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Ok, so the Lord has been really stressing the importance of spending time with him both through meditation and through reading/singing His word lately. I feel totally silly when I sing it instead of just read it, but for whatever reason, I get insight when I sing it and I think that's worth it.
Today I began reading Proverbs 7 and just started making notes about what I learned as I read. I believe the Lord gave me some great revelation as I read through this verse. I hope that the Lord give you even more revelation as you read through this blog. Please share your thoughts, insight, disagreement, agreement, all of the above in a comment either here or on my facebook.
Today I began reading Proverbs 7 and just started making notes about what I learned as I read. I believe the Lord gave me some great revelation as I read through this verse. I hope that the Lord give you even more revelation as you read through this blog. Please share your thoughts, insight, disagreement, agreement, all of the above in a comment either here or on my facebook.
Warning Against the Adulterous
Woman
7 My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you. Meditate on God’s word
2 Keep my commands and you will live; When we obey the commands of the Lord we are freed to live whole lives
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. God’s instructions are treasures because they teach us who we are, who He is, and how things work. We learn our purpose and our hearts when we examine Him.
3 Bind them on your fingers; You use your fingers every day. They are the beginning of most productivity.
write them on the tablet of your heart. Your heart is the compass of your life.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.” I just picture wisdom and insight being my best friends always walking around with me. Imagine being able to ask them how to handle different situations anytime I’d like…
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words. I don’t think this verse is solely talking about the seductive woman, but rather from our heart’s lustful desires. For me, control, money, power, popularity, security, and comfort are some of the first that come to mind. Vanity is another. These are all things that at times seem to whisper promises that can look more appealing than what the Lord has to offer… what power lies! Just typing that causes my heart to break. Though it is true at times, it hurts my heart to think I could sell out so easy and depart so whimsically from the One who conquered my soul and captured my affections… the one who redeemed me from the deepest, foulest bogs of all eternal gloom! (Yes, I stole that from my favorite movie… name it!)
and store up my commands within you. Meditate on God’s word
2 Keep my commands and you will live; When we obey the commands of the Lord we are freed to live whole lives
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. God’s instructions are treasures because they teach us who we are, who He is, and how things work. We learn our purpose and our hearts when we examine Him.
3 Bind them on your fingers; You use your fingers every day. They are the beginning of most productivity.
write them on the tablet of your heart. Your heart is the compass of your life.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.” I just picture wisdom and insight being my best friends always walking around with me. Imagine being able to ask them how to handle different situations anytime I’d like…
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words. I don’t think this verse is solely talking about the seductive woman, but rather from our heart’s lustful desires. For me, control, money, power, popularity, security, and comfort are some of the first that come to mind. Vanity is another. These are all things that at times seem to whisper promises that can look more appealing than what the Lord has to offer… what power lies! Just typing that causes my heart to break. Though it is true at times, it hurts my heart to think I could sell out so easy and depart so whimsically from the One who conquered my soul and captured my affections… the one who redeemed me from the deepest, foulest bogs of all eternal gloom! (Yes, I stole that from my favorite movie… name it!)
6 At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in. This one is interesting. I picture myself on my treasured balcony. My patio has so many plants and I’ve hung things on the walls. It feels so homey and safe. I can go out there and feel like I’m in my own private little retreat. I feel so secure and so relaxed surrounded by my little display of beauty. I cultivate my plants and enjoy my own little area where I can create and make things grow. It’s a safe place. It’s also a place for observation. It overlooks the front yard of my apartment… aka the parking lot where I am free to enjoy watching all the passers-by. From my time on the patio, I’ve been privileged to see my neighbors live life. I’ve observed when they come and go, I have seen how they behave, how they interact, how they live. I don’t have to actually have conversations with them to know that the young man across the street is most likely single and has a dog who he takes out. The woman next to him has at least three children she sees off to school every morning at 7:30am. My upstairs neighbor lives alone, wakes up about 5am, leaves the house about 7-7:30am, returns home at 6pm every evening, and never seems to interact with anyone. You get the idea.. I know how they live.
