Proverbs 7:10

Proverbs 7:10 says, And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.  Solomon is still talking about the simple young man who was passing the house of this wife, who was dressed and acting like anything but a wife.  She was dressed to entice someone, though it may not have been this particular young man.  

Verse eleven adds, (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:  

Verse twelve continues, s, Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)  Solomon tells us that even though the young man had possibly been watching or noticing her, that the woman did not wait to see if he was going to come to her.  She went out in the streets looking for him, or maybe more accurately someone like him.  

Verse thirteen states, So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,  Here, the woman was the aggressor, though more often it is the man.  She caught the young man and kissed him.  Had the young man been following the wisdom of God, he would have fled, or not have even put himself in this position to start with.   

Verse fourteen adds, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.  She said that the young man did not have to worry about money, because she had money, or peace offerings.  She also said that she had paid her vows.  Matthew Henry says that she had been to the temple and made offerings for her sins, and now she felt free to begin again.  This is not the way the forgiveness of God works.  We cannot buy God's forgiveness, nor can we buy His indulgence.  

Verse fifteen continues, Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.  The woman basically said that having paid her vows, she was now seeking out this young man.  Again, I believe that it could have basically been any young man, but she chose this one, possibly because she had seen him watching her.  We do know that sin often begins by looking at someone or something with a self centered attitude instead of an attitude of glorifying God.  

Verse sixteen says, I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.  

Verse seventeen adds, I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.  The women told the young man that she had prepared nicely for their sinful encounter.  She wasn't leaving anything to chance.  People today often spend a lot of time and money to set up sinful encounters, whether they be sexual or otherwise.  Though in this case the woman is seen as the one pursuing the young man, she could not have enticed him if he had not been willing to follow her invitation.  We are just as guilty of sin whether we initiate it or simply give in to it.  If we are following God with wisdom and understanding of His commandments, the we will not give in to temptation if we encounter it.  

Verse eighteen continues, Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.  Though she described the encounter as acting in love, it was far from it.  She was married, and not to him.  

Verse nineteen states, For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:  

Verse twenty adds,  He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.  Her husband was to be away on business for a long time, and she knew when to expect him back.  She wasn't worried about her husband coming back suddenly.  Sometimes, conditions seem to make sinning easier.  

Verse twenty-one continues, With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.  This says that she seduced the young man, though often just the opposite happens.  

Verse twenty-two says, He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;  We are told that the young man goes away guilty, because even if he was seduced, he knew that what he was doing was wrong.  We cannot avoid our guilt from sin simply because we were tempted into it.  

Verse twenty-three adds, Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.  Even if the young man doesn't feel guilty, the result of the sin is just as deadly spiritually.  We cannot commit sin without a penalty.  Fortunately, if we are a follower of Christ, He has paid the penalty.  This still doesn't give us a license to sin.  

Verse twenty-four continues, Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.  This is a call for us to both listen and obey the teachings of God.  

Verse twenty-five states , Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.  This is the message we are to hear and heed.  We are not to allow ourselves to be tempted by the actions of others, no matter how appealing they may be.  

Verse twenty-six adds, For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.  This young man was no one special to her, and he wasn't the first to be led into sin.  

Verse twenty-seven concludes, Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.  Any temptation that leads us away from God leads us toward hell.  Though we will not lose our salvation if we have accepted Christ as Savior, at least in the instance when we give in to temptation to sin, He is not the Lord of our life.  If we keep Christ first, we will act in wisdom and not be tempted by worldly lusts or desires.