Proverbs 7:16 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Proverbs 7:16

Comments

The young man has gone in to the house of the loose woman, but what if his conscience begins to trouble him? To try and make it all a little easier, to lure him the more readily, the loose woman says to him, ‘I have decked my bed with covering of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.’ The word translated carved would be better translated 'woven' as the context is tapestry and fine linen, and it is a word that applies either way. It is used of weaving tapestry also in the ancient literature and the idea is that everything is decked out with splendour, luxury, and beauty, so that he is attracted by her advances, by her food, by the refinement of the occasion. All these things are brought to bear to maximise the pressure. He must be special that she is prepared to put on such a performance for his sake.‘I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.’ Every kind of appeal is made and that is the way sinful temptation is carried out. How is the devil going to make a person do what they have said in the past they will never do? How is he going to bring a person down to sensual sins, self-seeking sins? How is he going to draw a person to that point where they throw off any remaining restraints of conscience? By bringing a combination of influences upon them. ‘Oh, these people really like me; these people really want me to join in with them. This group of people appreciate me for my own sake. And there is everything to be had there. The atmosphere is nice – all the odours. There is refinement and luxury and wealth there.’

Application

But here is the picture language, this is what it is saying. It is so often the case, that in order to make something that we know is wrong acceptable, we justify it. Take an obvious example. Somebody indulges in something which is obviously bad stewardship, much too expensive, and out of accord for Christian people. Oh, but it's going to be perfumed with myrrh and aloes, it's going to have the bed covered with tapestry and carved works. The whole thing is justified and dressed up, and perhaps it's going to be made to look as though it can all help in Christian service. It's reasonable, you see. Now a person who is good at justifying his sin, making it look a little bit better so that it's easier to commit; such a person will never get wisdom. Somebody who can talk himself into sin. Is this wisdom? Can a vile sin like this be made any better because the bed is decked with coverings? Will that purify it? We justify our sin, talk ourselves into things that we know are wrong or inappropriate, or bad stewardship; we will never build wisdom on a foundation like that.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Proverbs 7:16 Commentary and Bible Study