Proverbs 7:6-27
Q.1. How did the young man display a lack of sense? What kind of a woman is a harlot? What makes her words hypocritical? What offer did she make to the young man? – (Prov.7:6-18)
Jesus declared – 19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (Jn.3:19-20). This young man showed that he lacked sense, by following his lusts in the darkness of night – passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house(Prov.7:8 c.f. Prov.7:9). Whom had he planned to meet? – 10 a woman comes to meet him, dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart. 11 She is boisterous and rebellious. Her feet do not remain at home (Prov.7:10-11). She knew how to brazenly seduce him and justified her actions by assuring him she had paid her dues to God (c.f. Prov.7:12-14). She even hid behind her religious façade. She had prepared everything and enticed him – 16 “I have spread my couch with coverings, With coloured linens of Egypt. 17 “I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses (Prov.7:16-18).
Q.2. Where was the harlot’s husband? Did she easily give up trying to trap the young man? What was the cost of his indiscretion? What was Solomon’s warning to his sons? – (Prov.7:19-27)
To allay his fears, she assured him – 19 For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him. At the full moon he will come home (Prov.7:19-20). The young man tried to resist, but – With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him (Prov.7:21). Then his resistance gave way – suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter (Prov.7:22). Tragically – he does not know that it will cost him his life (Prov.7:23). Solomon then gave a final appeal to his sons and reminded them – 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not stray into her paths. 26 For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death (Prov.7:25-27). It is always wise to minimize in our minds the pleasures from sin, and maximize the price of sin, in order to help strengthen our resistance to temptation.