Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 8, 2012

“Drinking Bitter Water—Eating Poisonous Food”
“Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all...” – Proverbs 9:17 (CEV)

If you were to just “see” this verse without context, it would appear that Solomon is giving his approval to “stealing water and food.” But allow me to add what is said from the previous verse and see if it sounds the same: “And to every fool she (folly) says; ‘Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all.’” (This is from the Contemporary English Version)

Stolen waters are sweet. Wells and fountains of waters in that part of the world were very valuable, and were the generally the property of particular persons; about which there were at times strife and contention; and they were sometimes sealed and kept from the use of others. (See Genesis 26:18). Waters obtained by sneakiness from such wells and fountains were sweeter than their own, or what might be had in common and without difficulty, to which the proverb alludes. What he in general is saying is that all prohibited unlawful lusts and pleasures are desirable to men, and sweet in the enjoyment of them; and the pleasure promised by them is what makes them so desirable, and the more so because forbidden!
Consider for a moment these words from Genesis three:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
“The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” – Genesis 3:1-6 (NIV)

There is a haunting reality to this passage that is inescapable. They knew that they were not to touch the fruit of that tree. Eve said it! The “forbidden fruit” was just that. It was not intended for them to have—because God knew what was in store for them once they did. It would destroy God’s plans for them and place them in harm’s way. We are experiencing the results of their actions and we often find ourselves in the same position as they were—desiring and wanting not simply what we shouldn’t have but what is even worse, what we cannot have.
That is our biggest battle. Always has been—always will be. We know what we should not have and when we don’t get that we long for what we cannot have and should we drink those waters or eat that food, it creates a chasm between our souls and the will of God. I really like the words of Susanna Wesley and her “definition” of sin to her children.

"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." (1725)

What may appear to be innocent may in truth be bitter waters. If the well is sealed that means it belongs to someone else and is not yours to have. Look for the signs. And then take Solomon’s advice and go in the opposite direction!