Last time we looked at an overview of the adulterous woman in Proverbs 1-9. Today we will be looking at the seduction of evil (Prov. 7:6-27) as a reason to be careful to guard our hearts in godly wisdom, trusting in the Saviour to help deliver us. We need to remember that one of the purposes of wisdom is to help keep us from evil, and that we ended with this verse about the same. Here is the first part of today’s passage:
5 [Pursue god’s wisdom] to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. 6 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
God’s gift of wisdom needs to be cultivated as a means that God uses to keep us from sin and evil. Solomon thus now gives us an example of a simple youth (one devoid of wisdom) who is idling where he has no business going. Notice that the time of day is in the evening, when the sun is almost down. Rather than busying himself with what is good and productive, he finds himself filled with tempting and evil thoughts, and he lingers around the house of a prostitute. He knows that what he is doing is wrong, otherwise he would not be there at that time or in that place. He already thus has the desire for evil, and took the first step to carry it out. How often is it that we are idle, and lingering where we know full well that we are susceptible to giving in? There is good reason for the expression, “Idleness is the Devil’s playground.”
Solomon continues the example, “10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 11 She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.” The woman seems to know that he is coming—or in the very least seeks men like him out. She, being a married woman, came prepared in full dress as a prostitute. The text says that she is “wily of heart.” Wily means “skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully,” and this being applied to her heart shows that this is what drives her as a person. Her being “loud and wayward” contrasts Peter’s description of a godly woman as those who “let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Pet. 3:4). Benson’s commentary described her being “loud and wayward” as “She is full of talk, self-willed, disobedient to her husband, rebellious against God, and incorrigible by any admonitions of ministers or friends.” She will do whatever it takes to get her way. The fact that, “her feet do not stay at home,” shows that she is also idle. She frequents the most busy and bustling places in a city, “now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.” Notice that she goes to all the public places, but allures secretively and with much guile. She is like a woman on the hunt, seeking to bring a weak-willed man to a place where she can consume him, just as a lion seeking someone to devour.
What makes this especially terrible is not just that this woman is the complete opposite portrait to that of a godly woman, but that she also pretends to be pious. Solomon continues, “She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, 14 ‘I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; 15 so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.’” This wily woman knows that the youth is desiring evil from her, and so she seeks to rapidly ensnare him. Her boldness in doing is not only a reflection of her marred conscience, but also part of her show to seduce him, giving the impression that there is nothing wrong with what they are about to do. Some may initially be confused by her reference to vows and offering. Benson’s commentary is helpful at this point. It is as if she was saying to him,
“I am a woman happy in many blessings, which God hath bestowed upon me, and for which I have given him solemn thanks this very day; and, as religion and custom bind me, I have provided as good a feast as those sacrifices, which I formerly vowed, and have now paid, would afford, having no want of any thing, but of some good company at home to rejoice with me.” This woman’s conduct was the more abominable, as she covered her lewdness with the mask of piety and devotion.
In verse 15, she then calls on him to celebrate the feast with her, but by twisting the peace offering (the term she used is usually reserved for a good offering to Yahweh) into a pagan love-feast. So, she pretends to be a lover of God, as if what they are about to do is in service to Him.
She further seduces him in verses 16-20 by referring to expensive and fine preparations that she made for him to inflame his desire for her, and she spoke of her husband as on a long journey to remove any fear that he may have in giving in. Solomon continues, “21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. 22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.” Neglecting wisdom leads to one remaining simple. The simple are easy prey for the Devil, since they neglect the truth and make themselves idle. However, once they have their fill of seductive evil, the simple turn to those who reject wisdom and pursue wickedness. They become just like the wicked woman—firmly entrenched in the pathway of death. How many of us neglect the pursuit of wisdom? How many of us are simple; people merely idling through life and waiting for some seduction to come upon us? How many of us neglect the discipline of the hearts of our children, never acquainting then with the wisdom of God? Shall we—or our neglected children—become just like this simple youth, or even the wicked adulterous? So many are, and so many become so because they neglect the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God helps to safeguard us against evil, so we neglect it to our own peril.
Solomon concludes his example by saying, “24 And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, 26 for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.” We so often have the tendency to think, “God will forgive me. I can do this and then ask for his forgiveness,” or “Every once in a while, this will be okay.” No, this is not okay. Do we think that we can escape death if we partake in these things? Do we tempt death? Do we tempt God? While it is true that God forgives those who repent (meaning turning from their sin), it may very well be that we too are masking our wickedness with a cloak of piety; that our hearts are consumed with doing evil, justifying evil with excuses just as the woman did with her wiles. Our fruit may just reveal that we have never been saved. I will end with Paul’ exhortation to walk in love:
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
God gives the saved the grace needed to persevere in His wisdom through Christ. So, having this grace, pursue wisdom and escape the snare of the Devil. Next time we will be looking at the blessings of the way of wisdom, which stand in stark contrast to the way of the adulterous woman.