Day 132: The seductiveness of sin – Proverbs Chapter 7
1-5 Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey my commands and live Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
6-9 While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense. He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell. 10-17 The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home. She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with coloured sheets of Egyptian linen. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18-20 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month.”
21-23 So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. 24-27 So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death. (New Living Translation's paraphrase) English Standard Version link.
Not much explaining needed here as it's easy to see in vs 1-5 what the father says wisdom and discretion will protect his sons from as they go into the world. No wonder he urges them to treasure the words he is giving them. Older translations say keep these teachings ‘as the apple of your eye.' But perhaps we shouldn't limit his words to foolish men and the danger of loose women. They teach us a lot about temptation in general, and how people go about luring others into sinful ways. What lesson can vs 6-9 teach us?
Surely it's that we put ourselves in danger if we hang around places where we know temptations will be strong. What about vs 10-17, what do they teach about sin and how people seduce others into all sorts of wrong things?
We see that sin will often look very tempting. The devil made the fruit of the forbidden tree look very attractive to Eve. And those who want to lead us astray will often flatter us as this women did when she said to the man: 'You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!” People will say all sorts of things to deceive others. What truths do vs 18-23 show?
Sinful people use every opportunity to involve others. But what may look so inviting on the surface is deadly in the end. It's sad seeing a farm wagon with animals being taken off to the abattoir. But far sadder to see people being led into sin. The New Living paraphrase puts the end result of adultery quite vividly in vs 24-26. Her bedroom is the den of death! But that's true of all sin. Look how the apostle Paul puts it in Romans 6:12-23. He says:
“Don't let sin control the way you live; don't give in to sinful desires. Don't let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God. You are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death - but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” We need to treasure God’s words and write them deep within our heart if we want His protection in times of temptation.