Walking with the Wise #43: Passion and Pain

“Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;

let us delight ourselves with love.

For my husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey;

he took a bag of money with him;

at full moon he will come home."

—Proverbs 7:18-20

Sex. It’s everywhere and everyone is doing it. It’s on newsstands, magazine racks, grocery checkout lines, websites, and billboards. It’s used to sell everything from milk to cars. A parent seemingly can’t take their child anywhere without being accosted by the message of sex and sexuality. Television shows glorify sexual immorality, casual sexual encounters, and all manner of of sexual deviancy. One can get whatever one wants with the click of a mouse. While pleasure without consequences is promised, the result is far different. Sin always has consequences and sexual immorality is no different. God has made sex for a purpose, to be enjoyed between a husband and wife in the context of marriage—anything else is sin. And it is not just a sin against God, but against oneself. As Paul wrote,

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body”—1 Corinthians 6:18.

Today’s proverb focuses on the adulteress and her illicit relationship with a young man. She is a married woman who goes out seeking a young man as he walks down her street. She is dressed provocatively, letting her intentions be known. Loud and defiant, she casts care to the wind, disregarding the sexual mores of society and the commands of God (v. 11). She kisses her prey, feigning godliness—bragging about sacrifices she’s made to the Lord (v. 12-13). She invites him to her home for dinner. The invitation is for much more than dinner, however. She promises him the pleasures of sinful sex without consequences. Noting that her husband would be away on a trip and wouldn’t be home for some time, she assures him that they would never be caught (v.19-20).

Every single sin is a lie in masquerade, and if we can identify the lie then we will be much better equipped to deal with sin. Satan doesn’t come to us as Satan; rather he masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44), a master manipulator and deceiver who looks for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

The young man believes the woman’s lie and gives himself over to sinful pleasure. But he fails to realize that his choice has horrific consequences. Solomon describes the young man’s tragic choice as equivalent to an ox going to slaughter (v. 22), a stag shot by a hunter (v. 22), or a bird caught in a snare (v. 23). He failed to understand that his choice would result in his death (v. 27).

We must be on guard against sexual immorality, making every effort to live holy and pure lives, making sure that we are learning how to control our bodies for God. There is no temptation that cannot be overcome, because God has promised a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and left us an example as to how we might overcome it (Matthew 4:1-11).

Flee sexual immorality! Don’t give into the lie of the enemy! You can resist! Stay true to what God has for you, cling to His promises, and resist the enemy because he will flee from you (cf. James 4:7). God wants your absolute best and has provided every means necessary to keep you from sin! You can resist and live the life God has for you! There is grace and forgiveness for those who have failed, but don’t live a defeated life! Live in the victory of Christ’s resurrection life which is at work in you! Amen.