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 states, (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:  Then verse twelve adds, 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 declares, 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 says, 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 adds, 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.  In verse sixteen she continues, I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.  Then 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.  In verse eight she says, 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 says, 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 states, 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 states, 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 declares, 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 adds, 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 states, 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.

Proverbs 7:1 says, My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
This is another call for us to keep the commandments of God.  If we are to keep them, then we must know them.  Verse two states, Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.  Keeping God's commandments, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, brings life.  Though we cannot claim everlasting life through simply keeping the commandments, because we all fall short of keeping them completely, they do lead to a better relationship with people and with God.  They are still to direct our path.  Verse three says, Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.  God's commandments are to be written in our hearts.  Even if we have them bound on our fingers, the most important thing is to have them guide our every action.  Verse four declares, Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:  Wisdom and understanding are to be like close kinsmen to us.  We must live every day with wisdom and understanding, which can only come when we acknowledge the leadership of God through our relationship with Christ.  This is not a call to learn more facts, but a call to live by the wisdom that God is alive in our lives and directs our path.  Worldly wisdom will not do, but only God given wisdom will lead us to the best in life.  Verse five adds, That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.  This is another warning that God's wisdom will keep us from falling into sexual temptations.  If we are following Christ in every aspect of our life, then we will not be tempted by things that oppose what He teaches us.  Verse six states, For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,  Solomon simply says he was looking out his window.  We may often be looking out on life as well.  Verse seven states, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,  Solomon said he saw a young man devoid of understanding among the youth.  How often do we look out on the youth of the world today and see those that appear to be devoid of understanding by the way they act.  Verse eight states, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,  Matthew Henry says this was a married woman whose husband wasn't at home.  Whether married or single, she tempted the simple youth.  I believe this means that he was inexperienced in sexual situations.  Verse nine adds, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:  This occurred not in the light of day, but in the darkness of night.  People often want the darkness of night to cover them when they know that they are doing something wrong.  Of course, some people don't seem to care whether it is day or night, because they aren't worried about hiding their sins.   Without the wisdom and understanding of God, we are always in spiritual darkness, whether it is daylight or dark outside.

Proverbs 6:24 says, To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.  This still comes under the reasons to keep God's commandments, and when we do they will keep us from evil women who would entice us with flattery, and I believe would also apply to evil men who would tempt women.  Satan will never come to us to tempt us with things that will not appeal to us, but will always appear in a way that is tempting.  Verse twenty-five states, Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.  We are warned against lusting after a strange woman, or even looking at her with lust.  We need to view women as God's children, even if they don't act like it.  We are never to view them simply as objects of lust, as we hear so much about men doing today.  Of course, the same could be said of the way some women view men.  Verse twenty-six declares, For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.  Giving in to temptation, whether it be sexual or otherwise, will always lead to destruction.  This is why we should be guided by God's commandments and laws.  Verse twenty-seven asks, Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?  This is just another way of saying if we play with the fire of temptation, then we are going to get burned.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?  There may be people who walk on hot coals without being burned, but this is not normally the situation.  The best way to avoid being burned is to not step on the coals, just as the best way to keep from giving in to temptation is to avoid it to start with.  If God's word is written in our hearts, we will not be tempted by the things of this world, no matter how appealing they may be.  Verse twenty-nine warns, So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.  This is a warning against adultery.  If we follow God's commandments, we will certainly not give in to this temptation, or any other for that matter.  Verse thirty states, Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;  Though it does not justify stealing, if a person is stealing simply because they are hungry, it is easier to be forgiving.  Verse thirty-one says, But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.  There was also a penalty for stealing if a person was caught, and it was fairly severe.  The person was to repay sevenfold and give all the substance of their house.  The reason for the theft did not remove the penalty.  Verse thirty-two says, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.  There can be no justification for adultery.  It does not sustain a person, but destroys their very soul.  This does not mean that adultery cannot be forgiven, but that it is more than just a physical act, as some would claim.  Verse thirty-three states, A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.  Adultery brings dishonor and reproach.  Verse thirty-four declares, For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.  I believe that this is a warning that adultery will never be viewed with any sympathy, which might have been felt for a hungry thief.  Verse thirty-five adds,  He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.  There can be no restitution made for adultery.  It affects both the body and the soul, and more than just the two people involved.

