adulteryIn our previous study of Proverbs 7 we have noted Solomon’s employment of “story-telling” in his exhortation to his son to beware and avoid the way of an adulterous woman.  Given our brazen, immoral culture, this lesson from Solomon is needed more than ever.

Solomon’s expose’ of the adulteress runs throughout Proverbs 7.  She appears to be a wife of leisure and luxury…today’s society might refer to her as a “trophy wife”; however, she is a heartache to the man who married her. Solomon describes her attire as that of a harlot (7:10).  She is subtle, cunning in her attitude and brash in her words.  She is a froward woman (7:11-13), immoral in her conduct while projecting a religious piety that belies her wickedness (7:14).  Her words are flirtatious and flattering (7:16-20), luring this young fool into her lair.  I will allow Solomon’s narrative to describe her flattery.Broken-vows

Proverbs 7:16-20 – I have decked [spread] my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18  Come, let us take our fill [satisfy] of love until the morning: let us solace [exult; rejoice] ourselves with loves. 19  For the goodman [husband] is not at home, he is gone a long [far; abroad] journey: 20  He hath taken [carried; taken away] a bag of money [silver] with him, and will come home at the day appointed.”

Interesting that the adulteress describes her enticements to her victim in the same manner as the world of our day—“let us take our fill of love…let us solace ourselves with loves” (7:18).  Of course, what she describes as love is nothing more than lust!  She evidences no remorse for the sacred vows she is breaking or shame for the man whose trust she is betraying.

I close with a reminder that God’s perfect plan for humanity was, is and will continue Husband and wifeto be that marriage is a union between one man and one woman “till death us do part.”

Ephesians 5:31, 33 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh…33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”