One of the most remarkable things about Johnny is that he didn’t have a good mother, a loving mother. He didn’t have a mother like Samuel’s who prayed for a son to “give him to the Lord all the days of his life“ 1Sam 1:11. Or a mother like King Lemuel’s who advised her son “do not give your strength to women” Pro 31:3. Or a mother like Timothy’s who taught him “unfeigned faith“ 2Tim 1:5. Sadly, Johnny didn’t have a mother to teach him the right way. Johnny became a prey. He was never trained to escape the net. Ps 25:15
Sadly, Johnny didn’t have a good father either, a loving father. A father with a wise character to teach him to escape “from the strange woman who flatters with her words” Pro 2:16, a father who would be the head of the household to teach his sons not to be “void of understanding” Pro 7:7. These parents can never help their children because before they can be wise to teach they need to be godly, and only God can make us godly and wise.
Godly parents will teach their children the wisdom of God which is the only wisdom that can deliver them from the worldly woman who acts without shame, just like a harlot to entice men to her ways and rob them of their dignity and integrity. This is a command of God that men do well in listening to, “do not go in the way of evil men or evil women”.
Thank God, there are still godly men and godly women, and God describes them perfectly in Psalm 1:1-3, but the description of the evil woman in Proverbs 7 is widely ignored by a majority of men (young and old) today. God is really descriptive about it and He starts with a warning to “His son”,
“My son, keep my words and…keep my commandments and live; keep my law as the apple of your eye” vs. 1-2. “Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart”. “Say to wisdom, “you are my sister” and call understanding your kinswoman” vs. 3-4
God is clearly teaching His son, his children, to be prepared and alert with the knowledge of His Words, His commandments, His wisdom and His understanding because that is the only way the son will be delivered from the “strange woman that flatters with her words” v.7 This is God’s Word that has almost disappeared from public discourse in our wicked society. But, the Truth of God never changes and it is eternal.
Proverbs 7 describes the evil that prevails in human hearts since the fall of man. Most people do not know the terrible indictment weighting down upon their heads before a holy and righteous God. We do well in paying attention that we may be able to escape. We find in Proverbs 7 (also in 2, 5, and 6), a warning and a way of escaping the net.
The strange woman (or man) catches a “simple one, young one, void of understanding” v.7. The woman with the attire of a harlot…subtle of heart…loud, stubborn…her feet can’t be in her house…she loves to go out, she loves the street…she finds him and kisses him with impudent face…she is an adulteress…(she makes a plan for the fool)…With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him”. vs 10-21 Just like that…
This is what God wants His children to learn, to be aware of. He is not only talking about harlots or adulteresses, but He talks about the deception and subtle enticement men and women are subjected to by a wicked and corrupt society that feeds the ignorant with lies. Today, under the influence of films and advertisements, many have fallen into the disgrace of false beliefs to their own destruction. Ignorant parents have failed their children letting them become prey to impudent and corrupt men and women from whom they cannot escape. It’s the tragedy of a life without the knowledge of God. It is tragic to see young men and young women (even old) being led “as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; until a dart strikes through his liver; as a bird hastes to the snare, and doesn’t know that it is for his life”. vs 22-23
The person “void of understanding”, the understanding that there is a way of life and a way of death (and that understanding only comes from God), becomes easy prey of the wicked and corrupt. We live in a corrupt society and we need to beware and know the way of life or we will become like an ox to the slaughter.
Proverbs 7 ends with a loud and clear Voice of warning, “Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she has cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death”. vs. 24-27 Notice: her house is the way to hell and many strong men have been slain by her.
Take heed to these words; this is the way of escape.
So, my daughter, don’t be a harlot; my son, don’t be a whoremonger and don’t be a Johnny.
I love Johnny. May God Almighty grant him His Grace.