“Do Not Stray Into Her Paths”

The seventh exhortation (Proverbs 7:1-27) gives yet another warning against succumbing to the temptations of adultery.

The chapter begins with instruction to prize and be attentive to the father’s commands—which are, in fact, God’s commands. The son is to take wisdom as “sister” and understanding as nearest kin. “Sister” here may be used in the sense of a bride (see Song of Solomon 4:9-10, Song of Solomon 4:12; Song of Solomon 5:1-2). In any case, a deep, close relationship is to be forged with all that constitutes wisdom. The young man must be prepared to escape the clutches of that ubiquitous adulteress.

An example is given of a gullible young man who did not escape. The woman perversely speaks of having offered peace offerings, which meant she could bring part of them home for a feast before God—yet her banquet, while her husband is away, is for the purpose of luring the young man into her home. And in he went to his own destruction. “Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death” (verse 27, NIV).

When two people engage in premarital or extra-marital sex, the actual circumstances, motives and attitudes vary a great deal. They may both plan on having sex, or one may intentionally seduce the other, or they may be increasingly intimate in their affection and get carried away. Regardless, every couple that engages in immoral sex lacks or ignores the precious wisdom of God that He spells out in His Word for our protection, health and happiness. Wisdom includes making firm godly plans to remain pure. Any decisions made while emotional or sexually aroused will likely be foolish decisions. He who fails to plan plans to fail.

We should remember to see figurative parallels here between the way of wisdom and the way of folly and wickedness. Woman Folly later issues similar invitations with the same horrible result (Proverbs 9:13-18). And we will read of Woman Wisdom throwing a feast in her home and inviting the simple in (Proverbs 9:1-6)—in that case a banquet we should be delighted to attend.