Parental Wisdom’s Ultimate Villain Exposed

Introduction:

We hear much today about being your authentic self. Unfortunately, what the world usually means by this is accepting who you are in your sinful human nature. Just listen to how a book entitled The Gifts of Imperfection is described. This definitive guide focuses on the power of vulnerability, helping you cultivate self-compassion and let go of who you think you’re supposed to be. Another book designed to help you be your authentic self is titled Untamed, and it claims to be a powerful memoir that serves as a wake-up call to trust your own inner voice and break free from the restrictive cages of societal conditioning.

Rather than trusting our inner voice, we need to take the Sage’s advice. Later in Proverbs, he writes the following: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Pr 22:15) Biblically speaking, we should not trust what is in our heart, which is foolishness. Instead, we should seek a new heart the Lord promises to give us. To make his lesson clear, the father personifies foolishness. Our text today lays bare the evil actions of life’s ultimate villain: Dame Folly.

I. Dame Folly Targets Those Who Are Not Heeding the Wisdom of God’s Word (Pr 7:6-9, 26)

A. They are acting as someone inexperienced who doesn’t know any better (Pr 7:7)

Explanation: The word “simple” in our text refers to “persons that are easily deceived or persuaded, showing lack of wisdom and understanding, yet having some capacity to change this condition.” [James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testatment) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997)]

Application: Now, let me be extremely clear. Notice that I said the targets of Dame Folly are acting as someone who is simple. Lest everyone in the congregation today assume that I cannot be talking about them, I say to you that every one of us at times acts with amnesia where, although we do know better, we act as if we do not. Often this is the result of pride. Let us heed the words of Paul, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Co 10:12)

B. They are not being wise in where they place themselves (Pr 7:8)

Explanation: In the words of commentator, Daniel Treier, “In particular, the immature tend to place themselves unwittingly in jeopardy….” [Daniel J. Treier, Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2011), 42.]

Application: Being in the wrong place does not just mean hanging out at the strip club or the corner where the prostitutes advertise their wares. It means any place where you can say in your heart what the Israelites of Isaiah’s day were saying according to the testimony of the Lord.

Quotation: “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me.” (Is 47:10a)

Application: This can be in extreme privacy, like in your bedroom or bathroom with the door shut. But this can also be in a crowd where you feel comfortable that what you do doesn’t matter because nobody who knows you will see what you are doing. You use anonymity as a cover to commit your particular sin.

Application: We are not just talking about sexual sin here either. Yes, you could be placing yourself alone to indulge in pornography on the television or the computer. However, you could be seeking privacy for the sake of self-harm like cutting or bingeing and purging. You might avoid others to wallow in negative thoughts that lead you deeper into depression. Whatever your place of temptation, you will seek to avoid it if you are wise.

C. They are not being wise in uniting appropriate actions with appropriate times (Pr 7:9)

Explanation: The simple person can not only place themselves unwisely, but she can also have problems uniting appropriate actions with appropriate times. It is entirely possible to be doing a good thing at the wrong time.

Application: I have known young people who enjoy reading books to continue reading when they should have been sleeping. There is nothing wrong with reading a good book, but if you are doing it when you should be doing something else, you are succumbing to Dame Folly’s wiles. If you continue reading when your parents told you to do household chores, or if you continue reading when you should be participating in youth group at church, or if you continue reading and oversleep in the morning because you read when you should have been sleeping, you were being unwise or simple.

Application: There is nothing inherently wrong with social media, but if you are up all night chatting with friends and you can’t stay awake at work, or if you are scrolling away all day and you don’t get the bed made or the dishes washed, you are being unwise in uniting appropriate actions with appropriate times.

II. Dame Folly Deceives Those Who Are Not Heeding the Wisdom of God’s Word (Pr 7:10-23)

Quotation: “Sex is a prime instance of how tempted we are to rationalize what looks good at a particular moment, rather than undergoing the demanding transformation required to keep our promises or meet divine standards.” [Daniel J. Treier, Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2011), 43.]

Quotation: “The literal and spiritual adulteress tells us what we want to hear but know at some level to be false. Folly is everywhere, she is loud, she is aggressive, and she is seductive—deadly so.” [Daniel J. Treier, Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2011), 43.]

Explanation: There are a number of tactics Dame Folly uses that we will look at in a moment, but there is one overriding characteristic of Dame folly that encompasses all of the illicit tempting and deception that she performs. Solomon tells us that she is “subtil of heart.” As is so often the case, we must carefully use context to understand what is being explained to us here. The Hebrew and Greek words used to present this concept of subtlety in Scripture do not, by themselves, have a good or a bad connotation. These words can be used in a good sense, and they are also used in a bad sense. To see the good sense, we have only to look back at the beginning of this book, “To give subtilty to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion.” (Pr 1:4) Solomon wants those who are without understanding to develop “subtilty” which is here poetically viewed as synonymous with “knowledge and discretion.” The most famous example of a bad sense is the serpent in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” (Ge 3:1a) The root idea behind these words is to watch, guard, or keep. When speaking of a person, perhaps the most prevalent idea is secret. These words sometimes refer to secret places, or caves which are below ground, the connotation focusing on the hidden, mysterious nature of the place. That seems to be the key concept in our Proverbs examples. Good subtlety is secret in the sense that it is under the surface. Proverbs makes it clear that a truly wise individual is humble and doesn’t go around shooting his mouth off or bragging about how wise he is. The wisdom can be hidden until a true seeker of wisdom proves that he is a seeker and not a scorner. Evil subtlety is secret in that it presents an attractive façade that hides the true intentions of the person and the ultimate consequences of the actions being promoted.

