Turn Away
Proverbs 7:6-27
For I was at the window of my house, glancing out through the lattice, 7 when I saw among the young men there, among those who don’t think for themselves, a young fellow devoid of all sense. 8 He crosses the street near her corner and continues on toward her house. 9 Dusk turns into evening, and finally night, dark and black. 10 Then a woman approaches him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 11 She’s the coarse, impulsive type, whose feet don’t stay at home; 12 rather, she stalks the streets and squares, lurking at every streetcorner.
13 She grabs him, gives him a kiss, and, brazen-faced, she says to him, 14 “I had to offer peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today. 15 This is why I came out to meet you, to look for you; now I’ve found you. 16 I’ve spread quilts on my couch made of colored Egyptian linen. 17 I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come on, let’s make love till morning; we’ll enjoy making love. 19 My husband isn’t at home, he’s gone on a long trip; 20 he took a bag of money with him and won’t be back till the moon is full.”
21 With all her sweet talk she convinces him, enticing him with her seductive words. 22 At once he follows her like an ox on its way to be slaughtered; like a fool to be punished in the stocks; 23 or like a bird rushing into a trap, not knowing its life is at stake till an arrow pierces its liver.
24 So now, children, listen to me; pay attention to what I am saying. 25 Don’t let your heart turn to her ways; don’t stray onto her paths. 26 For many are those she has struck down dead, numerous those she has killed. 27 Her house is the way to Sh’ol; it leads down to the halls of death.
Yes, I chose to finish the chapter today. The reading is longer, but it is a "story" that deserves to be kept together. A story told of a young man who followed a prostitute. People reading might say, "Oh, I would never do that!!!"
The line that stuck out to me as I read this was in verse 14:
“I had to offer peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today.
This woman knew the "right thing" to do. She went and gave her peace offering! She She fulfilled her vows to God. Then what did she do??? She turned around and did the same thing again...
Friends, this is what we need to ask ourselves. When we repent, do we actually TURN from the sin and not do it again? Or, do we think that His grace is sufficient so we keep on sinning because "grace abounds."
I bolded the last four verses. Once again we read, "LISTEN to me..." "PAY ATTENTION" "Don't turn to her ways..."
Stop and reflect today on your life. Do you know that you can just keep "offering sacrifices" so you choose to "keep on sinning?" Or, will you STOP and turn from your ways and walk away from the sin that so easily entangles?
Choices... choose wisely
Love and blessings,
Rose
Women Empowerment based on Torah and the Bible
