Blogging Through Proverbs Part X - 2:16-19

Studying: 1 Corinthians 15-16, 2 Corinthians 1, Proverbs 2

Memorizing: Romans 1:1-13

Entertainment: 1 1/2

Thoughts: Good

"To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life." - Proverbs 2:16-19, NASB

What else do discretion and understanding deliver from?  From the "strange woman" and the "adulteress." While the immediate idea here being used certainly is applicable, many commentators agree, and even the context of Proverbs seems to indicate, that this is talking more than simply about avoiding lustful sins.  Again, certainly wisdom does guard against that, but this seems to be a metaphor for spiritual adultery and avoiding the pitfalls of forsaking God. This illustration is used later in chapters 5, 6, 7 and a number of other places.  This idea is used elsewhere in scripture, most notably the book of Hosea, where the prophet's marriage is itself illustrative of the "whoring" of Israel.

The word here translated in the NASB "strange woman" can also be translated "foreign woman."  Israel had been warned by God not to take wives from the other nations or else they would become a stumbling block to Israel and turn Israel's heart to serve false gods (Deut 7:3, Josh 23:12,13).  Israel failed miserably in this, and as a result many times Israel turned from God to serve the false gods of the pagan nations.

The idea here is that wisdom delivers the one who possesses it from the things which turn away his heart from God, from not only physical adultery, but spiritual adultery.  This world is full of much that allures and tempts, and there are so many things to turn the heart from serving the living God.  These things are constantly fighting for our attention and affections saying "find your satisfaction in me" when there is none to be had.  

Now, to be honest, there are no statues of Baal around that I just have this intense urge to run and bow down before.  But there is plenty that allures me, that seeks to steal my attention and draw me in to captivate my senses.  There are gadgets, computers, games, movies, music, etc., all in and of themselves potentially useful and good things.  But the idol factory of my heart, as Calvin would say, is ever ready to bow my time, my energy and affections to these things.

It is a sad thing that Solomon did not take his own advice on this matter.  In the end "Solomon loved many foreign women" and thus, this became his undoing.