A. Dame Folly pretends to be something she is not socially (Pr 7:10)

Explanation: First, we notice that Dame Folly hides her true identity in the social context. Although she is a married woman, she pretends to be a prostitute.

Argumentation: Dame Folly’s subtle heart perceives that a frontal assault on the simple youth could defeat her evil purpose and cause him to turn away. She pretends instead that she has no strong social connections to anyone else, realizing that once she has lured the simpleton a certain distance into her trap, he may lack the personal discipline to suddenly change course and refuse her entreaties.

Application: There is often a social component to the foolish things we do. We often do things to achieve the appreciation of certain people we admire or believe will help provide us with something we crave. At other times we may deny beliefs or relationships we possess out of fear of physical punishment or social rejection.

Quotation: “And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, ‘This is one of them.’ And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, ‘Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.’ But he began to curse and to swear, saying, ‘I know not this man of whom ye speak.’ And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.” (Mk 14:69–72)

B. Dame Folly pretends to be something she is not spiritually (Pr 7:13-14)

Explanation: Notice the spiritual component to the temptation here. The Devil and his minions are not above using false spirituality to attract us into a temptation or to placate our fears about a particular situation.

Quotation: “And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.” (Le 7:15–17)

Quotation: “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will. On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the Lord.” (Le 22:29–30)

Explanation: So that you do not think this is limited to Old Testament times, Paul warns of precisely the same danger: people and movements disguising themselves as followers of Christ, when in reality, they are only following their own lusts and want you to do the same.

Quotation: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Co 11:13–15)

C. Dame Folly pretends to be interest in her target personally (Pr 7:15)

Explanation: Oh that we could see the deception of Dame Folly’s instruments more clearly! In the Sage’s illustration, Dame Folly is wandering around simply looking for her next easy mark to wander across her path. “(Her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, And lieth in wait at every corner.)” (Pr 7:11b–12)

Application: Foolishness wants to make us feel like we are unique or part of a special group. Foolishness will make it seem like walking its path will admit you to the company of elite people. She will make it seem that she was looking specifically for you. On the other side of the coin, Foolishness can make you separate from those who are or whom God wants to be your spiritual brothers and sisters by telling you that your sin struggle, your temptation, is unique. Nobody else will understand what you are going through.

Quotation: This is why 1 Corinthians 10:13 is such a popular verse among Biblical Counselors. When it sinks into the heart of the struggling Christian, who has been lied to by Dame Folly, it presents a truth that helps bring the wandering sheep back into the fold of God’s protection and provision, the Church. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Quotation: Even our Lord and Savior understands whatever sin struggle that we are going through. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15)

D. Dame Folly pretends that she can offer her target a pleasurable but temporary experience (Pr 7:16-23)

Explanation: There are two things the simple individual does not understand about Dame Folly’s temptation. The first is how temporary the pleasure of the foolish actions will be. In fact, the conscience often will nag him so persistently, that the majority of the pleasure inherent in the sinful actions will be missed. The second is that while there may be temporary pleasure, there may very well be long-term consequences that will have the individual rue the day that he gave in to Dame Folly’s persuasive, but false, arguments.

Quotation: “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” (Pr 20:17)

Quotation: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” (Heb 11:25)

Illustration: Even when there is sincere repentance with regard to the sin, God doesn’t promise to remove natural consequences of the actions. Remember David, as he repented when confronted by Nathan, was told that there would be severe consequences within his family as a result of his actions.

Explanation: Furthermore, you have no idea whether or not by giving into temptation you could awaken a monster that may ultimately lead you to death in this life, or even eternal death.

Quotation: “He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.” (Pr 7:22–23)

III. Dame Folly Destroys Those Who Give Heed to Her Enticements (Pr 7:24-25)

A. Life in this world is a battle of words: whose words will you believe? (Pr 7:24-25)

Explanation: Such words are an invitation to follow a path in life, and the path that you choose to take will make all the difference in the world: the path of folly or the path of wisdom.

Quotation: The wise father here uses this common scriptural metaphor of a way or a path: “Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, And attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, Go not astray in her paths.” (Pr 7:24–25)

Quotation: Jesus himself used this metaphor in his Sermon on the Mount: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Mt 7:13–15)

Application: Ultimately, the choice comes down to two sources of words: folly’s words are the words of the devil and wisdom’s words are the Words of God.

B. Life in this world is a series of cause-and-effect choices: consider the true effect of your choices before you make them (Pr 7:26-27)

Explanation: Notice how the father now focuses on the results of engaging in relationship with Dame Folly. Relationship with Dame Folly results in wounds, wounds which can eventually lead to death.

Quotation: “For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, Going down to the chambers of death.” (Pr 7:26–27)

Application: Do you doubt that our world is governed by cause-and-effect? It was so from the very beginning. The Lord spoke and light shined out of darkness. The Lord spoke and the waters under the heaven were gathered together into one place so that dry land could appear. The Lord spoke and the dry land brought forth plant life. The Lord spoke and the canvas of our sky was littered with galaxies, planets, and stars shining light down on earth. God spoke and the seas were filled with marine life and the skies were filled with life as well. Finally, God spoke and the dry land was filled with animal life. After creation was over there was an inviolable cause-and-effect law established: obedience brings blessing and life while disobedience brings judgment and death. Wisdom leads to obedience. Folly leads its followers on the downward path of death.

Conclusion:

Our parental instructor illustrates here a truth famously encapsulated in The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

In our passage, we have been warned about the foolishness inherent within ourselves, and we have been warned about the wiles of our enemy. Let us determine to apply these lessons so that we may not go astray in the paths of folly.