All the talk in Proverbs about wisdom is now turned toward practical application. And the issue chosen for the lesson us adultery.

“… call insight your intimate friend,

that (it) may keep you from the loose woman,
   from the adulteress with her smooth words.

For at the window of my house

I looked out through my lattice,
   and I saw among the simple ones,
I observed among the youths,
   a young man without sense,
passing along the street near her corner,
   taking the road to her house
in the twilight, in the evening,
   at the time of night and darkness.

Then a woman comes toward him,
   decked out like a prostitute, wily of heart.
She is loud and wayward;
   her feet do not stay at home;
now in the street, now in the squares,
   and at every corner she lies in wait.
She seizes him and kisses him,
   and with impudent face she says to him:
“I had to offer sacrifices,
   and today I have paid my vows;
so now I have come out to meet you,
   to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!
I have decked my couch with coverings,
 colored spreads of Egyptian linen;
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
   aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
   let us delight ourselves with love.
For my husband is not at home;
   he has gone on a long journey
He took a bag of money with him;
   he will not come home until full moon.”

With much seductive speech she persuades him;
   with her smooth talk she compels him.
Right away he follows her,
   and goes like an ox to the slaughter,
or bounds like a stag toward the trap
   until an arrow pierces its entrails.
He is like a bird rushing into a snare,
   not knowing that it will cost him his life.
Proverbs 7:4-23

Some of the later Proverbs are short, sweet, and to the point. This Proverb is long, not so sweet, and very pointed. Watch out for the temptation of adultery. The ox is led to slaughter. The stag bounds foolishly toward the trap. The bird is unaware of the snare….

In the next week or two we will be focusing in worship on biblical “Lists for Living.” The first list up for consideration is The Ten Commandments. It too warns about adultery.

Interesting.

Prayer

God, You know how our lives can best be lived. Help us to hold onto Your wisdom so that our lives will be blessed. We ask this in the gracious name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.