Proverbs 7

"My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
Keep my commandments and live,
And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
And call understanding your intimate friend."
(vs 1-4)

Again, as in many of the other Proverbs, and elsewhere throughout the Scripture, we see the Word strongly charging us to hold tight to God’s wisdom and understanding, and to heed His commands. God knows that sin can easily entice those who are not walking as a True disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. He desires us to be filled with His wisdom and understanding, that we may stand strong and upright in the day of temptation. As the Proverb continues -

"That they may keep you from an adulteress,
From the foreigner who flatters with her words."
(vs 5)

The Proverb goes on to describe a young man, lacking in discernment and judgment, who gives into temptation and strays from the path of Life. Without the commandments and teaching of the Lord bound upon his fingers, and written on the tablet of his heart, he allows himself to be seduced by the pleasures of this world, and as verse 23 sadly ends, "it will cost him his life."

"With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her flattering lips she seduces him.
Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
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."
(vs 21-23)

This ’adulteress’ can obviously be a woman, but as we read in many other passages in the Bible, it can also stand for other sinful lusts of the world that we allow to bring us into bondage, and stray too, from the path of Life. Jesus, in describing what it means to be a disciple, warns about those things that will, as in the case of the foolish youth above, cost a man his life.

"Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels."- Mark 8:34-38

God’s people, Israel, did not keep His words, or treasure His commandments. They did not deny themselves of their sinful desires, and as God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, they committed adultery with false gods, riches, and their fame. God looked down upon those He had blessed and called to Life, and was ashamed of them because of their behavior.

“Your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD.

But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be. You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them."- Eze 16:14-17

God gives us commandments, by His Holy Spirit, so that we may walk in victory. So that death may no longer have dominion over us. (Rom chap 6-8). And as we read the other day, there is no temptation that we cannot turn and walk away from, if our eyes are fixed on the Lord Jesus, and His words are treasured in our hearts. (1 Cor 10:13)

The Proverb concludes -

"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.
For many are the victims she has cast down,
And numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death."
(vs 24-27)

Dear friends, I thank the Lord that He loves us, and desires only the best for us. I thank Him even for the discipline that He sometimes must use to keep us from straying unto the paths that lead to death. And I thank Him for the strength to overcome that is available to each of us, because of His death and Resurrection.

God bless you and keep you,

Michael


Treasure My commandments within you
(vs 1b)