Proverbs 7
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Proverbs 7:1-5:
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. . |
In Proverbs seven, Solomon warns his son to beware of the allurements of the seductive woman. He instructs his son about the folly of yielding to temptation and sin. He begins by encouraging his son to not only obey his counsel, but to treasure and store up this wisdom in his heart. In the same way, God warns us about the folly of yielding to temptation and sin. He instructs us to treasure His words and store up His commands in our hearts. God promises that if you follow His instruction, “you will live”. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Following God’s word allows us to experience the abundant life that God desires for each one of us. -Oak Point Church
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Proverbs 7:6-13:
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. 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: |
While King Solomon wrote Proverbs 7 warning of the allurements of seductive immoral women, he did not follow his own advice later in life. The Bible tells us, “When Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David” (I Kgs. 11:4). Even though God had warned Solomon not to marry foreign wives because they would turn away his heart after their gods (11:2), Solomon disobeyed the Lord and “had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart” (11:3). Solomon did not just worship their false gods, he also built worship centers for the people of Israel to worship the false gods of his foreign wives (11:7-8). As a result, God “became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded” (I Kgs. 11:9-11).
Solomon’s sexual immorality led to widespread idolatry. In many ways, viewing pornography is idolatrous. What is an idol? An idol is turning to something or someone other than God when we are anxious, bored, depressed, exhausted, lonely, self-doubting, stressed, or even wanting to celebrate. More and more Christians are turning to pornography instead of the Lord to medicate or celebrate their feelings. Pornography is an idol that is destroying the sons and daughters of God around the world. As long as we are living in these fallen physical bodies, there will always be the danger of being seduced by immoral women in person or online which can cause us to fall away from the Lord our God. Solomon ignored God’s design for marriage (one wife for life or until the death of one’s spouse – Gen. 2:24; cf. Mark 10:6-12; Rom. 7:2-3; I Cor. 7:10-11), and married hundreds of wives and had hundreds of mistresses. May none of us think we are beyond the reaches of sexual immorality and the idolatry that often accompanies it. In Solomon’s case, it is better to do what he says, not what he did. We must guard our hearts, our bodies, and our futures from the dangers of sexual immorality (Prov. 7:24-27). God the Holy Spirit can empower us to do this as we yield to Him in the context of a recovery community of believing brothers in Christ (Rom. 8:10-11; 2 Tim. 2:22). No matter where we may find ourselves in our dealings with sexual temptation, there is always hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is not uncomfortable with our sin or shame. He already knows about it, and He wants us to approach His throne of grace with confidence or boldness because He understands and is sympathetic towards our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15-16). Satan wants to convince us that God is against us and condemns us (Rev. 12:10). Jesus tells us that His heart is “gentle and lowly” (Matt. 11:29), not condemning (cf. John 3:17). When in the temple, Jesus read Isaiah 42:3 which described the coming Messiah: “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.” (Matt. 12:20). Jesus, the Messiah, will not treat those of us who are “bruised” with sin and shame harshly (“break” them). He comes along side of us to strengthen and heal us with His presence rather than step on us to advance His own plans. He will not “quench” what little hope (“smoking flax”) we have left inside of us. He wants to rekindle our love and passion for Him and for life itself. He does this with His gentle and gracious presence in our lives which heals our wounds and replaces our shame with dignity. --Jeff Ropp; See You in Heaven; A Proverb for men struggling with Sexual Temptation; 8.8.23 |
David Platt
First, temptation waits. As this simple young man goes out for a stroll, “At every corner she lies in wait.” What a picture of temptation. It’s always there, waiting for you in all kinds of ways, all day long. You may think you’re just going along in your day, but temptation is not staying home. It’s lurking all around you. Then, at just the right moment, temptation appears. Verse 13 says, “She seizes him and kisses him.” She makes herself known to him. Now, keep in mind, temptation is not always this forward, this aggressive. Temptation is often more subtle or passive. Think about Genesis 3. The serpent makes himself known with the simple, seemingly innocent question, “Did God actually say not to eat from any tree in the garden? And does God really want your good?” This leads to the next step:
temptation appeals. “I have come out to meet you,” verse 15 says, “to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.” Temptation says, “I want you. I want your good.” It appeals to our desires. In the words of John Piper, “The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier. No one sins out of a sense of duty.” Temptation flatters you. You want this. You deserve this. You are justified in this. Then
temptation invites. Verse 18 says, “Come, let us take our fill of love till morning.” In Genesis 3, it’s, “Come, take this piece of fruit.” In our lives, it’s, “Dwell on this thought. Indulge this desire. Say these words. React this way. Take these steps.” Then notice how the invitation comes with a promise. Temptation promises at least two things here in Proverbs 7. It promises satisfaction, “You will be delighted with love.” And it promises secrecy. “No one will know. My husband is gone.” Temptation promises to be good for you and devastating to no one. After all of that, it still seems there’s some pause in this young man. The very next verse tells us, “With much seductive speech she persuades him.” Temptation allures. It continues to draw and persuade; eventually it compels him. That word captures the relentless allurement of temptation that we’re all familiar with. --David Platt; Conquering Temptation 7.31.24
temptation appeals. “I have come out to meet you,” verse 15 says, “to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.” Temptation says, “I want you. I want your good.” It appeals to our desires. In the words of John Piper, “The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier. No one sins out of a sense of duty.” Temptation flatters you. You want this. You deserve this. You are justified in this. Then
temptation invites. Verse 18 says, “Come, let us take our fill of love till morning.” In Genesis 3, it’s, “Come, take this piece of fruit.” In our lives, it’s, “Dwell on this thought. Indulge this desire. Say these words. React this way. Take these steps.” Then notice how the invitation comes with a promise. Temptation promises at least two things here in Proverbs 7. It promises satisfaction, “You will be delighted with love.” And it promises secrecy. “No one will know. My husband is gone.” Temptation promises to be good for you and devastating to no one. After all of that, it still seems there’s some pause in this young man. The very next verse tells us, “With much seductive speech she persuades him.” Temptation allures. It continues to draw and persuade; eventually it compels him. That word captures the relentless allurement of temptation that we’re all familiar with. --David Platt; Conquering Temptation 7.31.24
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Proverbs 7:14:
“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows.” |
The woman has no scruples. She will take the word of God or anything holy and use it for her seductive purposes. But this also serves as a warning for Christians. Beware the subtle seduction and appeal to ones "religious" senses.
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Proverbs 7:15-18:
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.
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.
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Proverbs 7:19-20:
For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” |
Part of the lure of sensuality in Proverbs is its promise that “no one will know." Lusts grow best in the dark. Lust is a nearly universal problem. The only people who aren’t struggling with it on some level are probably those who are just surrendering to it without a fight." We live in an adulterous generation whose eyes are FULL of adultery... “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children” —2nd Peter 2:14 Movies don't make people commit adultery. Adulterous producers make adulterous movies that inspire adulterous people. |
Proverbs 7:21-27:
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.
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.
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.
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.