AppNotes

March 11, 2021

In this proverb a man is watching a situation happening on the street. A very beautiful, beguiling woman is enticing a young man somewhere he shouldn’t be going. She knows exactly what to say to hook him in, and eventually he yields. Let’s flip the script. There are plenty of silver-tongued men that leave a woman in a tragic or maybe dangerous situation. The desires these young people had weren’t uncommon, and not necessarily wrong. Dating is a time for many things: getting to know who is a good mate for you, and how to be a better mate for someone else. It’s discovering traits in yourself and others that create that good solid pairing. Dating is not the time for sexual impulsivity. Let us not “lack in good sense” as the author of the proverb stated. Instead, stay closer to God so when these traps are laid before us, we won’t be so ready to take the bait.

Bible Reading

Proverbs 7:4-21 NIV
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.