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| Wikipedia/The Procuress |
The Book of Proverbs spends many chapters warning young men about the strange woman ... the adulterous woman. And those warnings certainly apply to the young woman about the strange man. Here is a sample of such life tips:
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
turn your ear to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
Simple put:
Beware of Strangers with Eye Candy
The tabloids and their ilk devour a regular diet of the indiscretions of prominent political figures (from both parties), high profile religious leaders, captains of industry, entertainers, sports heroes, and other celebrities. (Just google "mistresses" with your chosen powerful positions and/or celebrity.) And many of these dalliances have had tragic consequences - damaged reputations, ruined marriages, ended careers, and hurt the innocent.
Many songs bemoan such ruin. And one such hit the top of the charts on this theme - 50 years ago - September 5, 1964.
The House of the Rising Sun
by the Animals
by the Animals
(reference: http://youtu.be/y2oKRKZnEoA )
But in the Book of Proverbs there is another mistress who is the counter to the strange woman. She is called Wisdom and she is personified as a woman:
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
Proverbs 1 (NIV)
And the Book of Proverbs is filled with many pictures of Wisdom calling out to the simple and the foolish. Here are some of her instructions: Proverbs 1:20-33 ; Proverbs 2 ; Proverbs 3 ; Proverbs 4 ; Proverbs 8 ; Proverbs 9:1-12
As the strange man/woman ruins, Wisdom redeems.
King David was a strange man, an adulterer, and he found forgiveness and redemption as he wrote:
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51 (NIV)
That Wisdom is found in the Son of David, Jesus, in which all can find forgiveness, even the strange man or woman, adulterers. As to the woman caught in adultery (curious note is the man was not brought forth, too), Jesus said this of her accusers -
"Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
The story is found in the Gospel of John - John 8:1-1 and is illustrated in the short clip below.
The Wisdom of Proverbs speaks of the Wisdom of Christ - the incarnation of Wisdom.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God—
that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)
His Words can save us from the seduction of adultery ... and save those who have committed adultery and make us whole again. As one forgiven adulterer, David, once said -
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
Psalm 51:13 (NIV)
And that is sweeter than candy!
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Previous post in the series:
Proverbs (part 1) - Information vs. Wisdom (2013)
Proverbs (part 2) - Live Long and Prosper (2013)
Previous post in the series:
Proverbs (part 1) - Information vs. Wisdom (2013)
Proverbs (part 2) - Live Long and Prosper (2013)
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Photo from: Wikipedia/The Procuress
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