“Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.”
Proverbs 7:4-5 NKJV
In the early chapters of the book of Proverbs there is a lot of discussion about two women. One woman is personified as wisdom itself and she is portrayed as valuable, helpful, and desirable for all things good. The second woman is personified as foolishness and she is portrayed as wicked, immoral, and hurtful to anyone who engages with her.
On the surface, it would appear the writer of Proverbs is hyper focused on the immoral woman and the pitfalls of a young man who seeks her out. However, the portrayal of the immoral or foolish woman is an allegory that teaches us the potential harm of all enticing vices. That means we can substitute any temptation or harmful activity instead of the seductress woman, and gain wisdom.
Instead of focusing on the immoral woman, we can insert other places and people who lead to our ruin.
- Liquor Store
- Casino
- Gang Leader
- Hate Groups
- Drug Dealer
- Scammer
- Pornographer
- Loan shark
- Pay Day Loan
The outcomes of seeking these places and people are just as dangerous as the portrayal of the immoral woman in Proverbs. But the counter to all of these scenarios is wisdom. We we choose to make wisdom as close as a sister and understanding like our nearest kin, we can avoid the negative outcomes of the vices that seek to seduce us.
