It has been my custom, by God's grace, these last few months to read and contemplate on the Proverbs. As a way to work through them systematically have endeavored to read a chapter a day and by this method work through the book of Proverbs monthly. This has been done to great profit to my soul and delight in my heart. I have now nearly silenced the voice that says that each time I begin there will be no benefit. The pernicious discouragement certainly comes from a foul source that now only serves to cheer me on more.
Today, being the 7th day of January, I read Proverbs 7 once more. Today my heart yearned and groaned about those men and women of the world caught in the snares of pornography. This plague has spread over the face of the whole earth infiltrating hearts and homes through the internet never conceived even possible in any age of man till now. We have seen our leaders of state and home destroyed by this vice more times that we like to admit. The insanity rages on as our society even tries to normalize it and say it is good and permissible. The truth of the matter is that it is no more than adultery and fornication vicariously carried out by men and women though their computer and television screens. If a man were to creep to the window of a neighbor's home and gaze upon them in the nakedness and intimacy, and were caught, he would be arrest and charges brought against him for being a peeping Tom. Yet our society stealthily peeks through public and private computer, TV, and movie screens to obtain their immoral and adulterous thrills.
Proverbs 7 seems a fit chapter in applying the truth to our hearts in this matter. If I be permitted to walk through the chapter and adding some commentary to apply it to the licentious practice of modern society is engaged in perhaps some might be saved from this pathway that surely leads to hell and destruction both in this life and the next.
A Proverbs 7 Paraphrase/Commentary
My son, keep my words and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto to wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange (other) woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding....
Channel surfing through cable television, searching the web, near her shows and web pages, and he went the way to her domains, in the early hours, late in the evening, in the black and dark night. And, behold, there she met with him, the woman, clothed like a prostitute and with a subtle heart (but she is loud and stubborn; her feet do not stay at home but is outside in the streets or on the corner like a prostitute looking for her next victim. She is not what she seems).
So she caught him when he finally chose the video/picture to watch, and she kissed him in his minds eye and in his heart with a saucy face and said 'I am free and at peace and have no obligations except to be with you. I am free and have made my bed and place that are filled with delightful and wonder things for you to enjoy. All of it looks good and the smell of my perfumes are intoxicating. Stay with me a long time and let us enjoy ourselves all night long and be comforted with pleasure. There is none in heaven or on the earth around that can stop us or will see us! You can delete the history from your computer and hide your tracks and no one will know.
And with her sultry speeches, beauty, and sultry lips she enticed him beyond resistance and greedily he ran to all her images and delights like a cow goes to the slaughter or as a criminal goes to prison. He did not know that he was being led to his doom and prison until the arrow struck him through his liver and like a foul beast caught by a trapper and took his life away. Into bondage he went, and no satisfaction was his.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
O dear reader, if God would give but one straying soul to happen across this little unknown blog and warn them I should count myself blessed and be forever grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ. Both unbelieving and sometimes believer in Jesus are found to be ensnared by the adulterous without having to leave their homes. In the comforts and privacy of their offices, computers, smartphones, and the like they pass near her corner and go the way to her house. They do not know or consider that the Lord of Heaven has looked through the window of His house and seen what you do.
She has caught you in all her subtleties and deceived you with her images. She has lied to by telling you in your heart that none see and you will not be in trouble for your deeds. Hear the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom!! You may go on believing this until the day comes when the arrow of God's truth will strike through you inmost parts and catches you like bird who hurries along to the trap. She has told you that in her place are pleasures forevermore but she has made her bed in hell. And that is exactly where you will find you resting place unless you repent.
Drive this woman from your hearts, your homes, your computers, and your smartphones. Do not think that it will be easy. As a fish hook often tears the guts out of the fish that swallows it to remove it, so will removing your heart from these pernicious ways and practicing tear at your mind and heart. Do not let despair also lie to you and say that it is impossible.
"My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee, keep my commandments, and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye, bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart..."
Friend, be you young man or old, young woman or old, the Lord Jesus is able and willing to forgive. He is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Lay hold of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Set His words upon your heart. Store up His commandments within you. Run by the door of His house and live! Take the bane of filth and immorality out of your eye and make God's law the apple of it. Let your fingers cease searching for sexual immorality and let them lay hold of His commandment.
Do not delay and do not wait. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart...while it is still called today.