Proverbs 6:12 says, A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  The wicked person walks with a desire to deceive everyone and do what is best for himself or herself.  This person will say anything to advance His or her own purpose and enrich himself or herself.  Verse thirteen states, He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers:  I believe that this means that such a person will use every means available to bring riches or glory to himself, or herself.  Verse fourteen declares, Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.  Wicked or evil people are always looking for ways to sow discord, because the have mischief in their hearts.  This is not a fun seeking mischief, but one that seeks only what will lead to personal good, and not be considered about others.  Verse fifteen says, Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.   One day, the wicked and evil will pay for their actions.  They may live a lifetime without being held accountable, but when Christ returns they will find themselves suddenly accountable for their actions.  Verse sixteen warns, These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  If there is a warning about what God hates, we need to pray attention.  Though God hates all sin, we are told that there are seven things that He especially hates.  Verse seventeen states, A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  The first thing may not sound very significant, but I believe that a proud look refers to always pointing to one's self as being better and smarter than anyone else, or self glorification in other words.  God also hates a lying tongue.  Again, we might rank this as not that significant in the list of possible sins, but it is high on God's list.  Unless we accept the truth of Christ being our Savior and Lord, we cannot speak the truth.  Then, we hear that God hates hands that shed innocent  blood.  We can easily understand this, but I believe it also would apply to oppressing the less fortunate.  Verse eighteen adds, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  We definitely see enough of people devising wicked plans today, sometimes even in the name of some god.  Though people might have more means to carry out their evil plans, this is nothing new nor will it stop before the return of Christ.  Verse nineteen continues,, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  This is just more of the ways that people attempt to deny or discredit God and harm His people.  We cannot obediently follow God and lie about anything.  We certainly shouldn't use lies to cause discord in the church.  Verse twenty says,  My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  The commandments and laws that we should keep are God's, but Godly parents should teach them to us, then we are to be guided by them.  I realize that not at parents teach their children by the laws of God, which why it is His commandments and laws that we must live by., and not just those of our parents.  Verse twenty-one says, Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.  Though we don't wear signs around our necks, we most certainly should have God's word bound in our heart, and should be directed by it.  Verse twenty-two says, When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.  Following God's word keeps us safe, whether we are at home, out in public, or even asleep in our bed.  Verse twenty-three declares, For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:  God's commandments are a light to guide our path, and also a source of reproof when we stray.  We cannot claim to follow God and ignore His commandments.

Proverbs 6:1 says, My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,  This is a warning about becoming indebted to or entangled in the things of this world.  If we go into debt, or if we have others indebted to us, this can become a concern that might lead us away from worshipping and following God.  Most of our borrowing today is done with strangers, and we are to be wary of entering into such deals.  I believe that the overall warning is to not allow ourselves to get to the point where debt controls our lives.  Verse two states, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.  I believe this means that when we promise something, either as the borrower or the lender, that we are bound by our word, and this can lead us into the trap of having to spend too much time concerned with the things of this world instead of the things of God.  Even easy credit must be repaid.  Verse three says, Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.  We are advised to humble ourselves and make things right between our friend and us if we have a problem with them, especially about money.  Even if we cannot satisfy the debt immediately, we should not just ignore the friend.  Verse four adds, Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.  We are called on to deal with the situation today.  We do not need to sleep on it to decide what to do.  Verse five says, Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.  We are to go as the animal caught by the hunter.  Neither the deer nor the fowl is in control, but must rely on the mercy of the hunter in order to be saved.  We are to go to those we are indebted if we are having trouble repaying them with the same attitude, especially if it is a friend we are indebted to.  Verse six states, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  We are advised to learn form the ant, which is but a lowly insect.  Then, the next two verses tell us what we are to learn.  Verse seven says, Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,   Then, verse eight concludes, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.  Instead of being sluggards, we should learn from the ant to work without the need for someone to tell us or force us to.  We should be busy preparing for God's coming kingdom.  I believe that this is more than just a call to be busy about the things of this world, but is a call for to be busy with the purpose of doing what is right for God.  Verse nine asks, How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?  I believe that question concerns not physical sleep, but spiritual sleep.  We may be wide awake physically and still be asleep spiritually, and I believe this is a call for us to be spiritually awake.  Verse ten says, Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  Then verse eleven adds, So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.  We can apply this to material needs, but again, I believe the meaning is much more than that.  When we are spiritually slumbering or sleeping, we are in poverty in our relationship to God.  God expects us to be busy spreading His message and His love to the world.

