Write Them in Your Heart

May 7: Proverbs 7

Have you ever noticed as soon as you decide to start a diet, someone brings donuts or leftover birthday cake to work? You try to be strong and not eat it, but every time you walk by that cake or donuts are calling your name – just tempting you to forget your diet and have one little piece. Afterall, it doesn’t really count if no one sees you eat it, right?

Today’s scripture is about temptation. This chapter begins with another warning against adultery and an emphasis on understanding wisdom. It’s the third chapter warning against sexual immorality. It’s helpful to remember this is a father trying to impart wisdom to his young adult son who is probably a teenager or in the early 20s. Keep in mind the frontal lobe is not fully developed until about 25 years old. This is the part of the brain that allows us to weigh the pros and cons of decisions. So these chapters may be a little repetitive, but if you’ve had teenagers, you understand the necessity of repeating yourself often in order for them to even possibly listen to the wisdom you try to share.

This chapter is a story of seduction by a persuasive and deceptive woman and a young man that falls prey to the woman’s persuasion. He was tempted and he failed. We are all tempted by many things on a daily basis. It may or may not be sexual immorality. Unfortunately , Satan is always at work to pull us into sin. He will even try to convince us that no one will see or know, so we should just do it. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.”
‭
• We must always be on guard and pray so that we might resist temptation.
Matthew 26:41 says, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

• The more of God’s wisdom we can learn the easier it will be to ignore temptation.
Psalms 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

•The good news is that God is aware of our temptations and gives us a way to overcome them.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.”
‭‭
Remember, temptation is like cake and donuts. They will always be there! But striving to gain more of God’s wisdom and praying for strength will help us to avoid both. We must write His words in our heart and guard them so that we will be prepared for the devil’s attacks. “Tie my words on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.” Proverbs 7:3

Proverbs 7

The Wiles of the Harlot

1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend;
5 That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,
7 And I saw among the naive, And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening *, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
11 She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home;
12 She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner.
13 So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him:
14 “I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows.
15 “Therefore * I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
16 “I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt.
17 “I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
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, At the full moon he will come home.”
21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.
22 Suddenly he follows * her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And 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 many are the victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.