I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in. This one is interesting. I picture myself on my treasured balcony. My patio has so many plants and I’ve hung things on the walls. It feels so homey and safe. I can go out there and feel like I’m in my own private little retreat. I feel so secure and so relaxed surrounded by my little display of beauty. I cultivate my plants and enjoy my own little area where I can create and make things grow. It’s a safe place. It’s also a place for observation. It overlooks the front yard of my apartment… aka the parking lot where I am free to enjoy watching all the passers-by. From my time on the patio, I’ve been privileged to see my neighbors live life. I’ve observed when they come and go, I have seen how they behave, how they interact, how they live. I don’t have to actually have conversations with them to know that the young man across the street is most likely single and has a dog who he takes out. The woman next to him has at least three children she sees off to school every morning at 7:30am. My upstairs neighbor lives alone, wakes up about 5am, leaves the house about 7-7:30am, returns home at 6pm every evening, and never seems to interact with anyone. You get the idea.. I know how they live.
On a much broader scale, I
think this verse is basically setting the scene. As humans we are privileged to
observe many different life choices that other humans make.
10 Then out came a woman to
meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. The man of example in this passage secretly walks out when he thinks no one is looking to go hang out with a woman who has stolen his lust. Who hasn’t been there? What are some of your lustful desires? The desire for a relationship has been a very common one in my life. It’s so alluring because I think, “A boyfriend gives me a confidence I don’t have outside of a relationship. I love going out on dates and feeling special. I love having someone to flirt with…” and on and on… But see the selfishness in that? The seduction is in how a boyfriend may serve me and how he may ease my discomfort. I’d rather use a boyfriend to make up for insecurities of my heart than to rely on the Lord. Others may use power, reputation, drugs, money, career, etc.
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. The man of example in this passage secretly walks out when he thinks no one is looking to go hang out with a woman who has stolen his lust. Who hasn’t been there? What are some of your lustful desires? The desire for a relationship has been a very common one in my life. It’s so alluring because I think, “A boyfriend gives me a confidence I don’t have outside of a relationship. I love going out on dates and feeling special. I love having someone to flirt with…” and on and on… But see the selfishness in that? The seduction is in how a boyfriend may serve me and how he may ease my discomfort. I’d rather use a boyfriend to make up for insecurities of my heart than to rely on the Lord. Others may use power, reputation, drugs, money, career, etc.
11 (She is unruly and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in
the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen (bold without shame – she’s unashamed of what she’ll say) face she said:
at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen (bold without shame – she’s unashamed of what she’ll say) face she said:
To me this means lady lust
is highly flighty. I know when my focus isn’t on the Lord, I tend to always be
onto the next thing. For example.. sometimes I shop not because I need
something, but because I’m bored or because I feel insecure about having to go
without something I want. I know, it’s shameful. But I do it and the Lord is
maturing me in this area (I’m slow to learn though).
I’ll go spend some money and
by something I feel I “need” only to realize I need something else and
something else and something else… before I know it, I have $50 in my account
and rent is due in two weeks! Do you think Lady Lust cares? No, she says, “So
you’re out of money… oh girl, I know that’s rough! Let me help… here’s
something to take your mind off that pressure… a new diet…”
Lady Lust knows that when I
can’t control my spending, I can control my food intake, or my schedule, or how
clean my house is. She knows how to work me and keep me continually distracted
from the intimacy that I am entitled to enjoy with my Lord. Do you see the evil
there? How does she work you? How does she take hold of you and capture your
heart with her “kisses”? They may feel good for a moment, but when you’re left
with no money, no calories (or having eaten to many in my case at times), to
many sexual conquests, unable to pull yourself away from the office
because dealing with the loneliness is
unbearable, etc. than is your Lady Lust really all that attractive?
14 “(Remember this woman is
confidently speaking this to those who pursue her)
Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. I did some research on the fellowship offering because I wanted to know why Lady lust would give one. Here’s what I found:
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. I did some research on the fellowship offering because I wanted to know why Lady lust would give one. Here’s what I found:
For those of you that are not going to go check it out, the
Fellowship Offering, or peace offering was a completely voluntary offering that
was optional to give to the Lord. In Leviticus 22 (around vs 20ish) it talks
about how it’s for our benefit. Commentaries suggest that the Fellowship
offering is also a parallel to the sacrifice Jesus made when he lived and died
on the cross – a voluntary offering of peace unto the Lord, which was not
required.
