I was reading to Ross and Rebecca right before their bedtimes. We are currently reading one chapter of Proverbs a night. I was struck by Proverbs 5. I was reminded once again that the Bible is not only a message for salvation but a guide for life. A Biblical life is a life that reduces negative consequences and maximizes benefits.
A section of Chapter 5
Proverbs 5
Avoid Immoral Women
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.[a]
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
7 So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
8 Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!
9 If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
10 Strangers will consume your wealth,
and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
11 In the end you will groan in anguish
when disease consumes your body.
This was a time when they did not have a microbe based disease model. Yet Solomon, inspired by God, made the connection between promiscuity and venereal disease. If everyone had followed this advice think what suffering would have been avoided and yet when abstinence is discussed it is ridiculed.
Here is a list of diseases that would have been avoided if the Proverbs 5 had been followed:
Bacterial
Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi)
Donovanosis (Granuloma inguinale or Calymmatobacterium granulomatis)
Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) (Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes L1, L2, L3. See Chlamydia)
Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) (Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis)
Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA - Sexually transmissible.[6]
Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)
Fungal
Jock Itch - Sexually transmissible.
Yeast Infection
Viral
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) through skin to skin contact, saliva, not only sexually.
Hepatitis B.
(Note: Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are transmitted via the fæcal-oral route
Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex virus implicated in Alzheimer's disease.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Certain strains of HPV cause genital warts
Certain strains of HPV cause dysplasias, which can lead to cervical cancer, penis cancer, anal cancer, oral cancer, head and neck cancer.
Molluscum (MC)
Mononucleosis is spread through saliva, can occur during sex.
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV8)
The cause of Kaposi's sarcoma
Parasites
Pubic lice, colloquially known as "crabs" (Phthirius pubis)
Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei)
Protozoal
Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis)
Using the Bible as your guide to life is the only guide to life you need. Biblical advice-perfection in life.
