look at the way, the six-fold way that this individual pays. This is quite stunning. First, because of the sin, their reputation is ruined. Lest you give your honor to others. That's the idea. And we see this today, don't we? Probably the most contemporary example is the Steve Lawson situation. Here was a very notable preacher, and he had an affair. He committed adultery with a young woman. Very sad and so his reputation's over all that work all that ministry all taken down off the web And I just read recently I have a good friend who knows him personally and he did a article on the web and sat down with him and kind of did like a little bit of an interview and The good news, it sounds like he truly is repentant. He did come forward and confess the sins and so forth, but he's now living with the consequences of that. And we should pray for a man like that. We should pray for anyone who's genuinely repentant as well, for anyone who's unrepentant as well. And the next one is time and freedom removed and in the hands of cruel people. This is something that I think we don't always remember, but when we sin, we're now putting ourselves in the place of someone to bring consequences. This can be the Lord's chastening through government. He could bring in an employer There's there's a lot of circumstances that can arrange we knew someone You know, it's a situation. I don't want to go any detail, but you know, the employer brought consequences down and And that results in some bad things happening number three Wealth and prosperity and property given to others sometimes has these consequences, financial, and sometimes they create a hole that you never can dig out of. And so that's another six-fold part of the six-fold price. And then number four is your strength is depleted for others. This is an interesting picture. Remember, this is an agrarian culture, right? And the way you provided for yourself was your body. You worked in the farms. You did labor. And now you're trying to pay off these incredible debts, and you just wear yourself out. Or you spend all your life having to do this versus that. And at the time, your strength is depleted. Years pass in order to pay off. Number five is joy, peace, conscience is replaced with grief, shame, regret, and lament. A life of joy is now a life of depression. And then number six is miserable, bitter, and exhausted in the end. Now I can say personally, as an unbeliever prior to my salvation, I can understand every one of these. What sin can do to a life and wreck it. And so I can say wholeheartedly, this is real. But this is an opportunity for the gospel. If you ever meet anyone like this, you can share with them the hope of Jesus Christ, that their life can turn around, and that they don't have to remain in this depleted state of no joy and under the bondage of sin. I mean, think of the two thieves on the cross next to Christ. One remained hardened, but that other one? He got rescued, redeemed, saved at the last minute. And Christ gave him those words of comfort, today you'll see me in paradise. So be sensitive to those around you who might be experiencing these things, and be courageous and wise, and maybe giving them some hope and sharing them the gospel. And let them know that it doesn't always have to be this way. Thoughts, comments? What do you think of this six-fold price you will pay? Intense, isn't it? Sin will find you out, God loves, and therefore he chastens. All right, let's continue on. The five-fold process of rebellion. So even though there's these six-fold prices, I want you to see now, look at the way he rebels, all right? This is fascinating. And think about this. Knowing all of this, why do we still pursue sin when nothing good's ever gonna come from it? What happens in our head, even as believers, we understand the unbeliever, they don't have the spirit, they don't have the word of God, they're in bondage to their sin, they can't help but sin. But as believers, we know, don't we, the consequences of sin and regret? And yet, we still do it at times, don't we? But why? Why do we do it? Of course, no one in this room sins, right? I'm the only one. What's that sin nature? We're in the flesh and the flesh sometimes, right? Pride can take over. Lust can take over. Our wants, our covetousness, right? Wrong thinking. Circumstances, yeah. Yep, that's a great verse in the Bible. It is pleasurable. I believe that's a verse in the Bible. I'm drawing a blank, nope. People say it all the time. But it's true, right? What else? What else causes us to stumble in ways? Outside world, right? Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life, the sin of the world, the world and the devil, right? There are agents out there tempting and causing us to stumble. We still make the choice though, right? So we can't blame the world. Can't blame the devil. Yeah, we live in a sinful world. And internet, so forth. So look at this. This is really fascinating. The five-fold process of rebellion. Number one is they reject the warning of God's word. They scorned the warnings and the exhortations, verse 12. Right? That's the idea. I don't want it. Number two. They refuse to change. They spurn the consequences. All right? So something happens and says, here's pain. Here's a consequence. Hint, you should change. No. I'll just endure the consequence. I'll make sure next time I don't get caught. Number three, they reject God's word. They snub those with wisdom. Have you ever had that experience, trying to counsel someone, and they reject? Right, that's a real thing. Remove Godly influences. This is scary. They shut out those who pleaded. And we see this. People come to a church, right? They hear some preaching, and they're like, I don't want any of that. I'm out of here. And number five, they remain publicly defiant before the whole community in the world, facing utter ruin. This is sad, because now you've now just said, you know what? I don't care what the whole world