Proverbs 7:6-23, Keep Out of the Devil’s Neighbourhood!
March 19, Proverbs 7:6-23
Psalm 1; 2 Peter 3:11-18 “Thou art my hope, O Lord God; Thou art my trust from my youth” (Ps. 71:5).
Keep Out of the Devil’s Neighbourhood!
- The Way of Destruction: Youth is known, not only by the company it keeps; but even more, by the company it keeps out of. Now the darkness deepens, and behold the Way of Sin and Death opens before us.
a. It is the way of thoughtlessness. This youth is devoid of sense. He is simple. He lacks worldly experience. He is innocent, and so aimlessly, recklessly temptress is not! puts himself in the path of this temptress (vs.7-8). If he is simple, however, this temptress is not!
b. It is the way of darkness. There are five words that move us from an emerging darkness (twilight) till we reach finally the blackest darkness, a terrifying darkness (v.9). It is a foreboding of impending disaster like the darkness before the final judgment on Egypt. In the midst of it all is the Prince of Darkness controlling two hearts (Jn. 3:18-22; 8:12); that of this simple young man and a woman subtil (guarded) of heart.
c. It is the way of shamelessness. She dresses as a prostitute, and is brazen and brassy. She waits at every corner to snare her victim (vs.10-13). She throws her arms around the simple one, kissing him. It was an unequal encounter. “With soothing words and insinuating flattery, she seduces the unhappy victim of her wiles” (Lawson).
d. It is the way of deceitfulness. Now with an impudent (hardened) face she waxes very sanctimonious (vs.13-20)! She has fulfilled her religious duties and now comes out to find someone with whom to share her peace offerings, and she flatters her victim that he is just the very one she had come to find. On such a festival occasion it would be folly to refuse such an offer. Once again she turns on the sensuous appeal. She has decked her bed with beautiful coverings and perfumed it with fragrant herbs. Come, we will fill ourselves with loves, she says, and best of all the goodman (husband?) is gone from the house and won’t be back for some time. She is not only a temptress but a huntress as well.
e. It is the way of destructiveness. He goes after her straightway (Heb. suddenly). He seems to hesitate for a moment, but then suddenly makes the fatal decision. He is now like the dumb ox being prepared for the slaughter (vs.21-23). What a tragic picture this presents. The seductress is far from sincere in spite of her words. She came out to snare a man and any man will do. Only a fool would believe her, but he does, and goes off as a fool to the correction of the stocks. He is like a hunted beast shot through with an arrow, or a hapless bird caught in a trap. This is now the fate in store for this young man. He never thought for one moment that this chance encounter and its outcome, would cost him his life. That was a high-priced evening walk that dark night! His empty head, and perhaps his bad company, led him into the paths of temptation and then of sin. “Beware of those sins that are represented to you as pleasant sins” (Lawson).
Thought: He who would avoid sin must avoid temptation to sin.
Prayer: Lord, let me never fall for the Devil’s lie that sin is good for me.