Ignorance is not bliss! Many times we use animals to describe the condition or characteristics of man. The Bible does the same thing. Jesus used the sly, cunning character of a fox to describe Herod Lu 13:32 And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' 1
Absolom s counselor Hushai compared David and his men to a Momma bear whose cubs had been stolen. 2Sa 17:8 "For," said Hushai, "you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. The wicked are compared to a lion secretly lying in wait. Ready to pounce on the unsuspecting passerby. Ps 10:9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. Many times it happens that the thief or murderer hides behind the bush or just around the corner 2
Job says the days of his life are passing by as fast as an eagle swooping down on it s prey Job 9:26 They pass by like swift ships, Like an eagle swooping on its prey. Almost all of us can relate to how quickly the days of this life pass by especially after we get out of High School. One of the most striking of these comparisons to me is made by the writer of Proverbs 7. Pr 7:22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, The wise old writer is describing what happens to a foolish young man he saw being seduced by a prostitute. 3
This story is symbolic of any type sin that we may allow to seduce us. It also should impress on the young the necessity to listen to the counsel of the aged. Pr 7:1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. apple of your eye is talking about the pupil of your eye. He is advising his son to be as careful about following his commands as he would be about protecting his eyes. I don t know how many times I have been told and have told others to watch your eyes We need to be very careful to follow the commands of our spiritual Father today. 4
Pr 7:3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Do things to help you remember! 4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your nearest kin, Wisdom and the acquisition of it should be as dear to him as a close family member. The writer now begins to explain why it is so important for his son to listen to his father s words. Pr 7:5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. If he will listen to his father s words they will keep him from sin that can destroy him! 5
This seductress is typical of any type of sin that may appear alluring and enjoyable to the uneducated eye. Pr 7:6 For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, 7 And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, Pr 7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: After dark he sees a group of young men no doubt standing around talking laughing and having a good time And he notices one in particular. He is devoid of understanding 6
The writer doesn t mean this young man is stupid but that he lacks wisdom. He doesn t have the wisdom that comes from life experience. Wisdom would have told him to seek the safety of his home at night when dangers lurk around every corner. Instead he is out probably believing nothing bad would happen to him. He has put himself into a bad situation. Pr 7:10 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. 11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. 12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. 13 So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: 7
He is met by a woman dressed provocatively like a prostitute. This woman is constantly on the prowl at night looking for her victim. When she meets this young man she grabs and kisses him with no shame. We can see a similarity in how this woman suddenly takes this young man and how many times sin suddenly presents itself to us. At this point the young man should have turned and ran away. Just as David should have immediately gone back in the house when he first saw Bathsheba. Instead he stays around to hear what she says. That is a big mistake! Just like it is big mistake when we think we can hang around those participating in sinful practices and not be affected by them ourself. 8
Pr 7:14 "I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. 16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. 17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day." 21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. 9
This woman once again is symbolic of sin and how sin operates many times. She has inflamed his lusts and has him thinking of nothing but the pleasure that awaits him. This is how sexual type sins work and many other sins as well. Men see only the pleasure they can derive from sin and do not look at the consequences of this momentary pleasure. The drug addict thinks only of how good the next hit will make him feel. The alcoholic thinks only of how good the next drink will taste. The thief is driven by what he can buy with what he has stolen. Many times people get involved in sin because it is pleasurable. 10
Unfortunately that pleasure is short lived. Moses recognized this and chose a different path than most men. Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, Those who exercise true wisdom will choose the same path as Moses. This young man chose the path of pleasure and it led to his demise! Pr 7:22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, 23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. 11
This young man was as ignorant about what was going to happen to him as an ox who is about to be slaughtered. What a sad picture that is. During the life of the ox, his owner has led him to water He has led him to food Now he is leading him to be killed and eaten. This young man like the ox has no idea he is about to be destroyed until it is too late. Just like the fool who is headed for the stocks or the bird who rushes into the trap. All the bird sees is the food (bait) that is in front of him with no consideration of what the trap will do to him. So many run head long into sin with no consideration of what it will do to them. 12
They are like an ox being led to the slaughter by sin. Our society has been convinced that sin isn t really that bad. They have been convinced that most of the time it has no consequences. Unfortunately for most people it will be too late when they learn the true consequences of sin. Sin will lead to our death! Not our physical death but our spiritual death. It will lead to an eternity in Hell! Ro 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 13
We are the slaves of the one we obey. If we obey sin then it will lead to our eternal destruction. Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is not physical death. Both the righteous and the wicked will experience that death. This death is an eternity in hell because of our sin! James explains this process of sin and death to us. Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 14
Don t be deceived! A lot of people teach and believe that once you believe in Jesus that sin won t lead to an eternity in hell. Have we noticed that the Bible doesn t say big sins lead to death or really bad sins will send us to hell? It just says sin. How can we avoid being led like an ox to the slaughter by sin? The same way the young man in Proverbs 7 could. Pr 7:24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; 15
Pr 7:26 For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27 Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. The young man could avoid his destruction by listening to his father. He shouldn t think it won t happen to him because it has happened to men stronger the he was. We can avoid spiritual death by listening to our spiritual Father (God). He has given us ample warnings and examples to avoid sin because of it s consequences. He has identified what sin is for us. And we don t need to think it won t happen to me because it has happened to smarter and stronger people than us in the past! 16