Here we see lady lust parading around giving her unrequited offering
to please the heart of God… the word
that comes to mind is hypocrite. Do you ever do that? Walk around like you know
something about God… like you are so biblical… like you and God are on good
terms, while in private, you have another agenda? We have all done it at some
point and we all know people who do it. We walk around as if we adore Jesus and
are going above and beyond in our spiritual lives to please him, while we are
really just bait to be had by those who stray. I’m calling us out as predators.
On the flip side, isn’t that how the enemy of Jesus and the enemy of
our hearts works? He makes it look so innocent. He comes to us saying, “Wait,
this isn’t a gossip session… it’s a prayer meeting… you’re learning important
bits of information about Todd and Gina so you’ll know how to pray for them… by
the way, can you believe they don’t use condoms, and she thinks she’s pregnant..
but don’t tell anyone!” All in the name of the Lord.
I tell you the truth, that is not how our God works. We could throw
out so many other examples about how Satan and Lady Lust work so hard to mask
sin as something innocent or even as something Godly, but I’m sure you can
think of creative examples too.
What else does Lady Lust say to the man who goes to her in the
shadows:
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you! Notice that he pursued her initially, he went to her home… but she was also out looking for him and she found him.
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. This is highly erotic! This Lady Lust is all set and ready for some… you know. She’s on a mission.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you! Notice that he pursued her initially, he went to her home… but she was also out looking for him and she found him.
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. This is highly erotic! This Lady Lust is all set and ready for some… you know. She’s on a mission.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With persuasive words she
led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk. Oh how easy it is to allow the excitement and thrill of temptation to carry us away to our deaths. Have you ever actually prospered from living in sin? Can you think of one instance where enjoying the pleasure Lady Lust had to offer didn’t ultimately lead to heart ache and a huge mess? I have lived a lot of life and I have pursued a lot of desires… sinful desires… and I can honestly say that of all the pursuits that have captured my heart and led me astray, nothing has given me fulfillment or peace. None of them gave me the certainty that I hoped for. None of them assisted in answering the questions I had, “Why am I here? Why was I created? What is my purpose?”
she seduced him with her smooth talk. Oh how easy it is to allow the excitement and thrill of temptation to carry us away to our deaths. Have you ever actually prospered from living in sin? Can you think of one instance where enjoying the pleasure Lady Lust had to offer didn’t ultimately lead to heart ache and a huge mess? I have lived a lot of life and I have pursued a lot of desires… sinful desires… and I can honestly say that of all the pursuits that have captured my heart and led me astray, nothing has given me fulfillment or peace. None of them gave me the certainty that I hoped for. None of them assisted in answering the questions I had, “Why am I here? Why was I created? What is my purpose?”
Every time I entered into
covenants with lady lust, I ended up feeling lost and crushed. I ended up
wondering what was next. I ended up alone and betrayed by the fantasies and
hopes that I ran so hard after.
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b]
23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life. Following lady lust and allowing ourselves to be romanced with her illusions of promise only leads to death. Yes, the truth is heart breaking… but the truth is what sets us free to live life in the safety of the Lord.
Do you think God gives us
warnings for the purpose of keeping us from full lives? No! I promise that the Lord
gives us warning so we may fully embrace life.
When scuba diving, one must
be very careful to not rise to the surface or sink to the depths too quickly
because the air in our bodies (in our lungs and blood and muscles) expands and
contracts slower than our capability to travel up or down.
If a diver goes to deep to
fast he/she may get nitrogen narcosis (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/nitrogen+narcosis) and if you rise to quickly
the air in your body will expand and the diver may be susceptible to oxygen
toxicity (http://scubadiverinfo.com/2_physiology.html). Both are exceptionally painful and can potentially be fatal
if they are severe enough.
If a diver understands how to time their dives so that they rise at
the correct rate and lower at the correct rate, they are least likely to get
sick and most likely to have a great dive.
If we know God’s laws and follow them according to His design, we
are least likely to be hurt or experience unnecessary pain during the course of
life and we are enabled to appreciate the entire dive (or our total lives) while
making the most of them.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to
me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths. The choice is ours!
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths. The choice is ours!
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
Don’t be discouraged by some
of these warnings. Be encouraged because the Lord cared enough to give us
warning, in such a beautiful analogy. I love you beloved!
Tell me how this verse and
blog touches you <3
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