“…and be thou ravished always with her love.” -Proverbs 5:19b

Here Solomon is giving marriage advice, and guidance on how to avoid committing adultery. And one interesting–and almost amazing–thing that he says is to be “ravished always with her love.”

Of course, the eye-catching word of this part of the verse is: ravished. This implies a thrill: of which Solomon advises a man not to lose. For he tells the married man to be always ravished with his wife’s love. As in the initial courtship, and early stages of marriage, so too in God’s word it is implied that spouses ought to continue on in this same passion.

No where is there any indication that this love is to cool. And it is important that it doesn’t cool, because this thrill, this “ravishing” is frequently what married people miss in their mates, and seek to find it elsewhere in others. Solomon continues in his proverb, and says,

“And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?” -Proverbs 5:20

Notice that he reused the word “ravish” again, this time in connection to adultery. God was trying to make it clear that any thrills or excitement that a married man is to get are to come only from his wife.

The apostle Paul reflects this same sentiment in the New Testament, when he gives advice to married Christians, that they should continue on in the love that they began their marriage with:

“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.” -1 Corinthians 7:2-4

• Proverbs 31 Woman: From a Guy’s Perspective
• Married to God
• God’s Comfort for the Afflicted
• Proverbs 31: A Strong Woman
• Weak Marriage, Weak Prayers

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Christian Devotions/Bible Study by Dean