Proverbs 5:16

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about intimacy with your spouse:

Proverbs 5:16 (ESV)

Should your springs be scattered abroad,

streams of water in the streets?

We pick this proverb up in the middle of Solomon's warning to husbands about their relationship with their wife.   He is warning men that they should "drink" (enjoy in intimacy) waters from their own "cistern" (their wives) (5:15).  In this proverb he is telling the husband the problems that can occur if they don't "drink" out of their own "cistern".  In this proverb and the one just prior to this proverb, we see "water" as the picture of the wife.   We have to keep that in mind as we look at this proverb.  Solomon is telling us that failure to keep intimacy between husband and wife may end up as a very dangerous launching pad.  Solomon is telling men that if they don't find intimacy exclusively in and around their wives that very intimacy will be out in the streets!   Solomon is showing us that the failure of the husband to keep his sexual desires in his own home may result in the wife running around in the community.   The principle here is that the husband is the umbrella of protection to the wife.   God has placed the husband in that place of protection for his wife.   Failure to obey God can produce harmful affects on those you love.   Sin welcomed into the house can destroy the home. When the head of the home invites sin into the home this opens up the floodgates outside the home.