Proverbs 5:15 Commentary and Bible Study

Wisdom requires a heart which draws its pleasure from the things of the Lord. This is a slightly different picture, but it is very wonderful. ‘Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.’ Now we go back to the beauty of coming to the Lord, and knowing his salvation, and the things of God. But look at the illustration; it is so rich. The cistern here and the running water, the well, or the fountain of verses 15 and 16, is again a picture of the tender bride, which is in its turn a picture of the salvation of God. Solomon runs one pictures on the back of another. What is salvation? It is coming to Christ. It is seeking his forgiveness, it is trusting in his shed blood alone for the forgiveness of sins. It is having one's mind opened to understand God's truth. It is that transformation of heart and life. But it is described in one word in the Book of Proverbs, wisdom: true wisdom, insight, shrewdness, knowledge, skill to live. But this word in its turn is illustrated by the tender bride. Salvation is like a young marriage. Two people are deeply in love, and Oh the benefit they will draw from each other if they remain wholesome and true! What a source of comfort and consolation and love and mutual helpfulness that lifelong union will be. But that picture is then illustrated by yet another picture. The tender bride in her turn is like having your own cistern, your own storage tank or storage pit for water. The tender bride is like having your own supply of fresh water – ‘Drink waters out of thine own cistern.’ It is a wonderful metaphor. The joys of married life are to be experienced with her and not with another. Similarly, salvation means that we have fellowship with the Lord and we do not turn aside to the world for satisfaction. How much better to have a storage tank of your own! It means you will never run out. It means that only you use it, and it is cleaned and controlled and it is pure water, precious, and it will not lead to sickness or disease. You see, many people did not have their own water storage facility. Getting water was then a tremendous burden or expense. Here is a family that is very poor, life is hard for them, they do not have their own water storage facility. They do not have their own well. To get water and especially in drought, they have to go to those who own the wells, and pay excessive prices for their water. This is a picture of people who are dependent upon this world. If I do not know the Lord, I am not converted, I do not walk with him, and obey him, then I am dependent upon this godless world, and I have to pay very dearly for my pleasures.