Living In A Sex-Rated World

Proverbs 7:1-27

Living in a SeX-Rated World

My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home. At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. So she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him: "I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day." With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life. Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:1-27 NKJV

Illustration – Pompeii Destruction

The May 1984 National Geographic showed through color photos and drawings the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the Roman Cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A.D. The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden that the residents were killed while in their routine: men and women were at the market, the rich in their luxurious baths, and slaves at toil. They died amid volcanic ash and superheated gasses. Even family pets suffered the same quick and final fate. The saddest part is that these people did not have to die. Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record—weeks of rumblings and shakings preceded the actual explosion. Even an ominous plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the eruption. If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius’ warning. There are similar “rumblings” spiritually today: murder, hatred, sexual immorality, divorce, greed, bitterness, envy, jealousy, etc. You need not be unprepared concerning these things. God warns and provides an escape to those who will heed the rumblings.

The destruction of Pompeii was inevitable. The loss of life was not. More than 2000 people died because they would not heed the warnings.

God also provides warnings for us to consider. He has given us His Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 to separate His people from the non-believers. We are to obey them as commandments and not merely as suggestions. I find it interesting that the sixth commandment deals with premeditated murder. Then we discover that commandment number eight lists stealing as a sin which God hates. Squeezed in between is the seventh commandment concerning adultery. I suppose that adultery is listed there because it is combination of both murdering a relationship and stealing from someone else.

Today, we are going to examine Proverbs seven. In a call for wisdom, Solomon writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit concerning one who disregards the wisdom God desires to give us as we seek for it. Let’s open the Word and our hearts and hear what God wants us discover today.

Solomon writes as a third party watching these events unfold. He is training his children to learn from these events. Notice that the first thing he does is give…

THE CALL FOR MATURITY in verses 1-5.

This maturity is really wisdom. Notice what Solomon says about it in these verses. First of all it starts in your HOME. A father should be training his children how to respond to God’s Spirit and leadership. His words, my son in verses one, are intended to display affection and intimacy to the child being taught. Some children can only learn what they see. They are visual learners and description of words only teaches so much. Parents need to model what they desire in their children. Second, Solomon states that it stays in your HEAD. In verses two, he instructs to his children that they are to place it in their head the lessons being taught. The word keep means to hear and obey. It is instruction with a promise. To live denotes an eternal promise of blessing. True living (zoē) is not what you get today but what is realized in the future. This is a indication not just to the length of life but the quality of life in Him for eternity. Then we find him referring to the law as the apple of your eye. This is a reference to the pupil of the eye. This is the most sensitive and important part of the eye. It is precious, priceless and must be protected. In the same way, we are God’s most treasured possessions. He protects us because we belong to Him. Then, in the first part of verse three, we find laws and commands are to be secured to your HANDS. Tying them to your fingers figuratively serves as a reminder of their importance to you. It moreover functions as a picture of the things you do and the places you go. Be careful with your hands! Fourth we find Solomon telling us in the last part of verse three that it’s sealed in your HEART. To write something in those days was expensive and time consuming. It was important and God desires for you to choose ahead of time the things He impresses you with through His instructions. It is to be permanently etched upon and in your heart because of your love for Him. And lastly, Solomon shares that it shows Him HONOR in verses four through five. These two verses refer to our sister, wisdom, and the kinsman, understanding, as those who share a deep intimacy and loving commitment. This reference to a kinsman-redeemer is also used in Ruth 2:1 which depicts a covenantal love which is known through God. Honoring God is restraining from committing sin because of our love for Him. We honor Him not because He will discipline us but we may disappoint the One who loves us so. What you really believe about God will ooze from your life. If you have a high view of God, you will have a high view of sin.