Proverbs 7:21-27
 
Prov 7:21 (KJB)
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
 
She forced - Seduced him
 
If there is one thing a woman is good at, it is playing up to the vanity of a man. Here she proves that by her fair speech, she caused him to yield to her and then she continued on to seduce him. This is what happens when we engage in sin, it continues on until there is a culmination of that sin and in this case it ends up as adultery. So she has adulterated her marriage by playing the harlot and he has committed fornication with one who is not his wife. Both are equally guilty under the law. We also see in this verse the subtle trap that false gospels make for the unsuspecting seeker. The fair speech which a person would hear coming from a false teacher will cause that person to yield by means of wanting to hear more and then they are seduced by the false teaching and at that time it would be almost impossible for a person, who is seduced, to escape since they are then in the trap. We must always beware when someone comes to us with flattering words because they probably want something.
 
Prov 7:22 (KJB)
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
 
Straightway - Quickly or suddenly
 
The person who fools with sin and has been seduced in mind and not in body yet will have to complete the sin. Sin begins in the mind and continues to build by means of increased anticipation until the time of the consummation of that sin, and then comes the great let down because the anticipation is always much greater than the sin. There will always be guilt attached to sin but if a person continues in playing with sin, they may see a searing of their conscience when they will seem to be immune from the mental effects of sin, but that is a misnomer. Every human being knows when they are sinning because God has placed that awareness in every person He created, whether saved or unsaved. This verse tells us that because of the anticipation via the flattering lips, this man wasted no time in going after her. He is compared to the ox which is going to be slaughtered. Since the ox is an animal he does not know what his destination is and as a criminal who has been convicted of a crime in the old days, they were placed in the stocks immediately after sentencing. This verse contains an interesting parallel, on one hand he is compared to the ox that does not know his fate and then is compared to the convicted criminal who does know his fate. That is how each human enters a sinful situation, they may be temporarily blinded by the mental anticipation but each one knows they are doing wrong and that consequences will happen.
 
Prov 7:23 (KJB)
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
 
Dart - Arrow
 
Here the verse teaches us that this person who consents to the sin does not realize it until he experiences something as traumatic as an arrow to his liver. The human body contains one liver and if that is compromised, then death can take place. Here we also see that the arrow is figurative and the liver in the Hebrew scriptures represents the inner person or the heart. The bird sees the bait in the trap and that blinds him to the trap. This man only thinks that he is going to have a good time in sin until he comes to the realization that this situation will cost him his life, not only his physical life but his eternal life will be in hell. (Lev 20:10 KJV) And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. In Leviticus, we read that both parties in the adultery are to be put to death for their sin. There is no respect of persons.
 
Prov 7:24 (KJB)
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
 
Attend - Be attentive with the sense of obey
 
Solomon ends up this portion of Scripture by once again imploring his children to be careful not to get caught up in adultery. Solomon knows that sexual sin is one of the most potent traps which can bring a person down. After all, he could not control himself having 700 wives and 300 concubines. It is probable when he penned these proverbs under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that he was conveying to his children and also to us that indulging in sinful sexual trysts will only lead to a person’s downfall. Toward the end of Solomon’s reign, he had made temples for the false gods of some of his wives. (1 Ki 11:5-8 KJV) For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. {6} And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. {7} Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. {8} And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. We must be attentive to the words of Scripture that as Christians, we must never go after any false teachings. Any teachings that do not align with the Scriptures are to be avoided because if we become snared by them, it is nothing less that spiritual adultery and we will wind up with Solomon’s testimony.]
 
Prov 7:25 (KJB)
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
 
Let decline - To depart from
 
Here Solomon once again warns his children and us that we must never depart after her ways because it will bring us down to the lowest pit. Her paths cause us to go astray. (Psa 27:11-12 KJV) Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. {12} Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.  David sought the Lord to lead him in a plain path simply because the enemies of God surrounded him and he knew that God could lead him through without allowing him to be ensnared by the sins of the world. When the Proverbs speaks of our hearts, it speaks about us becoming fully dedicated to the sin. It no longer is only in our mind but now it has captivated the body to expect pleasure when as the other verse states that sinning is living death which leads to spiritual death.
 
Prov 7:26 (KJB)
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
 
Wounded - Pierced or slain
Many - Vast amount or numerous
 
The harlot has not only slain one or two, but she has been responsible for the downfall of a multitude of men. If you notice, it speaks of strong men. This verse is focusing on the many harlots around the world which has caused many men to fall. Some have thought themselves to be very strong and that they will not be affected by the sin but that is a fallacy because if there is one thing that brings equality to the masses, it is sin. No one can sin and leave unscathed. This verse is also a warning to the Christian that no matter how strong one thinks they are, the possibility always exists that they could fall prey to a false gospel. (1 Cor 10:12 KJV) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Many Christians have thought that they are strong enough and then enter different academic fields and are persuaded by the false teachings they are studying. Some of these snares are philosophy, contemplative mysticism (which is found in the emerging church movement), centering prayer, etc. (Jer 6:16 KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. The Lord wants us to seek the old paths and to avoid the new teachings which are becoming more and more prevalent as we approach the end. God knows that we can be easily snared into these false gospels and if we stay with the old, old story, we will avoid the heartbreak of spiritual adultery. Once we go astray, we can never reclaim the time that we walked contrary to the Word of God.
 
Prov 7:27 (KJB)
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
 
Way - Road, manner, or pathway
 
Solomon summarizes this section by plainly stating that those who engage sinfully with her are playing at the entrance to hell and will go down to the chambers of death, which is the second death. Her house is not a house of pleasure but the pathway to perdition and anyone who thinks otherwise is either ignorant or a fool. We can also extract from this verse that the end of all false teachings is hell. Any teachings which bring someone outside the Bible into a spurious belief system will suffer the consequences of their actions. I like the way the text puts it, “the chambers of death.” It is a fitting conclusion to the matter of both physical and spiritual adultery.

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