Proverbs 7:1-3

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.

Good morning - a Fabulous Friday to all of you!

Today we are Perusing the Proverbs once more, with our focus on Chapter 7. As I have said before, much is to be learned in this one book of the Bible. Helpful advice, strong admonition, and godly instruction are the heart of this book.

Solomon counseled his son to keep the words which he spoke, and to embrace them. In the keeping of God's commandments as well as the teaching of parents we find life. The phrase "apple of thine eye" refers to "something or someone that one cherishes above all others." What a wonderful way to describe how we are to feel about the commandments of the Lord and our mentors.

The instruction continues with another word picture. Imagine taking tangible laws and wrapping them around your fingers, and then writing them on a small chalkboard that is within our hearts. It is how we must treat God's laws and His Word; we must not take them lightly because our lives depend on them!

Solomon instructed his son to treat wisdom and understanding as a sister or near relative. To be closely related to these virtues will keep him (and us) from the "strange woman" or from being seduced and deceived by sin.

In Chapter 7, Solomon vividly described the plight of a simple young man, void of understanding, who fell prey to the flattering words and seduction of the "strange woman." His first mistake was to go near her house! We must always avoid the very appearance of evil. Stay away from the Delilahs of this world, Samson! Keep thyself pure.

That strange woman seduced that young, foolish man into coming into her house while her husband was away on business. He fell for her beauty, her sweet words and her perfumes. When he entered into her house, he had no idea (remember, he was void of understanding) that he was walking into a deadly trap; one which led to hell.

The "strange women" are still around today, and they come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Whatever the sin might be, if we are enticed and seduced by it, we will perish forever. The only way to stay free from sin, is to hearken every day to God's word, to the men of God who are over us in the Lord, and to continually pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord. A heart that is full of the Lord has no room for the seduction and deadliness of the "strange women."

God help us heed His word and His commandments... and live!

Until tomorrow, Lord willing, go with God, be faithful to Him because He is to us!