Proverbs 7-8

 Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7:1-5 Admonition to keep the commands of wisdom close, like a relative. Perhaps the wayward woman is a metaphor for other spiritual deceits that tempt us away from God, although this chapter is quite explicit. Making a decision upfront to obey wisdom is perhaps the only way to avoid disaster.

Proverbs 7:6-9 Just wandering around, checking out the neighborhood, going to see what temptations are out there (there is indeed a rush that comes with temptation by itself), is to not make a decision, which ends up being a decision. It indicates a lack of common sense. This is not scouting enemy territory, it is walking into it unarmed.

Proverbs 7:10-21 A detailed description of the seduction process. This includes an aggressive self-introduction by a taste of what is offered (7:13), a description of what is being offered (7:16-18), and a statement about the risk being taken care of (7:19-20). The reference to the husband is possibly based on the same understanding stated earlier of the offended husband destroying the adulterer (6:34-35). 

There are other temptations that lead to destruction. For example, alcohol and narcotic drugs are obvious ways to ruin your life, and the seduction process is probably pretty similar; an introduction to what is offered, a description of its consummation, and assurances that the risks are taken care of.  Beyond that, the temptation to get rich or become powerful follows a similar path. I am sure there are other paths to self destruction, and Solomon is here focusing on just one, but Satan has a bag of tricks, not just one.

Proverbs 7:22-23 Yielding to temptation and paying the price. Like an ox on its way to the slaughterhouse (imagine the blood and raw meat being produced from a formerly live animal), an arrow piercing a deer’s liver (certain, painful death), or a bird entering a trap. There are many efforts in literature to communicate the pains of hell. Solomon started it.

Proverbs 7:24-27 A summary of the admonition: do not stray into the path of the adulteress, for it leads to death.  

Is there the possibility of redemption when one has gone down this path? Jesus offered it to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Did she receive His offer? We don’t know what happened after that incident. The offer was there - He did not condemn her. But He also admonished her to go and sin no more. Did she make a lifestyle change, to serve God rather than living by the flesh, by the habits and within the social framework she was used to? Was she able to change her life because of the humiliation and nearly being stoned to death? Ultimately, she could only be saved and forgiven based on Jesus’ (then future) death on the cross. What about us? Does God allow us to reap the fruit of our waywardness before death to motivate us to repent and change our ways while the opportunity is open?

Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:1-4 The call of wisdom. Wisdom as an expression of God’s nature and character is not a separate divine being, but personification  of one of His attributes.

Proverbs 8:5-9 Wisdom describes her virtues. Wisdom speaks what is trustworthy, right, true, just, and upright. Being this virtuous may not sound like an interesting life, but the rest of Proverbs (really the rest of the Bible) tells of the joy and fulfillment of this life.

Proverbs 8:10-11 Contrasting the value of wisdom to worldly wealth. Nothing we desire can compare to wisdom, so it only makes sense to choose it.  

Proverbs 8:12-21 The role of wisdom in the affairs of life. Wisdom is the first of the gifts of the Holy Spirit identified by Paul. (1 Corinthians 12:8) Political power should be exercised based on wisdom (sadly not the case these days). Enduring wealth results from wise choices, because her blessings are based on righteousness and justice. Temporary wealth or political power may be obtained through evil injustice (slaveholders in the antebellum south, Nazi Germany, the USSR), but they will not endure.

Proverbs 8:22-31 The presence of wisdom in creation. Before Genesis 1:1, the Lord created wisdom. (8:22) Wisdom was there when the world was created. (8:23-26) Wisdom was present when the heavens were separated from the earth. (Genesis 1:6-8) (8:27) Wisdom was present when the ocean waters were separated from the land. (Genesis 1:9-10) (8:28-29) Wisdom was present celebrating the creation of mankind. (Genesis 1:26-27,31) (8:31) Humankind via wisdom is looking to creation as unfallen, but also has responsibility for it. (Genesis 1:26)

Proverbs 8:32-36 The blessings of finding and heeding wisdom. We need to seek and receive  wisdom (God) every day to receive the promised blessing. (8:34)