06.19.24
A Cautionary Tale
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you. (Proverbs 7:1)
We are giving consideration to the topic of morality, the focus of Proverbs 5-7. Solomon is writing this to his son, and the advice he offers is very applicable to young and old alike in any age.
Thus far, we have seen that Solomon offers instructions on morality- love God and His Word, internalize and obey the Bible, run from sin.
He also provided many warnings in an effort to help us avoid the tragic consequences of immorality—loss of our reputation, health, wealth, family, mind, and soul.
The king ends his focus on morality by telling us a little story, a parable. This is found in chapter 7. Here is his introduction (1-5)- My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them upon your fingers, write them upon the table of your heart. Say unto wisdom, “You are my sister;” and call understanding your kinswoman: that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger which flatters with her words.
This passage provides some general instructions we have seen previously. They are good reminders leading to his illustration. In a nutshell, a person’s attitude toward God’s Word is what keeps him from the temptation to sin.
Solomon then presents the protagonist, the hunted of the tale (6-9)- For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Note how he is described- young, naive, gullible, ignorant, idle, and quite careless. It is dark, and many sins are committed in the darkness.
Next we have the antagonist, the huntress (10-12)- And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: now is she without, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.). We see her attitudes. She is seen as- wily, cunning, loud, rebellious, bold, and on the prowl.
She is not without her allurements (13-21). Note the way she dresses- with the intention to entice. She makes bold physical contact, invading his space. She tries to give validity to her actions with mock religious fervor. She uses perfumes, and makes an open appeal to her hedonism.
She downplays any possibility of judgment. She, and he, know that what is proposed is wrong! Finally, she uses flattery. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him (21).
Solomon concludes the three chapters, and this tale, with a final warning (24-27)- Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
These chapters are tough sledding, but so needed in our age. May we keep ourselves pure. If we at Immanuel Baptist Church can be of any help to you, please feel free to call upon us.