Proverbs 5:15 says, Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.  I believe that this is a call for us to be satisfied with what God provides.  We know that Jesus is called the living water, and we are told by putting our faith in Him that we will thirst no more.  Still, even as followers of Christ we are not always satisfied with the provisions of God, and we look elsewhere to have our thirst satisfied.  Verse sixteen states, Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.  We are called to share this living water, the gospel of Christ, with everyone.  We are to freely spread the gospel everywhere we go, and are never called on to hoard the gospel.  There is no one group of people who deserve the gospel more than another, because no one deserves salvation.  It is a free gift from God to all who believe.  We are not to put walls around the gospel to keep people from receiving it.  Verse seventeen declares,  Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.  When we put our faith in Christ, we become a part of the whole family of God.  If we feel superior to any other Christian and more deserving of the things of this world, then we have an attitude problem.  Verse eighteen says, Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  We are told that if we are to be blessed that we are always to rejoice in our wife, though we could just as easily say spouse.  Marriage is not just between a man and a woman, but between a man, a woman, and most importantly God.  We too often view marriage as a legal contract and not a spiritual relationship.  Verse nineteen says, Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.  We are to be ravished with a love for our wife, and I believe likewise by the wife for her husband.  When we are totally committed in a spiritual marriage, we will not be tempted to stray.  Verse twenty asks, And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?  This is more of a rhetorical question I believe.  Solomon was asking why, if a person loves his wife, or a wife her husband, would they person be tempted by anyone else.  The implication is that this should never be possible.  Verse twenty-one says, For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.  There is nothing that we do that is hidden from God.  We might think that we are capable of keeping our sins hidden, but God always knows what we are doing.  Verse twenty-two declares, His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.  We cannot hold anyone else responsible for our sins.  Verse twenty-three says, He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.  Those who will not accept the wisdom of God, which begins by accepting Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord, will die in their foolishness.  This is indeed a great folly.

Proverbs 5:1 says, My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:  This is once more a call to Solomon's son to listen to what he has to say.  We know this applies to all people as a call for us to listen to God with wisdom and understanding.  Verse two states, That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.  If we are to follow Christ, we must first hear what He has to say to us.  The first thing that anyone hears from God is the call to follow Christ.  We do not just find salvation on our own.  God always calls us to salvation.  Verse three says, For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:  Matthew Henry says this could be seen as a woman leading us astray to sexual impunity, or as some seducing us with false doctrine.  Though referring to a woman leading a man astray, it could just as easily apply to a man leading a woman astray.  Verse four declares, But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.  This is a warning of the result of allowing ourselves to be led astray by the things of this world, no matter how tempting they may be.  The result of straying from God will always be bitter and destructive.  Verse five says, Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.  Though we as followers of Christ are forever secure in our relationship to God, if we give in to the temptations of the world, we lose the joy of our salvation.  We are living closer to hell than to heaven.  Verse six warns, Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.  We cannot find the path of life by our own ponderings, or thoughts.  We can only find the path of life by listening to and heeding the call of God.  Verse seven declares, Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.  This is not just a call from Solomon for his children to hear Him, but is a call from God for His children to hear Him.  We cannot follow God without listening to His words that direct our paths.  Verse eight warns, Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:  Not only are we to not listen to someone who would lead us away from God, but we are to remove ourselves far from them.  The best way to avoid temptation is to not place ourselves in a position where we would be tempted.  Verse nine adds, Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:  If we give in to temptation, then we lose our honor with other followers of Christ.  If this happens, then all we can do is ask God to forgive us and get back on the path of righteousness.  Hopefully, we will find forgiveness by others then.  Verse ten adds, Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;  This is still in reference to giving in to the ways of the world instead of following God.  Ultimately, everything we have in this world will pass to others, whether while we are alive or when we die.  Verse eleven states, And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,  Verse twelve continues, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;  Verse thirteen adds, And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!  Then verse fourteen concludes, I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.  People may mourn our death, but at the same time question how unwisely we lived our lives.  Even if sin leads to all the riches of the world, at death it will all be left behind.  Then, people, especially those who follow Christ, should marvel or question how anyone could waste his or her life for material things.  When we are seduced by the things of this world, and refuse to follow God, then we really are most wicked, and everlasting separation from God is the result.