Chapter 7 contains more warnings about the crafty harlot (I'm starting to wonder about Solomon's son). I am thinking about the heart issues that lead to the paths of destruction described in this chapter. I want to know the heart issues that lead people down these dark alleys of destruction. So with that Bible study in mind, I'm looking at Solomon's heart again.
1 Kings 11:1-9 (New King James Version)
Solomon’s Heart Turns from the LORD
1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women,
Even though no symbolism is intended in this verse, I do believe it is a wider warning of how various "foreign" idols can captivate our hearts. The purpose for our Bible Study is to allow a deep searching of our hearts. What "foreign bodies" are toxic to my heart and could keep me from following God faithfully? Solomon exposed his heart to ungodly influences. How do we do the same?
as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods;
Let those influences stick around long enough, and then when you are weak......
and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,
We will not finish the race like this. We can pray for understanding today. What things are influencing me in the wrong way? Tell me Lord, what thoughts are not your thoughts. Give me understanding, and wisdom, and discretion! Write your Word on the tablet of my heart, and help me keep my heart. Here is Chapter 7 of Proverbs:
Proverbs 7 (New King James Version)
1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house
9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him:
14 “ I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.”
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.
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6 comments:
Although I know that Solomon was speaking of actual women in these verses, I wonder if we can interpret the harlot as a metaphor for any type of sin and its persuasive temptations.
Also, Pastor Dave's comments about negative influences becoming stronger and having more of a grip on us the longer we allow them access to us reminds me of a personal experience. Several years ago I was befriended by a woman who had a very similar background as me--we both homeschooled, went to church together, had small children who were friends, etc. This woman was known to be a tremendous gossip, so at first I was very careful and was able to ignore her comments, change the subject, etc. But as our friendship continued, I didn't realize it but I was falling into the same pattern as my friend. It got to the point that she called me every morning with the full intent of telling me any and everything she had found out about half of Pell City. And, I'm ashamed to admit, I was anxious to hear it! It was such a slow progression (or should I say "digression") for me, that I didn't have a clue that I was becoming what I didn't like about my friend. Finally, my husband sat me down one night and said, "Laurie, I want you to end your friendship with 'Jane Doe.' I don't like who you are when you are with her." WOW! What an eye opening experience it was for me. I cut off the friendship and did a tremendous amount of repenting. I'm ashamed to admit that I probably didn't handle that situation exactly the right way, but I quickly got back on track with the Lord. This is a prime example of how Christians can slide into sin without realizing it--a good example of how we are influenced by those we choose to associate with.
As I was reading verse 21 I really felt like the Lord was telling me that is the way that satan comes at us with temptations, by "enticing speech" and "flattering lips".
If you look at Matthew 4, he (satan) did this exact thing to Jesus in the wilderness. Satan enticed Jesus with food, fame, and power, and he flattered Jesus by calling Him the "Son of God".
I am so excited that God mentions lattice in the Bible. You never know what you will find in the Bible. I wasn't expecting lattice.
On a serious note - this verse, verse 6 really stuck out to me. My prayer today is that God will keep me to be the one looking out from behind the lattice. I pray God will make me aware of and open my eyes to the danger all around me, so that I may not become the one in verse 7 - A young one devoid of understanding.
This chapter for me was a strong warning to keep away from sin. If we allow any sin to creep into our hearts and take root. It can quickly lead to a path of distruction. Also, those who lead you will entice you with flattery and you might not see it coming. As soon as this happens, we can be caught up in this sinful lifestyle. It does not even have to be something that we perceive as a "big sin." (Yes, I know all sin is the same, but we often convince ourselves that some are weighted more than others.)Like Laurie's story before, something seemingly innocent can spin out of control if we do not gaurd our hearts wisely.
Thanks for these comments everyone. I'm really enjoying this daily study of Proverbs.
I know it is the end of the day, but I wanted to share what I had learned today through this proverb. In verse 2, Solomon talks about keeping the law as the apple of your eye. I have used this phrase on many occasions, but didn't grasp it's true meaning until today.
I researched the origin of the phrase and was excited about what I found. The Hebrew word used for "apple" literally means "Little Man". According to the articles I read, this refers to the image of yourself that you can see in another person's pupil. So in order for anything or anyone to remain as the apple of my eye, I have to fix my gaze upon that so that person or object reflects out of my eye.
How can I keep God's Word as the apple of my eye? I must spend time studying it and gazing upon it intently! If I do this with a passionate pursuit, then God's Word (Jesus, according to John 1) will be that "little man" that others see in my eyes when they look at me.
God, help me to keep your word as the apple of my eye. Help me to stay hungry for intimate time with you so that others will see you in me.
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