“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”(John 15:4) ESV
Abiding is our daily effort to pursue, to enjoy, and to rest in Jesus Christ.
To understand abiding (or as the NIV translates, to remain), let’s think about the difference between:
Knowledge and Intimacy
Busyness and Being Still
Option and Opportunity
Duty and Depth
Memorizing and Marinating
Remaining in Jesus–and to have him remain with us, is the most wondrous invitation.
Communion with the Son of God. Soaking in his peace. Lingering in his Truth. Tapping into his sufficiency. Sitting in his mercy. Remembering that we are beloved.
Make room in today’s schedule – to be with him, to talk to him, to listen, to abide.
The prophet Hosea delivered messages of truth and love—speaking verbatim the words of the Lord. In this chapter, we find God musing over his relationship with wayward Israel.
Hosea 11:1-11
““When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.”
Take notice of three things with me:
1. God gives a sad summary of Israel’s response to him—“the more they were called, the more they went away from me.” (Hosea 11:2) These words hold a divine grief. God feels for us as he observes our sin sickness. Even when we are under the love of God and even while he is calling to us—our flesh can lead us step by step, choice by choice, away from him.
Look at your past two weeks. Is your life’s momentum toward Jesus or away from Jesus? For whichever is true, pause right now and talk to the Lord about it.
2. Do you see the words I’ve bolded in the Scripture text? Look at all the actions God takes in loving and caring for his people. As you follow Jesus, God is not distant or remote. He is actively leading, providing, loving, calling, teaching, lifting, and bending toward us. God is so good to us. And though we might deserve anger and devastation, he who is rich in mercy gives compassion. (Hosea 11:8-9) (Ephesians 2:3-5)
The Lord is your daily shepherd. The Lord is your patient father. The Lord is your capable healer. The Lord is your faithful provider. The Lord lifts you up to himself again and again. (Hosea 11:4)
Pause right now and thank God for his daily leadership, love, and care. Be specific with your praise.
3. Near the end of this passage, Hosea announces hope that Israel will eventually follow the Lord—because God will roar like a lion. His roar is not a warning. His roar is not to scare them—it’s an invitation. Do you see it in the text? When he roars, his children will come. And when they return, he will settle them in their homes.
The Lion roars to us, calling us home, calling us to his side, where nothing can touch us. He calls us out of roaming and wandering, inviting us to be settled. God is so good to us.
Pause right now and talk to God about your desire to find rest, to know peace. Tell him how much you long to feel settled.
On Saturday morning, I toured the home of Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President. The National Park Service preserves his three-story house in Oyster Bay, New York. It served as a family retreat, summer White House, and venue for global negotiations. The walls are lined with art, hunting trophies, numerous bookcases, and charming reminders of a lively home for a loving couple with six children.
I recently read Edmund Morris’ three volume biography on the man the nation knew as Teddy. This weekend’s tour fulfilled my history-nerd desire to get even closer to this leader I admire. He was a devoted family man, a no-nonsense executive, and a gigantic personality. TR was NY Police Commissioner, Governor, Vice President, and eventually a two-term President. Along the way, he commanded the Rough Riders on San Juan Hill, preserved millions of Western acres as national parks, led America to secure the Panama Canal, negotiated peace between Japan and Russia, wrote more than thirty books, oversaw critical military preparation before World War I, and won the Nobel Peace Prize.
On Saturday afternoon, former President Trump was almost assassinated. Those horrific events bring to mind one of my favorite stories about Roosevelt. While campaigning in 1912, a would-be assassin shot Roosevelt in the chest at close range just as Teddy exited his car. After bystanders tackled and subdued the shooter, TR insisted on carrying on with the speech. Look at his opening words to the crowd (courtesy: The History Channel):
“Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible.” His second line, however, was a bombshell. “I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot.” The horrified audience in the Milwaukee Auditorium gasped as the former president unbuttoned his vest to reveal his bloodstained shirt. “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose,” the wounded candidate assured them. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a bullet-riddled, 50-page speech.
Holding up his prepared remarks, which had two big holes blown through each page, Roosevelt continued. “Fortunately I had my manuscript, so you see I was going to make a long speech, and there is a bullet—there is where the bullet went through—and it probably saved me from it going into my heart. The bullet is in me now, so I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best.”
Bleeding and a little short of breath, Teddy went on to speak with courage and passion for a full ninety minutes.
Wow.
As a student of history, I recognize the iconic nature of the photo from former President Trump’s assassination attempt. Brave protectors. A bloodied, but courageous and determined candidate. The flag—still there.