says. I'm going to continue in my bondage, my sin. It's a strange thing when you think about it. I mean, coming out of sin, you're like, man, what was wrong with me? But when you're in it, when you're in bondage to it, you can't think any other way. And hopefully there's enough pain, enough prayer, enough problems that someone can come to their senses with the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Note, the scriptures make it clear there is no one to blame in this situation but the self. Did you notice that this individual, let me back up just a little bit so you can look at this passage. Look at this. how I have hated instruction. My heart, I have not obeyed nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me. I was on the verge of total ruin in the midst of this assembly. Do you see that they're taking ownership? This is the key. When someone finally stops laying blame on everyone else and says, it's all me, this was something I had to go through. I finally, before I repent, I'm like, yep, It's all me. I can't blame my dad. I can't blame my mom. I can't blame my boss. I can't blame my circumstances. I just can't blame life. I can't blame God. I got to blame me. And that's something, whenever you're witnessing, you look for that. You look for that genuine repentance where they're just like, I am all at fault here. illustration, I think, or let me read that verse there. Proverbs 12, one, whoever loves instruction, loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is Stupid. Scriptures don't hide. They don't soft-pedal this. Think about Samson. Samson's really interesting, if we end up doing through the book of Judges. Although he's a believer, Hebrews 11, 32, his life reflects all these principles, if you think about it. He rejected all the counsel, all the wisdom, spurned the gifts of God, everything. And in the end, he gets his eyes gouged out. He's placed in chains and pillars. He's mocked. and ridiculed, but in the end, right, he was able to do one more act on behalf of God and destroy more Philistines than he had done his whole life in one act. But that sacrifice caused his death. Very sad. But he was a believer. Now look at New Testament insights. 2 Timothy 3.16, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, revealing truth. For reproof, reveal and stop what is wrong. For correction, reveal and know what is right. And for instruction, practical steps of obedience and righteousness. That the man of God, the woman of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. So it's an incredible process here. Number five, realize sin produces real regret. So when you're contemplating sin, start thinking at that moment, if I do this, what's going to happen? And you start thinking, you're like, yeah, I think this sin doesn't sound too good when I start thinking. But what happens? When we sin, we don't think of the regret that comes afterwards. Like Michael said, pleasure. We think of the instant gratification rather than the future consequences. Michael. Yeah, there's something brought up at the meeting of the GBA last week. Like someone who's inebriated or drinking. Is it really a felony now for drunk driving when you pass the legal limit? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know the law, but you make up a good point. And that is if you drive drunk and you're caught, there's going to be consequences. Yeah, and that's something we always have to think about. All our actions have consequences, sometimes good, sometimes bad. So sin produces deep regret. And so it's worth just taking a moment and saying, what if? All right, any other thoughts, comments on that one? Derek? Well, back to this bifold process. Yeah. It's really heartbreaking when you see a loved one or a daughter do all of that. Yeah, it is. And you're helpless in many ways, right? I mean, you can love them, you can pray for them, you can try to share, but we know what that's like. The pushback, the hangups, no callbacks, just the rejection. And at that point, all you have is the sovereignty of God on the throne, praying and pleading that he would arrange circumstances in their life so they could see their sin and be broken, but not perish. And that's all you can pray for. And continue to be a loving example as best you can, but firm. And that's always hard, because when someone's heart is hardened, they will interpret your actions wrongly. They'll read in, they'll project a motive that you have. They'll say you're controlling, or you're this or that, and it is heartbreaking. And our hearts are broken. But think about this, the Lord's heart is even more broken. And he understands, and we can all take comfort in that, that the sovereign God of the universe, Christ, our savior, he is just as broken and feels more deeply because he made them and he desired to redeem them. Okay, let's go to number six. Now look at this. Let's go the other way. Rejoice in godly pursuits. This is such an interesting picture. Now, verse 15 begins, drink water from your own cistern and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving dear and a graceful doe, let her breast satisfy you at all times and always be enraptured with her love. For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman and embraced in the arms of a seductress? Okay. So to avoid inappropriate imagery and yet acknowledge the wonderful gift of marriage, word pictures are helpful to convey these intimate ideas in a godly manner. These passages are the ancient equivalent of our modern the birds and the bees talk. But look at the key idea here. Be faithful and exclusive to your spouse. That's the phrase, thirst for your wife alone. That Proverbs 5.15 drink is a command, water from your own cistern and running water from your own well. The drinking water is the physical aspect of marriage. The cistern and well is singular, representing the wife. The application is look at no other, think of no other, talk to no other, seek no other, find soul satisfaction in no other. Implication, your spouse is the single and sole source of joy and pleasure in your marriage. Solomon 410, how fair is your love, my sister, my spouse. Interesting when he says my sister. Oh, hold on. It's just speaking in biblical terms here. How much better than wine is your love and the scent of your perfumes and all spices. Your lips, oh, my spouse, drip as the honeycomb. Honey and milk are under your tongue. And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, fragrant henna with spikenard, spikenard and saffron, calmus and cinnamon with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices, a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters and streams from Lebanon. It's a pretty intense passage, but you can see the play on streams and so forth and its connection with Proverbs Hebrews 13 for Summarizes it marriage is honorable among all in the bed undefiled but fornicators and adulterers God will judge Pretty intense text there. So number one there is be faithful and exclusive to your spouse, verse 15. Now look at number two there. Do not be promiscuous and produce illegitimate offspring. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own and not for strangers with you. So this is, I think, what Solomon is getting at. Fountains and streams of water, the resulting infidelity will create offspring with a different woman. The implication is to produce children with your own wife. Application, no physical intimacy outside of marriage. The implication is purity in the marriage union. Look at Psalm 128.3 Psalm 127.3 Ecclesiastes 9.9, live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life, which is given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life and in the labor which you perform under the sun. So here's this vanity, vanity, but your wife is not. And then Solomon's son did not listen. 2 Chronicles 11 21. Now Rehoboam loved Micaiah, the granddaughter of Absalom, more than all his wives, plural, and his concubines. For he took 18 wives and 60 concubines and begot 28 sons and 60 daughters. That's insane. The closest thing I think we have today would be like Elon Musk. I think he's got like 15 kids and I don't know how many wives. Well, at one point he was married to many of them, and then divorced. And then there were some that were not wives, because he did some in vitro fertilization and some other things. But he's just trying to populate the planet. That's his goal. And he's doing a good job of it. All right. That's what happens when you read the biography, you learn these things. Okay, number three, enjoy the blessings of a godly marriage. Let your fountain be blessed and rejoice, another command, with the wife of your youth. And by the way, that expression, wife of youth, when you get to the book of Malachi, right, you find out that many of the men were divorcing their wives of their youth. Rejoice, godly joy, true Mary, true companionship. Deuteronomy 24, 5, when a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business. He shall be free at home one year and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken. I wish we'd bring that back. That would have been pretty cool, our first year of marriage. No work, no war, just hang out with your new wife. What do you think of that, guys? Women are like, no, send him to work. I've had enough of him. Ecclesiastes 9.9. But let me back up. This is what God really thinks of marriage. Think about this. In Israel, the way he protects that relationship. Ecclesiastes 9.9. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life. It's an agrarian culture, so most of them already had farms, already had land, and so they already had income coming in. Live joyfully with the wife. Oh, I read that one before. Contrast this with Malachi 2.14. Yet you say, for what reason? Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously. Yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But he did not make the one having a remnant of the Spirit. And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth." Which is why God says he hates divorce. Verse 4. or section four here, look at this. Pursue and experience the full physical and emotional intimacy of a godly marriage. Verse 19, as a loving dear and graceful doe, let her breast satisfy you at all times and always be enraptured with her love. The loving dear, Ayelet. That's the female deer. And graceful doe, ya'alat, female goat. So I just cracks up when I see the imagery. A deer, I could see that being a representative of a beautiful wife, but not a goat. But it's a graceful doe, which is a female goat. And it's a beautiful picture, and they rhyme, too. Too tender. Graceful animals, by the way, with affection for their children. Very important insight there. Satisfy, refreshed, fully and thoroughly. And rapture, it's the word that means to stagger from too much wine. Figuratively in this context, to be intoxicated with their love. Genesis 24, 67, then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and he took Rebecca and she became his wife and he loved her and so Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. And here's a quote from Bishop Devinant, tender affection is the best offense against the desires of illicit passion. Pretty amazing. Scriptures are pretty colorful, aren't they, at times? All right. And then section five here. Refuse the counterfeit and sinful experience of the one who is not your spouse. For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? Enraptured. Look at the word here. It means emotional. Exact same word in the previous verse, implying a counterfeit substitute. This is, I remember when I was at Grace Church in the outreach office doing the pastor of the day, and this is when, back in 2000, so Facebook was kind of coming online, and there were some instances in the church where people were reconnecting with old boyfriends and girlfriends through Facebook, and they became