Be Inclined to Decline Her Ways (Proverbs 7:24-27)

After Solomon tells the story of himself looking through the lattice as the young man goes to the harlot, he again reiterates the one main theme of the book of Proverbs. "Keep my words." It is any child's worst nightmare to have his or her parents constantly tell them "Listen to what I have to say," "I know what I am talking about," or "I've been there already." As the child grows it becomes more apparent that he indeed should have listened to his parents, and he is now the one in the shoes of the parent telling his own child the same things. This is what he Bible does for us. It is a book of wisdom from God urging us to listen and follow its instructions.

"Listen to me now therefore, O my sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths." Proverbs 7:24-25, Amplified

Listen, therefore. Whenever we see a therefore we must find out what it is there for. Solomon had just finished a long discourse on watching a young man go down the oath of a harlot. Because of the outcome of the situation, Solomon is urging his sons to listen to his words. No longer is Solomon just telling them about the dangers of sin, but he has cited an example of what that sin might and will do to them.

It is interesting to note that the Amplified Bible translates verse twenty-five as "incline" to the path of the harlot, whereas the original King James reads, "decline". There is not much difference between the two words. The inclination would be a "favorable disposition toward someone or something," whereas the decline would be an actual downward motion. In the original text the words means to "deviate from duty." Our duty as good Christian men is to not deviate from the path prescribed to us by our Lord and Savior. Take the narrow gate.

"For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host." Proverbs 7:26, Amplified

Many strong men have been brought down by women. We see this in the political scene almost daily know as married men give themselves over to women. Despite all the good that Bill Clinton did in office, his most remembered act would involve a blue dress, a cigar and a young intern. Solomon was also one of these strong men who was brought down by women. "Did not Solomon the king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin." (Nehemiah 13:26, NKJV)

"Her house is the way to Sheol [Hades, the place of the dead] going down to the chambers of death." Proverbs 7:27, Amplified

There can be nothing good that comes from a relationship with a harlot. In the end it will be death. Maybe not a physical death, but we have seen many different politicians die a professional death as they have been caught in compromising situations. if one must be discrete in a relationship, then the relationship should probably not be.

But Solomon's language here is pretty adamant. Her ways lead to hell. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9-10, NKJV) Do not be deceived, nothing is hidden from the eyes of the Lord. The Word of God is living and powerful. It is true, was true and will continually be true for the rest of eternity.