Proverbs Study – Lesson 6
It isn’t easy staying on the right path. As a matter of fact it is hard and takes a lot of effort to stay on ‘the Path’ so to speak. There are many opportunities to make wrong or bad choices that can have a big impact on life. Solomon begins chapter 7 by reminding parents and pupil that it is a lot of work and an extended training course to prepare children for life. He talks repeatedly in the book of Proverbs about the pupil not forsaking what they have been taught, building on the foundation that has been previously laid down .He uses terms like ‘bind them´ upon your fingers and ‘write them’ on the table of your heart indicating putting these sayings in a handy place, I.e. your fingers, that you can be reminded of them often and writing them upon your heart speaks of memorization of these principles. Much training has already been given. More will follow. Solomon’s habit and pattern or method of bringing up children is labor intensive, time intensive, personal and intentional. In other words this training is hands on, both parents being engaged in the process. He has goals in mind of what the end product of this process will look like. It is a mentoring mission to bring up good kids.
He leaves nothing out of this training process, including the important and the ‘real’ parts of life. All areas of life need to be brought up and discussed, including the basic, like scheduling and goals, as well as the difficult subjects, which we see here in chapter 7. He, being a father, was intimately engaged in the process. Many fathers are missing or inadequately involved in this important stage of a young person’s life. They are either busy working or have other competing interests that divert them from spending the much needed time in this training process. Solomon’s example favored being involved, not leaving this important job to chance. He wanted to be sure that those he loved had the best chance to survive and the ability to make good decisions in the difficult parts of life.
It is interesting to note the topics that he chose to include as important and essential or necessary to being successful in life. He has already given us the charge to not only get wisdom, but to go after knowledge and understanding, an important trio. As he continues to teach and train he includes other very important life related topics, like chastity, manors and people skills. He repeatedly, in the first chapters of Proverbs, reminds his students to ‘work hard’ not only to learn these teachings, but to also use methods to make these teachings part of their makeup or fabric. He instructs them to remember or memorize these teachings. He also tells them to apply or practice them, acting them out so that they become familiar and comfortable actions when the need to apply them arises. It is the fabric of an individual that is actually the essence of them. Solomon tells them and us to actually make these precepts part of our fabric, becoming part of our life.
He also encourages his student to have the right attitude and perspective toward this process, looking at the accusation of wisdom as a sister (v. 4) or a close family member and not looking at the process of learning wisdom as a choir. Wisdom is our friend and needs to be embraced and is not a choir. It should be practiced like any skill that becomes enjoyable, music, sports, fencing, tennis, poetry, etc.. Read Prov. 7:1-5
Solomon begins this section giving instruction concerning the strange woman. The term that he uses is an appropriate one, as this term stranger often refers to one who is probably a first time encounter or at least someone that you would not be too familiar with. In v. 5 he not only uses the term strange woman for this person, but he also uses the term foreigner, again giving reference that this person is a new encounter. Strangers often have a way of becoming familiar with those who they have never met just by being friendly. A friendly stranger is not a telltale sign that that person has bad intentions. But, Solomon tells us to beware because friendly strangers may not be who they appear to be. In one way this lesson kind of relates to last week’s lesson concerning having surety for your neighbor. Blindly trusting people that you do not know is risky, so it is best to be cautious being sure to keep yourself in safe boundaries until you know for sure who your new acquaintance is. But, in the case of the example given in chapter 7, this situation should never be trusted.
Solomon tells us in v. 7 that he was standing by the window in his house looking out, when he observed a young man going down the street that he tagged as being ‘simple’ or ‘void of understanding. How did Solomon know this about this young man? He said that he observed the young man venturing into territory that he shouldn’t be in. A prudent person would not be found in a place like this. He says that this person ventured into the wrong part of town. The text gives the impression that the young man came to this part of town intentionally. He was young. He had not been taught or he did not listen to the instruction that made it clear that it is good to stay clear of places like this.
In Solomon’s day it was a certain part of town or a particular place in that region that would have been common knowledge to stay away from because of inherent danger or the people who lived there. This young, foolish, simple one probably knew the part of town he was in, but did not fully realize the danger. He was looking for love in the wrong place. He was in the wrong part of town by his own choice at the wrong time of the day,Read Prov. 7:8-9.
This is a serious topic that can have serious consequences that is all too often taken to lightly. Some, the foolish, dabble and play with these areas not realizing the probable outcome. It happened to others, but it will never happen to me are famous, or infamous, last words. In our day the numbers of potentially dangerous sites of possible encounters like this have increased. It is not just limited to the street corner. Online experiences and other modern encounters add dramatically to this type of problem. Many will say that these areas of contact are not as bad as they are made out to be. But, in my personal observations of such encounters the outcomes or end results of such beginnings have not been that good. In observing these relationships play out unforeseen problems all too often arise leaving in the end serious consequences that may last a life time. It would be wise for the ‘simple’ to remember that they do not know this person that they are becoming friendly with. They had never met them before even though familiarity may be established quickly. In this type of encounter you have no knowledge of what drives this individual. There is an underlying message in this passage that says that this is not the place to start a relationship. Solomon would highly advocate getting to know someone in a totally different and appropriate setting.