emotionally attached, and it led to all sorts of problems you can imagine. So this is the idea. It's an emotion that you're getting, but it's counterfeit. It's a substitute. It's not the real thing. Embraced, now we're talking physical intimacy. And then the immoral woman and seductress. Anyone but your spouse. It's being very general here. The question is this. Are you cultivating emotional and physical intimacy in your marriage? Or are you plowing discord, disunity, and distance? This is the challenge, right? Number seven, now we come to the next one. So any pauses here, any thoughts? Everyone's getting uncomfortable. Okay, let's see here. I'm lost behind on my, okay, let's go to verse 21 now, next principle. Yes, Derek. Yeah, it invites You know trouble yep And and it's you know sometimes you can't help when a billboard appears you're driving a highway or something like that but that second look what you do after that and I recommend pray and Always a good thing and look away Yeah Let's be Joseph right flee Let's look at, and this leads us really good to this number 7 here. Remember God is all-knowing and seeing. Proverbs 5.21, For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. Key word is ponders, means observes. Proverbs 15.3, The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Job 34, 21, Elihu says this, for his eyes are on the ways of man, he sees all the steps. Hebrews 4, 13, and there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. That alone just, oh, for the sinner who has no redemption, think about that, everything, for the believer, Thank God that we have a Savior who has forgiven us, because we fall short in so many ways. What we should do, what we ought to do, what we don't do, our words, our thoughts, our deeds, we fall short in so many ways, don't we? Psalm 139, the definitive passage on that, omniscience of God, oh Lord, you've searched me, you've known me, you know my sitting down, my rising up, you understand my thought afar. You comprehend my path, my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. God knows you better than you know yourself. For there is not a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord. You know it all together. You have hedged me behind and before. You have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high. I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, or really sheol, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. Even in the astronauts who've gone to space right on the moon Space Station their hand is God's hand is there and Then he goes on and your right hand shall hold me if I say surely the darkness shall fall on me even the night shall be light About me indeed the darkness shall not hide from you But the night shines as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to you Derek Oh yeah? That's pretty cool. Oh yeah, a miracle in itself. Yeah, a million things could have gone wrong. We'll just look at the... Yeah, but think about, look what has happened to the starship that Musk has been building. The big Raptor engine has blown up several times. There's a lot can go wrong. Absolutely right. So this is such a great, another factor to help us stay on the righteous path. Recall that, remember that God's all knowing, all seeing. And this is the issue. We, at that moment, practice atheism when we sin. We put God out of our mind. As I said before, Moses, when he looked to the left and looked to the right, but didn't look up when he committed murder, killing that guard who was unkind to the other Jews. Number eight, recall how God judges sin. blind and bind, verses 22-23. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. Keywords entrap, catch, seize. Caught, controlled, and unable to escape. That is the picture of the bondage of sin. And then go astray, stagger from intoxication. Same word as raptured in Proverbs 5, 19, but in a different context. Look at the progression of sin here. Iniquities entrap. They're caught in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of instruction. Greatness of folly, he shall go astray. The implication, one who is driven emotionally, physically, and fleshly, refusing to live obediently to God and His word, will be doomed to bondage and destruction. If you look at their lust and pride, driven life like a drunk driver, they will careen, they will crash, and ultimately kill themselves and possibly others along the way. This is when sin's just out of control. We were touching upon Romans 1 yesterday in the men's Bible study. And in fact, there it is. Funny how the brain works. Okay, let me just read that passage. Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie. and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions, for even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman burned in lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do the things which are not fitting, being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual morality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness. They are whispers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful. who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do they do the same, but also approve of those who practice them. That is the spiritual decline of man, right there. Not everyone declines to the same depth and degree, but as unbelievers, this is the ultimate destination, the full embrace of sin and the consequences that come with it. Consider Israel's spiritual adultery. Listen to this. This is a little bit longer passage. Actually, quite a long passage. In fact, it's so long I can't read it. It's like three pages. But take the time to read that. Let me just at least read a few portions of it. Then the word Lord came to me saying, son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations. Thus says the Lord God of Jerusalem, your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. That's a picture of Israel. No one wanted them. When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, live. Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, live. I made you numerous like the plants of the field and you grew up and became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments. Your breasts were formed, your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare then I passed by you saw you and behold you were at the time for love So I spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so you became mine declares the Lord What a picture huh Israel being rescued by God then He goes on, then I bathe you with water, wash off your blood from you, anoint you with the oil. I clothed you with your embroiled cloth, put sandals of porpoise skins on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen, covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril. earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. You were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. So you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of my splendor, which I bestowed on you, declares the Lord God. And then this is what happens. But you trusted in your beauty. You played the harlot because of your fame. And you poured out your harlotries on every passerby who might be willing. You took some of your clothes, made for yourselves, high places of various colors, and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen. And it just goes through how all the gifts that God gave, she sold them and sold herself. It's really a tragic picture. Israel and then it goes at the end of the verse here verse 60 at the end nevertheless I'll remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you that's a new covenant then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you received your sisters both your older and your younger and I will give them to you as daughters but be not because of your covenant thus I will establish my covenant with you and you shall know that I am the Lord and so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation. When I have forgiven you for all that you have done, the Lord God declares. And that day's coming for Israel during the tribulation, probably most likely the midpoint where they're gonna look upon whom they pierce, they're gonna repent, they're gonna believe, but they're gonna be humble. And according to Zechariah, I think 13, eight, two thirds will perish, only a third will survive. And that'll be a glorious day, but also a bittersweet day. Pretty intense. And so this little handout that I gave is really great for defeating sin God's way. Receive the word of God. Recognize sin's deceptive nature. Remain loyal to the word of God. Remove yourself from sources of temptation. Realize sin produces deep root of regret. Rejoice in godly pursuits. You see the put off and put on in there? Remember God is all knowing and seeing, and recall how God judges sin. And that's, I think, the last. Yep, that's it. We did it. Pretty intense chapter, but boy, oh boy, practical, useful. So I recommend putting this in your wallet. Just pull it out now and then as some good reminders. Any questions, any comments, any thoughts? I'll be printing out more to come, I think. Yeah. Dennis, Derek. That's a tradition back then. Literally meant a golden ring. That was something that they did back then. And now they do it today. I didn't know if there was some kind of meaning behind it. It's just to show affection. Remember, we put a ring in the bull's nostril with a chain on it. That's to control it, right? Yeah. I don't know if that's the implication there. Hopefully, that is not. That's a painful way. Let me just see, Ezekiel 36, right? Let me see. Yeah, it's definitely a positive thing. Let me just, I have a book that may, oh, it's 16, Ezekiel 16. I have a book that may give me a quick answer, because now I'm getting more curious. No. We've got extra minutes, too, so it's worth just quickly checking out. All right. This would be ring. Let's see. Verse 12. Jewelry. The full array of jewelry provided by the husband consists of many of the types of jewelry regularly used to adorn a woman's body and head. Compare the more complete list in Isaiah 3, 18-23. Like the bride gifts of Rebecca, there are arm bracelets, possibly with animal heads at the end of each. Necklace may have been a strand of beads or linked metal ring, similar to those in Assyrian reliefs, or of the Nimrud ivories depicting royal Assyrian women. The nose ring, again, followed the style of Rebecca's adornment, because, yeah, she had one in Genesis 24-22. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring, weighing a half shekel and two bracelets for a wrist, weighing 10 shekels in gold. Let me see if it actually mentions it. Anyway, the earrings were probably ovoid loops, that's how they describe it, insert into the pierced ears, most striking of all is the golden crown. Yeah, so it doesn't make much. So it is, like Stephanie said, it is a beautifying thing. But it doesn't say anything about her having a nose ring in that. I'm not quite sure what the reference there for Rebecca was. But yeah, it was beautifying, not forcing her into submission. Yeah, probably not the best to call your wife a barn. A little callous there in the language. If you want to look good, go ahead and do it. There's nothing wrong with it. Correct. That's a misunderstanding of Paul when he was talking, or Peter too, women adorning themselves, right? There's excessive extravagance that is designed to draw attention, look at me, versus just being pleasing. And that's a whole different thing. Yeah, because it's all about godly character, right? Not extravagant looks. Any other thoughts, questions as we wrap up? Let me go ahead and close in prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you for this testimony and text from Solomon and the wisdom it contains. And we just ask, Father, continue to help protect us and help us defeat sin your way. In Christ's name we pray, amen.