Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house. Proverbs 5:8
The dormouse’s nose twitched. Something tasty was nearby. Sure enough, the scent led to a birdfeeder full of delicious seed. The dormouse climbed down the chain to the feeder, slipped through the door, and ate and ate all night. Only in the morning did he realize the trouble he was in. Birds now pecked at him through the feeder’s door, but having gorged on the seed, he was now twice his size and unable to escape.
Doors can lead us to wonderful places—or dangerous ones. A door features prominently in Solomon’s advice in Proverbs 5 on avoiding sexual temptation. While sexual sin may be enticing, he says, trouble awaits if it’s pursued (5:3–6). Best to stay far from it, for if you walk through that door you’ll be trapped, your honor lost, your wealth pecked away by strangers (vv. 7–11). Solomon counsels us to enjoy the intimacy of our own spouse instead (vv. 15–20). His advice can apply to sin more broadly too (vv. 21–23). Whether it’s the temptation to overeat, overspend, or something else, God can help us to avoid the door that leads to entrapment.
The dormouse must’ve been happy when the homeowner found him in her garden birdfeeder and freed him. Thankfully, God’s hand is also ready to free us when we’re trapped. But let’s call on His strength to avoid the door of entrapment in the first place.
Warning Against Adultery
5 1 My son,k pay attention to my wisdom,
turn your ear to my wordsl of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;m
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,n
sharp as a double-edged sword.
her steps lead straight to the grave.o
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.p
7 Now then, my sons, listenq to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her,r
do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you lose your honor to others
and your dignitya to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich the house of another.s
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!t
13 I would not obey my teachers
or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 And I was soon in serious troubleu
in the assembly of God’s people.”v
INSIGHT
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What “door” leads to your greatest temptation?
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How will you avoid that door today?
The wisdom spoken of in the book of Proverbs is multi-faceted, so much so that in Proverbs 1:2–7 (which introduces the book) seven terms are used to reflect its breadth and brilliance: insight (v. 2)—the ability to see between issues; prudent behavior (v. 3)—wise dealing; prudence (v. 4)—good judgment or good sense; knowledge (vv. 4, 7); discretion (v. 4)—the ability to plan ahead and plot a course of action with foresight; learning and guidance (v. 5).
Another way of viewing these wisdom qualities is to see them as wisdom’s companions, similar to attendants at a wedding ceremony. Where wisdom goes, they go, for they are ever-connected to her. See Proverbs 8:12–14 for wisdom’s own testimony about some of her companions.
PRAYER
Almighty God, help me avoid the door that leads to entrapment. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Proverbs 5:1-14 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Numbers 12-14; Mark 5:21-43
