Pro 7:2 | KingComments | STEP | The need for sexual self-control, the need to say “no” to offers of bodily intimacy outside of marriage, is the dominant theme in the speeches of wisdom in Proverbs 1-9. In this chapter, the father speaks again to his son about this ( ). He does so in the form of a story. It is a parenting story that the father tells to seriously warn the son about being tempted by the strange woman. In Proverbs 6 it is about a man who is so foolish that he does not have enough from his own source and goes to his neighbor’s wife. In Proverbs 7, it is about a young, inexperienced man who lets himself be tempted in his foolishness. In , the father first again holds up to his son as an introduction the value and beauty of the commandment. Then in he relates from his experience what he has seen. He describes a young man who does not accidentally approach the temptress, but seeks the danger zone. The boy, against an earlier warning ( ), comes near her house. He did not mean to fornicate, but does it anyway. In , the father holds up to his children the consequences if they deviate in their heart to the ways of the harlot. This section again begins with the father pointing out to his son his “words” to keep them and his “commandments” to treasure them within him ( ). If he does so, he will live ( ). This is contrasted with the death that results from not listening to it ( ). Life in the true sense of the word is threatened if it is not listened to. It is a matter of life or death. Therefore, the son must keep in mind his father’s teaching as his “apple of the eye”. This means that obedience to the teaching is vital to him, that he must keep it with the utmost care in order to keep the proper view of these things. There is no more sensitive part of the body than the apple of the eye ( ; ; ). In , the commandments are linked to the fingers. Everything he does with his fingers must be directed by the commandments. He must also write them on “the tablet” of his heart. The heart is the center of the person. If the commandments are written there, everything he does, everywhere he goes and looks and everything he says and thinks will be controlled by the commandments. “Wisdom” must be to him as his “sister” and “understanding” must be in his blood, as it were ( ). In the Old Testament, the brother-sister relationship reflects a close bond of affection. “Sister” is also used for the wife or the beloved ( ). If he embraces wisdom as his sister, the strange woman will have no chance to embrace him ( ). Man must have an object about which he delights. If that is not wisdom, the void will be filled with wrong desires. Love for God’s Word will drive out the power of evil. These instructions are all given in view of the strange woman ( ). He will only stay out of the snare of temptation if he listens to this teaching from his father. Whoever keeps the words and commandments of the father, that is, whoever keeps the Word of God, is thereby preserved himself. In short, whoever keeps, is kept.

‏ Proverbs 7:2

Introduction

The need for sexual self-control, the need to say “no” to offers of bodily intimacy outside of marriage, is the dominant theme in the speeches of wisdom in Proverbs 1-9.

In this chapter, the father speaks again to his son about this (Pro 2:16-19 ; Pro 5:1-23 ; Pro 6:20-35). He does so in the form of a story. It is a parenting story that the father tells to seriously warn the son about being tempted by the strange woman. In Proverbs 6 it is about a man who is so foolish that he does not have enough from his own source and goes to his neighbor’s wife. In Proverbs 7, it is about a young, inexperienced man who lets himself be tempted in his foolishness.

In Pro 7:1-5, the father first again holds up to his son as an introduction the value and beauty of the commandment. Then in Pro 7:6-23 he relates from his experience what he has seen. He describes a young man who does not accidentally approach the temptress, but seeks the danger zone. The boy, against an earlier warning (Pro 5:8), comes near her house. He did not mean to fornicate, but does it anyway. In Pro 7:24-27, the father holds up to his children the consequences if they deviate in their heart to the ways of the harlot.

Warning Against the Strange Woman

This section again begins with the father pointing out to his son his “words” to keep them and his “commandments” to treasure them within him (Pro 7:1). If he does so, he will live (Pro 7:2). This is contrasted with the death that results from not listening to it (Pro 7:24-27). Life in the true sense of the word is threatened if it is not listened to. It is a matter of life or death.

Therefore, the son must keep in mind his father’s teaching as his “apple of the eye”. This means that obedience to the teaching is vital to him, that he must keep it with the utmost care in order to keep the proper view of these things. There is no more sensitive part of the body than the apple of the eye (Deu 32:10; Psa 17:8; Zec 2:8).

In Pro 7:3, the commandments are linked to the fingers. Everything he does with his fingers must be directed by the commandments. He must also write them on “the tablet” of his heart. The heart is the center of the person. If the commandments are written there, everything he does, everywhere he goes and looks and everything he says and thinks will be controlled by the commandments.

“Wisdom” must be to him as his “sister” and “understanding” must be in his blood, as it were (Pro 7:4). In the Old Testament, the brother-sister relationship reflects a close bond of affection. “Sister” is also used for the wife or the beloved (Song 4:9-10). If he embraces wisdom as his sister, the strange woman will have no chance to embrace him (Pro 7:13). Man must have an object about which he delights. If that is not wisdom, the void will be filled with wrong desires. Love for God’s Word will drive out the power of evil.

These instructions are all given in view of the strange woman (Pro 7:5). He will only stay out of the snare of temptation if he listens to this teaching from his father. Whoever keeps the words and commandments of the father, that is, whoever keeps the Word of God, is thereby preserved himself. In short, whoever keeps, is kept.