Drink your own water
Proverbs 5:15-23
Drink the water from your own cistern,
fresh water from your own well.
16 Let what your springs produce be dispersed outside,
streams of water flowing in the streets;
17 but let them be for you alone
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain, the wife of your youth,
be blessed; find joy in her —
19 a lovely deer, a graceful fawn;
let her breasts satisfy you at all times,
always be infatuated with her love.
20 My son, why be infatuated with an unknown woman?
Why embrace the body of a loose woman?
21 For Adonai is watching a man’s ways;
he surveys all his paths.
22 A wicked person’s own crimes will trap him,
he will be held fast by the ropes of his sin.
23 He will die from lack of discipline;
the magnitude of his folly will make him totter and fall.
Drink from your own cistern...
Let the water flow for you alone...
"Not for the strangers with you..."
These words are interesting to ponder on. Usually we think about sharing. We are taught to give to others. Clarity comes when we continue to read and look at verse 18:
Let your fountain, the wife of your youth,
be blessed; find joy in her —
If we return to the verses before, we see that the writer did not listen to his teachers and the "whole community knew." Now, because of those actions, the writer recognizes that one must "stay with your own." If you are taking care of what is around you, there should be no need to go looking elsewhere to satisfy desires. The writer admonishes us to "be thankful for what you have next to you."
Adonai is watching. He knows what we are doing. He doesn't want us to stray, but we do. This is why the last two verses need to be taken to heart:
A wicked person’s own crimes will trap him,
he will be held fast by the ropes of his sin.
He will die from lack of discipline;
the magnitude of his folly will make him totter and fall.
Friends, be thankful for WHO you have next to you. He is with you ALL the time. Then, be thankful for who HE has given you! Take care of them. Don't go searching for others outside. Don't get trapped into thinking that something outside HIS desires will bring satisfaction.
This all seems common sense, and yet too often we fall prey to thoughts, which turn into actions. We must be willing to stop and KNOW that He gives us what is best. Yes, we need to share with those around us, but not to the point that we lose ourselves and those close to us. Be grateful for what He has given you. Find satisfaction close to you. Drink the water HE has blessed you with. Be refreshed by HIS desires.
Love and blessings,
Rose
Women Empowerment based on Torah and the Bible
