Category: Devotions

If Chapter 7 moved in the black and dark night, here we enter the bright and blessed beams of Day. We are taken to great heights, for the Master Mind is here, standing where we are.

His Caution: The Father speaks: “Now that you have seen the end of sin, hear me well.” He has recounted this story to get the serious attention of his children, but especially of his sons. He is now about to drive home his message. Listen to me; attend to the words of my mouth (v.24). What I have related to you is no idle tale, but a true and tragic account of experience. It is nothing less than your path between life and death.

Deceptive Hypocrisy Expressed: What does this temptress mean by her peace offerings and her vows (v.14)? Several interpretations are suggested. a. One is that she has fresh meat left over from a sacrifice that she will share in a banquet with this young man. Perowne reminds us that “the flesh of peace offerings for thanksgiving was to be eaten on the day on which it was offered; but if it were a vow, or a free-well offering, what remained might be eaten on the morrow (Lev. 7:15-16). She represents him as having happily lighted on her feast-day, when she was looking out and longing for his company.” Certainly, this would be a most unusual way to invite someone to a love-orgy! Further, it does not seem natural that a ‘foreign’ (strange) woman would keep Jewish religious customs. b. Another interpretation is that this woman is ceremonially clean, and thus the young man will not become defiled by consorting with her (Jn. 18:28)! This explanation also has the weakness that a ‘high view of the ceremonial law does not quite fit the picture of this gross immorality. c. On the other hand, the abuse of sacred Festivals for sinful purposes was all too common, even in Israel (Isa. 1:11-15; Amos 5:21-23). “She dare not play the harlot with man till she has played the hypocrite with God, and stopped the mouth of her conscience with her peace-offerings” (Gurnal). Whatever she means by these expressions, her peace-offerings were polluted into deadly sin-offerings!

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.

The Way Of Righteousness: The Law has been likened to a wedding band upon the finger, a reminder of whose we are. My Sister can mean my wife (S. of S.), so perhaps Wisdom is eligible for marriage! To be seduced by a strange woman brings short-term gain but long-term pain, for she is the Way of Death. Make Wisdom your spouse. She is the Way of Righteousness (vs. 1-5) and brings life and happiness, not sorrow and loss.

Again, the study of wisdom, as the word of God, is most affectionately and dramatically commended. The Way of Righteousness and Life (vs. 1-5) is contrasted with the Way of Sin and Death (vs. 6-27). Blessedly, the Words of life come first as an introduction to what is to follow. O that every youth would heed this advice first and be delivered from the danger on that other road. Let us ponder these rules and apply them to our hearts.

A Comparison: There is no sympathy or support for adultery in Holy Scripture. It is a hateful, harmful sin, though widely condoned in our morally adrift world. It is worse than stealing (vs. 30-31). Though all stealing is wrong in the sight of God, there may be mitigating circumstances such as here. Still, restitution must be made if the thief is found, but who can make restitution for adultery? The thief steals to preserve his mortal life, but the adulterer steals to promote his lust and in so doing pollutes his immortal soul. His was not want, but wantonness. Both God and man declare him guilty! Sin, which is yet sweet to the taste, brings death to the soul! David’s sin concerning Uriah was an abiding blemish, and an occasion for his own tears, and also for his enemies to blaspheme his Lord.

Verse 24 brings us to the immediate teaching of this chapter, and that continues to the end of chapter 7. Note how the slippery slope of the strange woman is portrayed in such graphic imagery. The Law’s reproofs of instruction are designed to warn men against falling into her clutches. The description of the temptress and her methods is so life-like that it may speak to all who respect God’s Law. Here is a woman that ruins her life, her marriage, and any man who falls for her wiles (v.25). Since this iniquity abounds and is so exceeding sinful and destructive, it is no wonder that warnings against it are so many. What a great kindness it is on God’s part in giving the Law to keep men from this soul-destroying sin, for it is “a captivity worse than Egyptian slavery” (Henry).

Now follows a general exhortation to preserve God’s Word. Bind it closely to the heart as your rule, not outwardly in the hands for show; tie them about your neck as your joyous witness. This is a figurative way of saying that you take God’s Word seriously and unashamedly. Young people, don’t think it smart to be independent of your parents’ godly teaching for the Word of God is your unfailing Rule for Life.

There is a mistaken notion, fostered by the position of women in the East, that the Bible treats women as inferiors, but the truth is far otherwise. Father’s commandment signifies parental authority, but it is the law of thy mother that receives special mention here, for her law is God’s Law. In one place in the Law, the mother is placed first as deserving filial respect (Lev. 19:3). David mourned for his mother (Ps. 35:14). In all of Proverbs the duty of children to love and obey their mothers is consistently taught. This is what we also find in the NT. The same respect for one’s mother is in evidence in both Books. The birth of Christ gave to motherhood the highest possible honour. What woman is today, particularly in her motherhood, she owes, in large part to the Bible.