We hear a lot about intentionality, even to the point where the word loses some of its impact because of overuse. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if we were remanded to put condiments on our burgers with intentionality. As Christian men, living intentionally is the key to a victorious life. We need to know how problematic it is to live aimlessly, or without a well considered purpose. As it concerns personal holiness, especially in the area of sexual purity, a lack of intentionality can lead to the destruction of our relationships and testimony. I say this with no hyperbole whatsoever.
We read this from Proverbs 29:18:
“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”
Proverbs 7 provides a comprehensive prophetic vision to men in regards to sexual purity. From it we can learn principles that apply to any age, historically and chronologically speaking, and every man, practically speaking. If we fail to incline our spiritual ears to this passage of Scripture, we fail to hear the very voice of the Holy Spirit. Let’s read and heed God’s word.
Be Mindful!
Read Proverbs 7:1-5
What is the main point of this passage? How should it inform us as Christian men?
Realizing that sexual purity is won through Spirit-empowered preparation and practice, examine the biography of a man that failed, from the continuing narrative of Proverbs 7. Learn from his mistakes, so as not to repeat them, or if having already succumbed to sexual temptation, recognize where you fell and what you can do to walk in purity in the future.
Examine each passage of the text and prayerfully reflect on it’s meaning, impact, and implications, always with an eye towards application. Pray for the Lord’s Spirit to quicken what He reveals into action, that you would be a doer as well as a hearer of the Word.
Necessary Points
The Man
Read Proverbs 7:6-9
•From this passage, what do you know about this man?
•How might he have wound up where he was, physically, mentally, or spiritually?
•What could/should he have done differently?
•As it relates to sexual temptation, what are places or circumstances that you may encounter, or have encountered?
•What can you do to keep from finding yourself in these places or circumstances?
•Who might the “unseen seer” in verse 6 be?
•Can you relate in any way to the “unseen seer”? If so, how?
There is nothing that we think, say, or do that is beyond the gaze and knowledge of God. Remember as well that when we are discerning, you can see others heading for potential problems. We need to be vigilantly aware for our brothers as their keepers in our roles as “seen seers”. (Verses 6-7)
Proverbs 24:11- Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
We need accountability with at least one spirit-filled brother and engagement in a faith based community. Isolation and “directionlessness” are recipes for disaster. The young man had seemingly planned this excursion, going where he should not have gone at a time when he should’ve been elsewhere. Or he could’ve simply been killing time in an ill-advised way and place. (Verses 8-9) Lest we think we are above falling into sexual sin, consider this familiar event in the life of King David, a “man after God’s heart”:
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1)
1 Peter 5:8- Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Matthew 26:41- “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Corinthians 10:12- Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
What is today’s most prevalent “street near her corner”? Quite simply, it is the Information Superhighway, AKA the Internet.
The Woman Read
Proverbs 7:10-20
•From this passage, what do you know about this woman?
•What can be inferred about this woman based on other biblical passages?
•What did she say or do to entice The Man?
•What aspects of her enticement are especially insidious or tempting?
She is everywhere (at every corner she lurks) and she is proactive. In a virtual sense, she prowls as a Facebook friend, a Twitter or Instagram profile, or even as a provocative ad on an otherwise innocuous website. She could be a coworker, neighbor, employee at a business or restaurant, or even a church member. She may not have any evil intent, but may simply be available or vulnerable. (Verses 10-13)
The adulteress, sexual sin, like her father the devil, is a liar, or under the most gracious of assertions, a teller of half-truths. (Verses 14-20) Satan before her tempted Eve by only pointing out the seemingly positive aspects of biting into the forbidden fruit.
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3)
Side note- When you partake of the forbidden fruit, you have in a sense given it to your wife and kids as well. If you are not married, it will still negatively impact others around you.
The Adulteress, or more generally speaking the world, the flesh, and the devil will only dangle before us that which appeals to our sinful nature, our five senses. She will NEVER reveal the destructive, and sometimes deadly consequences of giving in to her wiles. The internet “promises” strings-free gratification without hurting anybody, and no one will be the wiser.
The Act
Read Proverbs 7:21-23
•What does this passage warn will result from interaction or engagement with the Adulteress?
• What might this look like in actual, specific ways in your own life?
•What might hinder you from recognizing the danger of the Adulteress and heeding Scripture’s dire admonition?
We read this in James 1:
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
The mightiest of oaks started as an acorn, a mere seed. Most of us are familiar with the saying, proverb, axiom, bromide, whatever that asserts, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
Have you ever talked to a guy, or maybe you are that guy, that recounted his descent into sexual sin by lamenting that he couldn’t believe what he had done, or by how a simple mouse click, second glance, or flirtatious comment led him down the “street near her corner”, and ultimately “like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it (would) cost him his life”.
The Conclusion
Read Proverbs 7:24-27
We do have an “Unseen Seer” that calls us His son. He has given us His word and Spirit to guide and empower us to live lives that glorify Him and bless others, particularly our wives. Proverbs 7 ends with a dire warning, one that we should certainly heed. But our Father is faithful to forgive us our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten, to lift us from the miry bog and place our feet solidly on the Rock of our salvation.
So what do we do?
Confess your sin
Commune with the Holy Spirit
Communicate with your wife and others!
Connect in fellowship, prayer, Bible study and accountability with other men
Continue
Conquer!
Be Mindful
The story in this proverb could easily be an accelerated timeline of a more typical descent into sexual sin, a gradual wearing down of our defenses or hardening of our hearts.
When we delight in our own wives and love them as Jesus loves us, we experience the transcendent satisfaction and joy that marriage brings. When we are blessed at home, we will not be tempted to wander “the street by her corner”.
Time is precious. In redeeming it, we increase in us the things that matter, eternally speaking. Loving God will necessarily compel us to love others, especially our wives.
Consider the context of “put off, put on” in Ephesians 3 and Colossians 3.
It is aways after the revealed grace, love, and goodness of God and who we are because of it, as found in the preceding chapters, can we “put off” and “put on”.
Most importantly, there is victory in Christ! He brings beauty from ashes! He is our resurrection and life! He has given us the ministry of reconciliation, in our own lives and in the lives of others.