Things are hard enough in the wilderness without taking stupid chances.”
–John Deacon (Yonder)
“For man also does not know his time; like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”
–Ecclesiastes 9:12(NKJV)
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AVOID! DANGER! FALLEN ROCK! You’ve seen warning signs on the highway. They are placed there for our protection, yet all too often these signs are ignored, then disaster strikes. Why are the warnings ignored is a good question? Perhaps they were not seen, perhaps simply ignored with the person thinking they don’t pertain to me, or maybe the thought is, “I can handle it.” This morning‘s study in Proverbs 7 shows a young man ignoring his father’s instructions and the warning signs.
6 — For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,
7 — And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding,
8 — Passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house
9 — In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.
10 — And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 — She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home.
12 — At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner.
13 — So she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him:
14 — I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows.
15 — So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
16 — I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 — I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 — Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
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, and will come home on the appointed day.
21 — With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him.
22 — Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 — Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life. (NKJV)
First of all, notice these verses direct our thought to the simple who is described as lacking judgment. Bob Beasley summarizes it like this: “The victim is a simpleton, walking naively down the street whispering a happy tune. The huntress is dressed to kill, so to speak, and has a hard and unyielding heart. She is loud and defiant. The kill takes place as the simple-minded youth goes to her home, not knowing that he has made a fatal mistake.”
This young man is either terribly dumb or very proud. He is convinced he can play with sin and get away with it (Wiersbe). He ignores the warning signs and the instructions of his parents. He walks at night; he walks in an area of temptation and danger. In other words, he wasn’t heeding the instructions he had been given. Warren Wiersbe says, “We can’t help being tempted, but we can certainly help tempting ourselves.”
There are all sorts or flatteringisms today. From the woman that is pictured in these verses to cults and false teachings. J. Vernon McGee writes, “This old gal is busy today.” It is anyone, anything, that seduces you away from Christ. She comes by the way of radio, television, music, and will even make a personal appearance trying to lure you. (McGee) Watch out for any “evil that might seduce us away from the path of wisdom.” (Mike Leake) Note: the seducer offers something extra, something special, and will tell you that you are something special. Then, the final few words–nobody will ever know. These are the “lies that are the lure of the forbidden.” (Leake)
The young man, simple and oblivious to his fate. He ignored the teachings of his father and look how he ends up–“as an ox goes to slaughter.” The signs, the warnings, the teachings are there for a purpose. Guard the truth and listen to the voice of wisdom.