There are three sections to this chapter. The first part is verses 1-10. Part two is in verses 11-15. Part three is in verses 16-19. Then in verses 20-22, he summarizes the three parts.
It is very hard to write about this without copying it word for word. Solomon started with, “Every young man who listens to me and obeys my instruction will be given wisdom and good sense. Yes, if you want better insights and discernment. . .then wisdom will be given you and knowledge of God Himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting Him.”
The problem with being a young man is most of us think we know what we want. We make decisions on our own that gives us exactly what we don’t want. I made two big mistakes in my early years. First, God told me to do something, but I wouldn’t do it. God even said to me, “you don’t trust Me, do you?” He was right I didn’t trust Him in that issue.
Second, I began to think that God didn’t care about a specific thing; He just wanted me to follow the principles I knew from scripture. Again, I was wrong. I have lived with regrets for a long time.
It has taken me until now to acknowledge to anyone else the mistakes I made. But reading this chapter has forced me to acknowledge the truth.
The mistakes that Solomon saw young men were susceptible to included committing crime. Yes, even 3,000 years ago young men had a penchant for easy money and murder. It is nothing new that plagues Chicago, Illinois or other large cities. Young men grow up in poverty and desire what others have. That is why one of the Ten Commandments says, “You must not be envious of your neighbor’s” – and then God lists a few examples.
The second mistake Solomon dealt with was a young man’s sexual desires. Among young men, studies have shown that sexual desire is the main driving force in 90%. Solomon knew about this problem, and he tried to calm it with 1,000 wives and concubines.
In Solomon’s day, young women had very strict rules to follow. Their lives were basically supervised. So when they became of age, their parents arranged for their marriage. And when they experienced their husband’s strong sexual desires, and if they found no real satisfaction from their relationship, they would prostitute themselves to try to find some meaning in that relationship. And young men were very susceptible to that activity.
Solomon summarized this chapter with these words: “Follow the steps of the godly instead, and stay on the right path, for good men enjoy life to the full; evil men lose the good things they might have had, and they themselves shall be destroyed.”