We will now look at Proverbs chapter seven:
INVITATION TO LEARN WISDOM
1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your nearest kin, 5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. Proverbs 7:1-5 (NKJV)
Sin always lies ready at the door – ready to trap us and snare us. We should always be ready to resist temptation. It comes in many shapes – but the most deadly shape that it takes is when it comes as a seductress. It looks good – gives instant pleasure – but in the long run it will lead to death. The solution for the seductress is simple – follow God – keep His commands. If you keep His commands – (He gives the promise) – that you will live – live in the abundant life – not just survive. (John 10:10)
Place God’s law close to you:
Bind them on your fingers – wear them like a ring – so that whenever you reach out you can see them no matter what you are grasping for. This should help direct your reach.
Write them on your heart – have them affect your desires. This should help you direct your motives.
Make them your closest relative – have them give you direction and understanding. Our family members should have the desire to give us good advice – for they love us and do not want to see us injured. Their advice and love for us should keep us on the straight and narrow road.
Protect God’s wisdom like the “apple of your eye”. Use it as your source of vision. To be able to see is one of the greatest senses that a person can have. I have worn glasses since I was in the third grade – I remember the first time I put them on – they made my life clearer. For the believer – our vision should be filtered through the lenses of God’s Word. We should have a Biblical world view. We should know God’s laws – His commands – and we should cherish it as we would our eyes – our vision. Our actions and motive should be filtered through God’s Word. The process of discipleship is putting on the mind of Christ. This process happens as we get a grasp on God’s Word and apply it in our lives.
THE ART OF SEDUCTION
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, 7 And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, 8 Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house 9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. Proverbs 7:6-9 (NKJV)
It could be that this is a historical account. Many a young man (and woman) has fallen into sin. It would not take too long to find such an example – and so the author tells us that he “looked through his lattice” – covered window.
Although this advice is directed toward young men, young women should heed it as well. The person who has no purpose in life is naive (Proverbs 7:7). Without aim or direction, an empty life is unstable, vulnerable to many temptations. Even though the young man in this passage doesn't know where he is going, the immoral woman knows where she wants him. Notice her strategies:
1. She is dressed to allure men (Proverbs 7:10)
2. Her approach is bold (Proverbs 7:13)
3. She invites him over to her place (Proverbs 7:16-18)
4. She cunningly answers his every objection (Proverbs 7:19-20)
5. She persuades him with smooth talk (Proverbs 7:21)
6. She traps him (Proverbs 7:23)
Would you dance on the edge of a cliff, when he has just seen another fall headlong from the same place? We think that the darkness will hide our actions – do we not know that God can see right through the darkest of nights?
Matthew Henry warns us: “We ought daily to pray that we may be kept from running into temptation, else we invite the enemies of our souls to spread snares for us. Ever avoid the neighborhood of vice. Beware of sins which are said to be pleasant sins. They are the more dangerous, because they most easily gain the heart, and close it against repentance. Do nothing till thou hast well considered the end of it. Were a man to live as long as Methuselah, and to spend all his days in the highest delights sin can offer, one hour of the anguish and tribulation that must follow, would far outweigh them.”
To combat temptation, make sure your life is full of God's Word and wisdom (Proverbs 7:4). Recognize the strategies of temptation, and run away from them as fast as you can.
10 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. 11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. 12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. 13 So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: 14 "I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. 16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. 17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day." 21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. 22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, 23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. Proverbs 7:10-23 (NKJV)
Here we have a description of the harlot and her craftiness:
1. Her attire was that of a harlot (her outward appearance showed what she was after)
2. Her heart was that of a harlot (her motives were to lure men to her)
3. Her speech brought attention to herself (she was loud and rebellious)
4. Her location was that of a harlot (she went out as a hunter after her prey)
Our passage shows that she is a crafty hunter. Sometimes she is in her doorway, sometimes she walks the streets, sometimes she stands at the street corner – all with one motive in mind – to trap a victim. Rightly does the scripture say, “Her feet would not stay at home.”
She went up to him and kissed him. Here is the snare of the hunter. The trap was set and now it is sprung. To calm her prey she says:
1. I am a religious woman. (I have made an offering and paid my vows today.)
2. I have been looking for you. (Diligently seeking your face.)
3. I have prepared the bed. (It is spread with a tapestry and Egyptian linen.)
4. I have prepared the bedroom. (Perfume, lotions and spices are ready.)
A night of love making is the offer. What young man would not be enticed by the offer? She has gone out of her way for him and prepared everything the occasion. To calm him further she says:
1. My husband is not at home
2. He is out of town on a long journey
3. He took enough money with him to be gone a long time
4. He told me the date he will be back
With all her logic and preparations – she convinced him and seduced him. He did not hesitate. He did not pause to give it some thought. Immediately he went after her. But the scripture tells us how:
1. As an ox to the slaughter
2. As a fool to the stocks
3. As a bird to the snare
Till he was issued a deadly blow. “He did not know it would cost his life.”
What a sad commentary this is on this event. A few minutes of pleasure – cost him his life.
KEEP THE PATH STRAIGHT
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; 26 For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27 Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:24-27 (NKJV)
Verse 24 brings us to a new point in the discussion. Notice that the verse starts out by saying: “Now therefore.” The Message Bible says it this way:
“So, friends, listen to me, take these words of mine most seriously.” Proverbs 7:24 (MSG)
In the King James it starts out: “Hearken” – in other words – listen up! The stage has been set – now for some good advice:
1. Listen to my words
2. Pay attention to me
3. Do not let your heart turn away
4. Do not stray onto the harlot’s path
All of us are prone to wander – in our thoughts and also our actions. But you can take definite steps to avoid sexual sins.
1. Guard your mind.
Don't read books, look at pictures, or encourage fantasies that stimulate the wrong desires. Be careful what websites you visit. We live in an age where profanity is repent – it takes effort to guard your mind.
2. Keep away from settings and friends that tempt you to sin.
You know better than anyone else when and where you are tempted. Stay away from those places. If you know that certain places or people are a bad influence – stay away from them.
3. Don't think only of the moment — focus on the future.
Today's thrill may lead to tomorrow's ruin.
4. Don’t think you are above temptation.
Many a good men (or women) have thought the same thing – before they fell. Remember that Satan would like nothing better than to see you fall into sin. Remember what Peter tells us:
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)
Matthew Henry tells us:
“Take fair warning when it is given you.” (1.) “Look back, and see what mischief this sin has done. The adulteress has been the ruin not of here and there one, but she has cast down many wounded.” Thousands have been undone, now and for ever, by this sin; and those not only the weak and simple youths, such as he was of whom he had now spoken, but many strong men have been slain by her. (2.) “Look forward with an eye of faith, and see what will be in the end of it,”. Her house, though richly decked and furnished, and called a house of pleasure, is the way to hell; and her chambers are the stair-case that goes down to the chambers of death and everlasting darkness. The cup of fornication must shortly be exchanged for the cup of trembling; and the flames of lust, if not quenched by repentance and mortification, will burn to the lowest hell. Therefore stand in awe and sin not.
