Proverbs 7:1-27

Proverbs 7 1-27

v.1-2 Solomon does not want his words to depart from those who learn them. He commands that his words be “kept” and “treasured up” (stored). The commandments bring life. The law reminds us that Solomon’s commands are not his own. He is speaking of the word of God. The “apple of your eye” refers to the pupil. It is a very sensitive place and is therefore protected diligently. We are to protect the commands of God in our life ensuring that they are not altered or taken away from us. Without God’s commands we are as blind spiritually as we would be physically without our pupils.

v.3 To bind them upon the fingers probably means to wear the commandments like one would wear a ring. Solomon has already encouraged us to wear them like a necklace (6:21). To “write them upon the table of your heart” means that they are not merely external. They are to be on the inside of us urging us to do the will of God. Solomon wants us to have the commandments both on the inside and the outside. If we have the commandments on the inside of us we will practice those commandments. Behavior is important because it reveals the reality of our profession. However, morality without a changed heart will do us no good on the day of judgment. Both must be present.  

v.4 Wisdom and insight are to be as close to us as our own family is. We would never think of rejecting our family. If we tossed those closest to us out of the house, we would reveal that we are foolish and hard hearted people. We are to keep wisdom and understanding close to us as we would the dearest of family members.

v.5 One of the benefits of keeping the commands is deliverance from the forbidden woman. One will easily give into her flattering words if they are not anchored in the word of God. There is a direct connection between knowing God’s word and resisting temptation. Those who do not know it will find themselves overcome by temptation while those who know God’s word will overcome temptation.

v.6-7 Solomon gives us an example of an actual event he witnessed between a young man and an immoral woman. The story continues through verse 23. It will serve as an example for those who forsake the word of God for the flattering words of the immoral woman.

Solomon looked out his window one evening, probably just to admire the view of the setting sun. Among the crowd of naive (simple) young men one caught his eye. The actions of the young man would prove him to be “lacking sense”. He is a foolish and naive young man.

v.8-9 The young man was walking through the streets and coming toward “her” house.  The evening was fading fast into the darkness of night. This is generally known as a time when much sin is committed. Solomon warned against even going near the house of the immoral (4:14-15). We do not know if the young man was seeking such a woman or if he was simply walking into a trap set by her. Regardless, he seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

v.10-12 Solomon describes both the appearance and the character of the woman in these verses.

*She was dressed like a prostitute. This implies that she was dressed provocatively. Men can be easily tempted by the way a woman dresses herself. Therefore, it is necessary for women to be sure and dress modestly (1 Tim. 2:9). This woman dressed for the purpose of seducing a young man.

*She was wily of heart. This refers to her deceitfulness. She had a plan to lead the young man into sin. The purpose was for her pleasure. She would make the encounter seem so pleasurable that the young man would not think about the consequences. She would take what she wanted, and they both would pay the consequences.

* She is loud and wayward. She was loud about her intentions with him. She flattered him with her words and spoke a lot. She certainly is not the woman with a quiet spirit that Peter said pleases God (1 Peter 3:4). There is no shame detected in her actions.

* She will not stay at home. She is constantly in and out of the house, looking for a man to fill her passions. She is not content to be a “keeper at home” (Titus 2:5). We do not know if she had children to take care of. We do know that she had a husband and a household to watch over. Evidently, this was not enough to occupy her time!

v.13 What Solomon saw next was surprising. The woman grabbed the young man and kissed him. The text says, “with an bold face”. This means with a strong face. It describes the same attitude of her stubbornness. She is intent on the young man giving in to her advances.

v.14 Solomon now records what the woman said to the young man. Part of the meat left over from the peace offering was given back to the offerer (Le. 7:11-ff). It was required that the meat be eaten in entirety by the next day. She told the young man this to let him know she had a feast prepared inside that had to be eaten quickly. It has been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!

v.15 The woman says that the reason she is so diligent in looking for the young man is because she has this meal prepared. She uses the occasion of a religious feast to sin. She seems to be elated that she has finally found him. What would she do without him, she seems to imply. We can’t help but notice that she garbs her sin in religion.

v.16-17 The woman has prepared for his visit. Most of her preparation was not in the kitchen, it was in the bedroom. She decorated her bedroom with beautiful linens imported from Egypt. She perfumed her bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Her bedroom was filled with beauty and an aroma that was sensuous.

v.18 Now we have her invitation. It is not an invitation to dinner. It is an invitation for sexual immorality. She invites him to enjoy an entire night of sexual pleasure with her. To “delight ourselves” means to take joy in. She promises him that the night will be full of joy and pleasure.

v.19-20 The only apprehension the young man may have is if her husband comes home. She will take care of this as well. She tells him that he is gone on a long journey. He has taken plenty of money with him and will not be back until a specific day. There was no reason for the young man to fear. The woman knew exactly when the husband would return. The woman obviously has a fear of being caught by her husband. Ironically, she has no fear of God, however. He is aware of the entire ordeal.

v.21 The young man was not quiet as excited about the promise of a night of passion as the woman was. In the end, however, she persuaded him with her words. She placed the emphasis on the pleasure of the sin rather than the consequences. In doing so she led him astray. “Compels” does not mean that he did it against his will. The word describes the compelling actions of the strange woman.

v.22-23 The young man followed her inside her house. He has given into temptation. He is like an ox going to the slaughter. An ox follows its master to the slaughter because it is ignorant to the fate that awaits it. So it is with the young man. He is like a fool who willingly goes into bondage.

He is also like a bird who goes quickly into a trap. The ox, the fool, and the bird are not known for their wisdom. It is this lack of wisdom that leads to their death. A dart will suddenly pierce the young man’s liver. In other words, he will pay the ultimate penalty for his foolishness, death. He had no idea that his pleasure in sin would lead to his death. He neglected the warnings of wisdom and paid dearly for it.

v.24-25 The account of what Solomon saw from his window is now over. He closes the chapter with a word of warning. He compels the reader to listen closely to what he is about to say. He connects the heart and the actions together again. Sin begins in the heart and manifests itself in our actions eventually (James 1:14-15). The key is to stop sin where it starts, in the heart. This is done by paying attention to the teachings of wisdom.

Solomon almost seems to be begging the reader not to entertain or fall into sin.

v.26-27 Solomon uses war terminology to describe the effects of the strange woman. She has been responsible for the deaths of entire armies of men. Through her deceit she has conquered many men.

Those who follow her will end up dead and find themselves beneath the judgment of God.

The fact that she has been so successful in destroying so many men is important. The young man may believe that he can handle her temptation. He will not fall prey to her. He is wrong, however. He will fall as all fell who went before him. The reason is simple. The wages of sin is death. God is not mocked. He will judge all who indulge in sin.

Thoughts To Consider

1. Much of the teaching we receive now is preparing us for temptation in the future.

2. Sin is both beautiful and hideous, it brings pleasure and pain. It is therefore difficult to resist without wisdom.

3. If you allow the devil to begin reasoning with you about sin, he has won half the battle already.

4. No one ever gets away with sin, not even one time.