Foolishness is like the sun, it shines brightly everywhere.”
–Ralph Vaughn (Hell Comes to Paradise)
“…Behold the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it.”
–Jeremiah 6:10(NKJV)
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Finally home and getting back on track. It was a nice vacation, but now back to our study on Proverbs. Let me remind you of some things. Remember that Proverbs is an ethical book and is not necessarily doctrinal. That is not to say that there are no doctrines, for in studying Proverbs we get a better understanding of God’s character and how we are to live. Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the art of living.
Proverbs 7:24-27, again warns about sexual impurity and immorality. It is definitely directed to the individual, but is also a warning regarding spiritual adultery, which was the great sin of Israel. Spiritual adultery is anything that leads away from the worship of the true God and living for Him; it is anything that is a perversion of the Gospel.
24 — Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 — Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths;
26 — For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 — Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death. (NKJV)
Bob Beasley writes this regarding spiritual prostitution, “Like prostitutes hanging from their doorways in any red light district, spiritual prostitutes visit doorsteps with their false doctrines, seeking to lead people away from the Savior. They preach a different Christ than the One of Scripture, and lure the unwary with lies and half-truths that sound good to the spiritually gullible. Beware of people like these. Don’t let your heart turn to their teaching.” Look at the world around you, glimpse at the news and you see people constantly being swayed to a lifestyle contrary to the Word of God.
Anything that is calling you away from Christ is a spiritual prostitute, and they not only wait on street corners but they come knocking at your door. She comes in through various means: radio, music, television, movies, social media, etc., always wanting you to compromise. (J. Vernon McGee) There is the push of “internal deception” (Chalmers). Someone said that this is the move from “loving much to loving wrong.”
The allurement of heresy is much like the immoral woman. It looks good, it is flattering and it feeds the desires of the flesh. Heed the words of verses 25 and 26. How many strong men found their demise at her door? How many good men fell to the charms of flattering lips? Death lies at her door. “If you go to her house, you are on the way to the world of the dead. It is a shortcut to death.” (Flores) Self-seeking, self-indulging, self-interest if these are calling you–watch out!
Think for a minute of Gideon, that mighty warrior of valor. Gideon started well, humble, valiant, but then, something happened. Read in Judges 8:22-27, that while he refused to become king, he still turned to spiritual adultery, made a golden idol and Israel then prostituted itself by worshipping the idol; “it became a snare to Gideon and to his house” (vs 27). The words of Warren Wiersbe should stop us in our tracks forcing us to take a careful look at ourselves, “It isn’t enough for Christians to protest evil; we must also practice the good.”