Oil Consumption

(Proverbs 5:3 KJV)  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

This is the same word for “oil” (8081) that is used about contentious women being hard to deal with (Proverbs 27:15-16).  The word is defined literally as “fat, oil” but when you look at the different uses and nuances you find that this oil is used for food preparation, medication, ointments, lamps, and for anointing.  Do you notice what is missing for us modern folks?  Lubrication, but they probably used it for that too.

The point I am making today is that we need to think “outside the box.”  What words mean to us may be totally different than their original meaning.  Since the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit we can still receive meaningful teaching but learn to look beyond the surface.  One of the steps of preparing to teach the word is to ask yourself, “What did this mean to the people in that day?”  It isn’t a bad step for personal study and worship either.

So?  Don’t forget to think today.  It may be painful but it never hurts.