Appeal Firmly

Starting Proverbs chapter 6:

My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor,
and have become a guarantor for a stranger,
if you have been ensnared by the words you have uttered,
and have been caught by the words you have spoken,
then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself,
because you have fallen into your neighbor’s power:
go, humble yourself,
and appeal firmly to your neighbor.

1. What happened in the text?
2. What do I learn about God?
3. What should I do about it?

Okay, my responses to the three questions about Proverbs 6:1-3:

1. What happened in the text?
   Seems to be recommending negotiating your way out of being a cosigner for someone else’s debt.
2. What do I learn about God?
   He doesn’t want us to fall victim to foolish pledges.
3. What should I do about it?
   Don’t cosign loans? This seems pretty obvious anyway, but my kids aren’t old enough to look at me with those big, sad eyes, and ask for a new car or a house.