Proverbs 7
Bible Passage: Proverbs 7
Joseph is a biblical character that I admire a lot. He is a person who trusts in God and more important a person who fears God. Fearing God is to love and respect God and His commandments. Sadly, nowadays there is little fear of God among Christians and even some of our church members. Today’s passage is a warning to us to avoid immorality. It is a severe warning as it warns us that we will face the unquenchable fire if we commit immorality.
“For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
Her house is the way to hell
Descending to the chambers of death.” (Prov 7:26-27)
From the Bible, we can see that Joseph has succeeded to overcome temptation and overcome this snare laid by his master’s wife. He was able to succeed most probably due to his constant communication with God and his alertness. Despite the master’s wife catching him in a compromising position, he was able to abandon his garments and not commit adultery. He would rather be ashamed running out naked and in the process jailed due to the lies of the adulteress than to disobey God.
Immorality is a severe sin. We know it as a mortal sin. However, this sin is not mortal to many churches and that is why adultery and other immoral acts are considered forgivable. Some churches are even supportive of gay marriages and gay pastors. Quite a while ago, the newspaper had articles about a certain Singapore director/ actor who was caught in adultery and his church, one of the mega churches says on the newspaper that he is forgiven of his sins. On what basis is he forgiven? In this passage of Proverbs and other passages in the New Testament it is pretty clear that adultery and immoral acts are not forgivable.
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:9-10)
Thus we should always be wary of the world’s standard else we may conform to them like other churches. Paul warns us today not to be deceived and that as true Christians and disciples of the Lord, we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We have to be righteous before God through continual renewal of the Holy Spirit, repentance and transformation of our spiritual lives.
May we be like Joseph to have a strong fear of God and that our Lord will keep us in His Grace amidst this decadent and degenerating society.
2 Comments
isfp
v6-23 Isn’t these verses frighteningly similar to our modern film. It is like directly scripted from these verses. However, the purpose is askew for these films(including most tv media too, eg MTV). They are glorifying instant gratification, lack of self-control, infidelity, excitement, wildly passion, consuming love. All these are in direct contrast to Proverbs 7 message. For proverbs 7, warn us about the temptations. It shows us the truth behind all these glamor, behind is v27 “highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”
Although we may be simple folks or inexperience in life(v7), this verses give us a heads up on the vileness of this world. Just like docile ox (v22), if without understanding about the danger ahead, he will walk right into the slaughter.
Therefore, let us continue to pursue wisdom and understanding… It will indeed save us from dangerous blind spots.
PS
Add capital M to Proverb 7:1-2 and i imagine my heavenly Father speaking:
“My son, keep My words,
And treasure My commands within you.
Keep My commands and live,
And My law as the apple of your eye.”
This comes to mind:
“He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye.” (Deut 32:10)
Our God is a just and righteous God. As He requires of His children, the same He does for them, even to double and frequently many times more.
He requires that we keep His commands and laws as we protect the apple of our eye.
In turn, He keeps us as the apple of His eye too. Even much more,
2 times: He finds us,
3 times: He encircles us,
4 times: He instructs us,
5 times: He takes us up, carrying us on the wings to ride on high hills of teh earth (Isa 58:14)
…N times: He alone leads us to life.
Do we protect His words as the apple of our eye?
Do we see the world through His words as we see through the apple of our eyes? If not, are we blind?
(Word=Apple=Wisdom)