PROVERBS 5
My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speechis smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path toSheol;
6 she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.
– Proverbs 5:1-6
PROVERBS 5 AVOID THE TEMPTRESS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you serve the Lord your God, avoid the temptress
If you listen to God’s wisdom, you will know her strategies
She is an expert at manipulation, control and seduction
She will use her charms to get you isolated and secluded
Remember that she doesn’t follow the way of the righteous
Her ways always lead you to chaos, destruction and deep darkness.
In this book, Solomon focuses on the temptress or the other woman. It may appear that the gender used is a woman, but I think it also points to anyone who is adulterous, whether male or female. In these following verses, Solomon wants us to cling to wisdom and the truth that only comes from the word of God. It is in his divine wisdom that we get to decode all the tricks that the enemy uses to lure us into sin. It would be wise for us Christians to follow these warnings. We do not want to be caught off guard when we encounter seductions from anyone, be it a man or a woman. When we are seeking God’s truth, we will be protected from such lures and wiles.
REFLECTION
· Why should we avoid temptations with all our might?
