What is the meaning of Proverbs 7? In Proverbs 7 we read about a young man, who was seduced by a married woman, who had the attire of a harlot and was subtle of heart, and committed fornication. The young man is compared to an ox, who went for the slaughter, because that’s what sin does. The Bible warns, but it’s up to the people to listen and obey the words of God. Just like this young man, who was void of understanding, there are many Christians, who are void of understanding and through their ignorance they are tempted and go the same way, not knowing that their decision can mean the end.
The unwise young man was seduced by the fair speech and flattering lips of the woman with the attire of a harlot
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
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 hastes to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life (Proverbs 7:6-23)
The unwise Christians, who don’t keep the words and commandments of the Father and Jesus
This young man, who didn’t have understanding belonged to the simple ones and didn’t keep the commandments and law of his parents. Just like so many unwise Christians; Christians, who are void of understanding and don’t live according to the Word. They don’t listen to Jesus and keep the teachings of the Father. They don’t do the commandments of the Father and Jesus, but go their own way (Read also: Obedience to God)..
A Because they are not led by the Word and don’t walk after the Spirit but are led by thier senses, feelings and emotions and walk after the flesh, they are an easy target for the devil.
As soon as the devil try to tempt them to sin, through vain thoughts, through means of pious and deceptive words of man or through (attractive) seducing people, they are not able to resist and fall into temptation.
Instead of destroying the lies of the devil with the Word of God and resist the temptation, they believe his lies and give into the (temporary) pleasures of the flesh and fall, just like the unwise young man, who was tempted by a married woman and commit adultery.
The woman was married, but the unclean spirit of lust that dwelled in her, tempted the unwise young man and persuaded him to commit adultery. Through adultery her lusts were satisfied (for a while).
How many times are Christians tempted and become apostate or fall, because of the lies and the temptations that come on their way. They could have prevented this from happening, if they would have only believed the words of God and kept His commandments.
The only way to resist temptation is to get understanding, through the Word of God, and walk after the Spirit. Only when you stay obedient to Jesus and walk after the Spirit, you will not give into the temptations of the flesh, but you will rule over them.
Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16)
‘Be the salt of the earth’
