the Fourth Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Proverbs 7:1-27
This chapter illustrates in the most solemn way the danger to which the young son of wisdom is exposed by the strange woman. It truly involves "hunting for his life" (cf. Proverbs 6:26), with this impure woman, noisy and unrestrained, lying in wait. She masquerades her perverse intentions under a religious cloak (v. 14). She comes and goes; she watches her prey under cover of the night. Her weapons are honeyed words and seducing eyelids (Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 6:25). Her victim is the light-hearted young man, at a loose end, already beaten because he has no will-power and is carried away by his feelings.
The scene is graphically portrayed: reckless and stupid as "he goes after her straightway". "The snare of the fowler" – that is to say, Satan – immediately closes in on him (v. 23; Psalms 91:3). It is too late: pleasures for the moment, but what a price to pay! For "it is for his life" . . . and he did not know it (v. 23). With the warnings you receive, young Christian, you are even more responsible. But you also know where to find your help. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy word". (Psalms 119:9). Meditate on the example of Joseph and his firm stand in Genesis 39:9; in the hour of danger, cry to Him who is always "able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
