Live Out of the Gutter

(Proverbs 5:16 KJV)  Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

The Bible has many ways of approaching sexual involvement.  At one end we have that very clear teaching of the Ten Commandments.

(Exodus 20:14 KJV)  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

That may be all you need to know about where God is coming from.

In Proverbs we get a little more poetical and figurative.  This is one of those places where the KJV misses the translation, not because of the words but because of the punctuation.  This should really be phrased as a question, not a statement, because the answer is “no.”

Don’t make a public display of sex.  Think of the streets that Solomon was talking about.  Plumbing as we know it was very rare and reserved for the rich.  In most cities, towns and villages the middle of the street was the public sewer.  Garbage, trash and human waste waited in the middle of the street for the next rain.  It is not a pretty sight.  Keep your love life out of the gutter.  Live by God’s standards.

So?  I would hope this is not an issue for you but maybe you know someone else who calls themselves by the name of Jesus and is involved in adultery or fornication.  We need to accept that God does not accept that.