Chapter 2

Chapter 2 really gets into the meat of Proverbs.

It outlines how Solomon sees the accumulation of wisdom as a major life priority (vs 1 – 8). Many people would set great store by other things – money, power, sometimes pure information – but Solomon sees wisdom as a greater priority than all of the above. And remember, by his definition, wisdom is skill in making moral decisions – and as far as Solomon is concerned, it’s impossible to have true wisdom outside of a knowledge of God.

He then goes on to describe the benefits of Wisdom (vs 9 – 22). To whit:
• You can find the best trails to follow in life.
• Wisdom and knowledge will keep you company during life’s journeys.
• You can avoid danger
• You can avoid making wrong turns
• Wisdom will keep you out of the company of losers.
• Wisdom will keep you clear of the Seductress.

It is this last one that I’d like to explore in a little more detail tonight.

Solomon starts early with discussing the dangers of the seductive woman. And it is a valid question: Why start there?

There are a few reasons.

Firstly, the temptation to stray in marriage is a strong one – almost universal to men in particular, and many women too. As I write this right now, the United States government is dealing with the fallout from a particular Senator’s dalliances. But even if this wasn’t happening right now, you and I (gentle reader!) both know that soon there will be another scandal. It’s no great shock. Powerful men and women are under even more temptation than the rest of us, and it’s no surprise. We all understand that implicitly.

Secondly (perhaps leading on from the first fact), the writer of this passage, Solomon, was not exactly immune to the temptations of the flesh. In fact, the histories in the Bible inform us that women were Solomon’s downfall.

Thirdly, sexual matters are always fascinating to us all. John Dickson’s book “A Sneaking Suspicion” begins with discussing sex from a Christian viewpoint, and this is because (as Dickson says) “everyone was going to turn to the chapter on sex first, so I thought I might as well put that at the front”.

Fourthly (and here is the reason that I want to pursue further), sexual sin has a deep impact on who we are and how we feel. Sex is intimately (no pun intended) connected with much of what we do – our identity, our thought processes, the way we relate to others – and so if we can get that part of life straight, it follows that other parts of life will be easier too.

Having seen in a few friends’ lives how horrific the damage caused by affairs can be, I don’t need any more convincing – Solomon is absolutely right to concentrate on this area.

This puts me in the awkward position of asking you, gentle reader, if you are dealing with sexual sin yourself. If you are, then wisdom would dictate that it’s time to get clear.