Day 96: Seductive words - Proverbs 5 vs 1 - 14

1-2 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding so that you may maintain discretion and your lips safeguard knowledge. 3-4 Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword. 5-6 Her feet go down to death; her steps head straight for Sheol. She doesn’t consider the path of life; she doesn’t know that her ways are unstable.

7-8 So now, sons, listen to me, and don’t turn away from the words from my mouth. Keep your way far from her. Don’t go near the door of her house. 9-10 Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others and your years to someone cruel; strangers will drain your resources, and your hard-earned pay will end up in a foreigner’s house.

11-14 At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction. I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my instructors. I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community.” Proverbs 5:1-14 Christian Standard Bible

Evidently the Hebrew word in vs 1 for 'listen closely' is 'stretch out your ear'! And in the last verse, where it speaks of 'not listening closely' to those who were giving guidance, the Hebrew word means the person didn't 'turn his ear’ to the one speaking. Those are both pictures which show how important it is not to just hear words, but to take careful note of what is being said, and even of what lies behind what is being said. What do vs 1-2 say is an important function of words?

Words are meant to be used for guarding knowledge and truth. Speaking honestly does that. In vs 3-4 the father warns his son of being led astray by 'a forbidden woman'. Notice how he describes her words. We see how words can be flattering and seductive. Advertising companies know that. And so do politicians and false teachers of the Bible. So the father was warning his son against ruining his life through adultery, perhaps even through prostitutes. He says that flattering words can be daggers of death, and that way of life is a road to destruction. (vs 3-6). So what action does he say the son should take - and what's the reason why he should 'stretch his ears' to his father's instruction? (vs 7-8)

Don't even think about doing such things, and don't go anywhere near such temptations. The son mustn't think he can flirt with danger. Immorality leads to ruin. Marriages can be destroyed, children suffer, careers can be wrecked - and the lawyers will take the cash. What is the final dismal result of an immoral lifestyle? (vs 11-14)

One the saddest paths in life is the road of regrets. Each milestone one passes says 'if only“. If only I had 'turned my ear' to those who were trying to warn me of dangers and point me in the right direction. Hebrews 12:16-17 says: “Make sure there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.” The great news of the gospel is that those who have fallen badly can be lifted up by the One who is powerful to save – but the example of Esau is a warning not to put things off till later.

A last thought - we mustn't limit this to physical adultery. Much of the Bible is about spiritual adultery. It warns of people being unfaithful to God and running after every temptation that's presented with sweet words. We're warned that: “The time will come when people won't put up with sound teaching. But, to suit their own desires, they'll gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They'll turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4) There's an old children's song that says 'Oh be careful little ears what you hear!”