“My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell” (Proverbs 5:1-5).
It is amazing how much time the Proverb writer spends in Proverbs chapters 5-7 in trying to warn men of the dangers of going astray after an immoral woman. Certainly, all women are not immoral. I have been blessed to be married to a terrific, godly woman for the past 25 years. However, one has to only look at the boom in pornography and the way seductive women are used in TV ads to realize many in our society have made a lot of money exploiting man’s weaknesses when it comes to sexual immorality. I would encourage all of you men to take time to read Proverbs chapters 5 through 7 to gain wisdom in dealing with this weakness that is so common to many of us men.
First, the writer speaks of how easily the foolish man is led astray by an immoral woman (Proverbs 7:6-23). As he concludes how the immoral woman tempted the young fool to go after her, the inspired writer states, “With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks” (Proverbs 7:21-22). Because sexual immorality is a sin with which so many men struggle, it is essential that men seek after God’s wisdom in how to avoid this temptation: “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words” (Proverbs 7:4-5).
Second, the wise writer warns men to be aware of the tactics of the immoral woman. She uses smooth, flattering words to entice her victims (Proverbs 5:3; 6:24). She uses her beauty to seduce men (Proverbs 6:25). Those who give in and go after her will find trouble: “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 6:27-29). The writer makes it painfully clear the end that waits for the foolish man who caves into her temptations. Following her leads to: (1) pain and bitterness (Proverbs 5:4), (2) losing your honor (Proverbs 5:9-13), (3) destroying your own soul (Proverbs 6:32), and death (Proverbs 6:33-35).
Finally, the author shares with us some wisdom when it comes to dealing with the danger of being tempted by an immoral woman: First, don’t go near her path. Don’t even ponder for a moment going after her (Proverbs 5:6; Proverbs 7:24-27). “Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:8). Second, for those who are married, be content and rejoice in the sexual relationship you enjoy with your wife with which God has blessed you (Proverbs 5:15-20). The marriage bed is honorable (Hebrews 13:4). However, the bed of the fornicator and adulterer will not only lead to shame, disgrace, and dishonor, it will also bring God’s judgment!
All because society tries to exploit men’s weaknesses with sexual immorality, I don’t have to be a fool and give into it. Today, I will strive to be wise and avoid the immoral woman and beware of the tactics she uses to lead my heart astray into her path of destruction. I will be content and rejoice with the wife of my youth and praise God for the sexual relationship we enjoy together!
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).