V. 10 tells us that she was dressed to attract the wrong kind of attention and has her own agenda in mind. Many relationships begin with physical sex appeal attraction. Solomon would suggest different criteria. The King James says that she is subtle of heart. The New American Standard says that she is cunning of heart. The NIV puts it that she comes with crafty intent. He is reminding us that what you think that you see is not what you get. She has her own interests in mind.
It is wise to remember that even though Solomon gives this instruction to his son, warning of the evil woman, it could also be turned around to warn women of the evil man whose motives are the same even though some of his methods may be somewhat different. Both would flatter with words. Both would have an agenda. Both would use deceptive methods to get what they wanted, in the end, leaving no thought for the victim’s final outcome and final end.
V. 12 Tells us that she has a dominant personality and is Loud and overbearing, and is stubborn and insistent. It also makes the point that this person is not a homemaker. Weather male or female, this person is not going to bring happiness, but instead in the end only misery. V. 12They live on the street, waiting for their next victim or their next vehicle to pleasure. Tonight it is you. Tomorrow it is someone else. When they use you up it is over whether you are satisfied or not. They have no loyalty except to themselves. The one night of pleasure is now over and that relationship of yesterday is past.
V. 13-4 She becomes friendly very quickly and is unashamed by her actions. The Bible in Basic English says:
· V. 13She took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him, v.14 I have a feast of peace offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.
The Message puts it this way:
· V. 13 She threw her arms around him and she kissed him, boldly took his arm and said, V. 14 “I’ve got all the makings for a feast – today I’ve made my offerings, my vows are all paid.”
She displays the emotion of confidence that what they are about to do is right and good. She is bold about her action. She gives him the impression that she is spiritual and current with God, giving the impression that God is ok with her and what she is doing. She promises to feed him…the death blow, what more could one want.
v. 15 She lies to him making him think that he is the only one she has ever loved. She says that she came looking for him. One translation puts it this way:
· V. 15 So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you…
V. 16-8 (READ) She sets the bait, promises of great pleasure. V.19-20 She assures him that it is safe. No one will know. She assures him that her husband is gone and there will be no surprises. She assures him that she knows exactly when he will return, and they have a lot of time to get acquainted.
V21-3 (READ) There is nothing left for him but to follow her. At this point it is all over. V.22 She is leading the way. A man who is overcome by this sin and temptation is a follower and not a leader. She will do what she wants with him now. He is at her mercy. V. 22-3 give the impression that this can be a life or death situation. It says in v. 22 that the path that he is on at the end is the same as the path of an ox being lead to the slaughter. V. 23 says that it is the same as someone putting an arrow through your liver, and like a bird that is hastening to the snare. A snare is used to catch a bird for dinner. The end of v. 23 says that this encounter is a life and death situation, v. 27 going down into the chambers of death.
V. 24-5 (READ) Solomon gives his final plea telling the one being instructed, male or female, that these words of instruction are capable of saving your life. V. 26 says,” For she has cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her.” One might think that Solomon is slightly exaggerating the repercussions of this kind of encounter. Pride would say, “It won’t happen to me. I am in control. That may be the end of some, but not me. It is worth the risk. I will survive.”
But, funny things happen that are not counted on when relationships like this occur. Emotions get tangled up, and both sets of emotions generally do not match. Word of this affair gets out to others involved in their lives. Tempers flair. Things, unexpected things, happen. It is true that even a strong man can be emotionally ruined, but… even worse can happen.
Recently a young girl got snagged by the words of an evil man in a one time encounter, as far as was known, while at a tavern for a birthday party. She was a police chief’s daughter and did not have the reputation of being a partier. Somehow these two got connected and the end of the night did not turn out so well. She took a chance…she had no idea who this man was. The rest is now history. It turned deadly. Who knows what went on? Solomon here is giving wise council. He is not exaggerating. This is wise council. It was interesting to hear what the father of the victim was quoted saying following the incident. It sounded a lot like Solomon’s advice. His advice to young women was to not forget what they had been taught growing up about trusting and getting involved with strangers, in this case strange men, getting acquainted in the wrong place. Solomon warned about getting involved with the strange woman and finding yourself in the wrong part of town. There are many good reasons to stay clear of places like this. There are no good reasons to go there.
(Illustration used Valerie Hamilton, Police chief’s Merl Hamilton’s daughter)
Hamilton said he wanted his daughter's death to serve as a reminder to all young women to be aware of their surroundings and stay safe.
"I hope that the other young ladies out there, that they'll remember the lessons they were taught as youngsters about being safe," he said. "It carries into when you're in the 20s, ladies.
"Make sure the men treat you with respect and be safe."
His advice to other young women sounds a lot like the advice that Solomon gives repeatedly, “Do not forget what you have been taught” It could save your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment