I’m reading Proverbs 7 and trying to figure out if the guy who ends up like “an ox going to slaughter” is just an idiot or if he secretly wanted to fall into the prostitutes trap.
I want to say this dude knew exactly what he was doing. After all, if you walk by a prostitutes house at night (v8-9) what do you think is going to happen? Is it really surprising that she brazenly grabbed him and kissed him on the face? You go to that neighborhood because you know what is going to happen. As I’m reading this I confess that I don’t have a ton of sympathy for this guy. I don’t see him as some morally neutral simpleton who just so happened to get caught in the web of seduction.
Also, it is not only the guy going to the prostitutes house I have in my mind. I’m thinking of anyone who carries fire next to his chest and then ends up shocked that his shirt got burned. (Proverbs 6:27). What do you do when that guy asks you to buy him a new shirt? I have a bit more compassion for a guy who makes a dumb decision and it bites him. I’ve less compassion for someone who foolishly walks into danger, refusing to heed wisdom all the way, and then begging for help once things do fall apart.
The Proverbs actually differentiate between the fool and the simpleton. The fool is the one who is morally opposed to God. He does dumb things not because he is simple in mind but because he is immoral. He ignores God’s counsel because he hates God. But not the simpleton. The simple are a bit more morally neutral. They are undisciplined and just do really dumb things at times.
We need that last category. We need to see the difference between the two. You respond to a simpleton different than you do to a fool. And according to verse 7 the guy caught in the prostitutes web isn’t a fool—he’s a simpleton. This means what the author of Proverbs 7 wants us to see is that you really can be so stupid as to walk headlong into something that will ensnare you. You can be so blind and ignorant and simple that you’ll walk straight into your destruction.
That’s meant to be a warning. It’s meant to tell us that if you want to win the battle against lust it starts long before you start walking down the prostitutes street. It’s a battle for wisdom. You have to learn the speech of the prostitute (and it’s not just sexual sin that can ensnare you) before she kisses you on the mouth.
It’d do us well to learn the path of seduction… There are four of her lies I think we’d do well to notice:
1) I’ve got the something extra. When guys go shopping we want to think that we walked out of the store having stuck it to the man. We want to think that we—of all the other men in the store—have hunted and gathered the best product and we did it at the best price. In order to be successful the harlot has to convince the guy that she has that something extra.
In verse 14 she says, “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows”. The implication from these peace offerings is that she has luxurious meat at home. She has that something extra to put her over the top, to catch his eye, and to make him desire. I’m the best product in the store. You take me home=alpha male. You’ve beat all the other dudes out there.
2) You are something special. At this point the guy might be wondering whether or not he has what it takes to get this jewel home. She is the best product in the store, but is he really the alpha male? She is what he wants but does he have what it takes to get her?
Enter the speech and actions of the harlot. She wants you to believe that you are not like all her other johns. She is seeking you eagerly. There is something special about you, man. You’ve got what it takes. You know I could have many other guys. But I want you, champ.
He’s hooked, he’s ready to move up to the purchase counter and lay his claim as alpha-male.
3) This really is going to be awesome. At this point the guy is going through purchase anxiety. You’ve had that haven’t you? That long walk from the back of the store to the check out line where you begin asking yourself if you really want and need a portable jack with the power to lift up your monster truck. “Wait, I don’t even have a monster truck,” you begin to ask. And then the battle begins—do I buy this thing or not?
Here she lays it on thick. “I have spread my couch…I have perfumed by bed…this is going to last all night…this will be filled with delight”. You want this product! Don’t even consider putting this product back on the shelf. You put this back on the shelf you are an idiot and some other alpha-male will know what is good for him and he’ll be walking out of the store with the deal of the day. This is going to be awesome—don’t miss out on this.
4) Nobody will ever know. Maximum pleasure with no consequences. This is the get yourself in a boatload of debt at 0% APR for 2 years deal. You get to enjoy this thing for two years without even making a payment, no interest for two years, just enjoy it. No consequences.
Added to all of these lies is the lure of the forbidden. This is the last hurdle for this stag to go through. If you can be convinced that you can have all of this pleasure with no consequences then you can rest assured given enough time you will be hung upside down outside of tree with your guts on the floor. You are well on your way to slaughter.
