In light of the fact that we are to be holy because God is holy and in light of the fact that sex is a good thing, how are you supposed to live? In Proverbs 5 we see King Solomon pleading with his son to listen to his words. He has lived life longer. He has experienced the effects of sin. He knows what he is talking about. He wants so badly for his son to understand the death that comes from sexual impurity. And he has wisdom for us today in how to live as pure women.
Proverbs 5-7 is a plea to flee sexual immorality. Solomon is pleading with his son to run from the forbidden woman. We are told in Proverbs 5:1-14 that this woman’s life leads to death and destruction for all who come in contact with her.
But how does she do it?
She is a woman who is set on leading men into adultery. She uses her sexuality to lure men away from their wives and their purity. The remaining posts will contrast the forbidden woman of Proverbs 7 with the godly woman that God calls us to be. Even though Solomon is talking to his son in Proverbs 7, there is a lot to be learned from his teaching here. Today we will look at the 5 characteristics of the forbidden woman:
- Notice how she is dressed—like a prostitute (vs. 10). Now it doesn’t say that she is a prostitute. It is her clothing that is saying she is available to this man. She is dressing in a way that causes the men to notice her and want her sexually. We live in a culture where it is popular to dress like a prostitute, right? The Bible says that the woman who dresses in this way is living like the forbidden woman. But, modesty is not simply covering up your body. It is about a desire for attention. This forbidden woman dresses immodestly because she knows that men will notice her and be drawn to her. As women we are tempted by the lust to be lusted after. We want men to desire us and want us. But outside of marriage, any man desiring us and our bodies is sinful.
- Notice how she makes herself available to everyone. In verses 11 and 12 it says that she is everywhere. She does not stay at home. She goes to the streets, the market, and anywhere that men will be. She is loud and makes herself known. Are you this type of woman? Do you make yourself available to every boy in your school? Are you cautious with your interactions with boys or do you pursue them? Does everyone know who you like? Do you call, text, and flirt with the boys in your school and youth group?
- Notice how she is forceful and manipulative. In verses 13-18 and verse 21 we see that not only does she make herself available, she uses her immodesty and availability to lure men to her. She is only thinking about her own pleasure and her own gain.
- Notice that she is a cheater and a deceiver. In verses 19-20 we see that she is married and she is using her husband’s time away as an opportunity to commit adultery. No matter what your circumstance right now, if you are impure with a man who is not your husband—even if it is your boyfriend and you say you love him—you are living like the forbidden woman. The reality is that if he is not your husband right now, he very well could be someone else’s husband someday—and you are someone else’s wife. Every sexual act you commit before marriage is adultery against your future spouse.
- Notice that her actions lead to death. In verses 22-23 we see that her actions lead this man into death. It costs him his life, and it costs her life as well. It is not what God intended. It is outside of his bounds for sexuality.
And so we see in the rest of the chapter that Solomon is pleading with his son to listen to him and to not turn aside from his teaching. Solomon is begging his son to not follow the forbidden woman. If we are in Christ, we should not desire to be like the forbidden woman—even if all we see around us is women who live this way. Thankfully, God is kind to tell us how to live pure lives as women. To be continued...