It was a terrible day. A retired fire chief lost his life, others were injured, and many were traumatized for life. It was terrible because hate took action, attempting to stop a candidate, attempting with bullets to bypass and blaspheme our democratic process.
Elections with robust campaigns are foundational to our democracy. Candidates step forward, and ideas are put forward—with passion. Then, the voters decide.
Yes, the process has been broken for a long time. What happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, is the fruit of what we have allowed—disagreement turning into hate and declaring rivals to be enemies.
This has been simmering toward a boil for a while now. We have lost the ability to respectfully disagree. We see only red or blue. On Saturday, a young man saw the party, positions, and rhetoric more than he saw a person. On Saturday, a young man thought it was a good idea to take a life because of politics.
I am thankful that President Trump is okay. His resilient, courageous, inspiring, Rooseveltian reaction will live on in history.
We came very close to exponential disaster—millimeters close, fractions of a second head turn close. We were not just close to losing this specific candidate. We were close to igniting the flammable national tension, perhaps leading more people to take up arms against their neighbors.
If you need fresh evidence of God’s providence, it can be measured in the millimeters of a perfectly timed turn of the head.
We are citizens of a better Kingdom—one that is to come. Yet, while we wait, we endeavor to do good in the name of Jesus and to announce the good news of the Kingdom—to all.
Political violence has no place. Hatred of political rivals has no place-especially among the people of Jesus.
Our hope is in Jesus, not a candidate.
Let’s pray for our leaders and ask God to glorify himself in an election process that still has months to go. Let’s pray for Mr. Trump and his family. Let’s pray for Mr. Biden and his family. Let’s pray for the families of the other victims at Saturday’s rally.
Let’s take inspiration from Mr. Trump’s incredible courage and determination to carry on—to continue serving—despite the dangers. TR would be proud.
Let’s do our part to dial down the tone and temperature attached to our opinions and positions. Let’s pray that our children and the next generations of politicians learn from these moments.
Let’s continue to seek God, to cling to him, and to reflect Jesus in all that we say, and do and post.
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:29-37 NIV
Jesus answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” with a parable, illustrating love through a man helping a fellow traveler. The Samaritan gave up his ride so the wounded one could make it to an inn. He spent the night nursing injuries, then pre-paid recovery expenses, promising the innkeeper more should it prove necessary.
Jesus is honored by our good responses to strangers in need—compassion, willing interruption, stepping into messy situations, time and money spent.
Another detail in the story merits attention. The first act Jesus describes is the Samaritan bandaging the victim’s wounds, pouring on oil and wine. What did the Samaritan use as bandages? Where did he get the oil and wine? Had he brought a first-century first-aid kit on the journey, just in case? Perhaps the items were already part of his cargo. Or did he pack with a purpose; ready to respond, to bind up, to love?
Oil to comfort, to reduce swelling, and to quiet the burning and stinging.
Wine to clean out the wounds, to wash away germs, stopping the chance of infection.
Cloth bandages to slow or stop the bleeding, to seal things up so healing can begin.
Before leaving home, what can we pack for today’s journey to school, or work, or running errands—just in case we cross paths with a fellow traveler beaten and bloodied by life? Do you have a Scripture or two at the ready, passages of hope to soothe a sting?
Devotional moments in God’s Word help us to enjoy Jesus, to follow the Spirit, and to trust our Father. They also double as packing for the day’s ministry opportunities. Scriptures of grace and truth become oil and wine. Passages about God’s power, his mercy, and his faithfulness, become bandages for an on-the-go first aid kit.
Let’s go about our day watchful for the wounded; stopping to help might just save a life. Yes, they could require longer-term care from other sources, but a few minutes spent listening to them and pointing them toward hope in Jesus, could slow the bleeding so healing can begin.
Today is full of responsibilities, yet also a few unplanned opportunities and divine encounters. Are you packed for them?
“Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to me when I was helpless, dead in my trespasses and sins. Use me today to strengthen someone who feels robbed, attacked, wounded, or abandoned. Spirit of God, bring specific Scriptures to mind so that I might encourage them.
My day, as always, is yours. My schedule is interruptible. My time is shareable. My things are replaceable. I’m leaving home today with eyes up, watching for opportunities to love my neighbor, for the privilege of representing you.”
To know me is to encounter my love of history. I enjoy articles on discoveries in archaeology. I am captivated by first-hand accounts of life way back when. I am a sucker for any YouTube video about battles and battlefields. My Audible app usually has a few biographies loaded—a cadre of long-gone mentors, speaking across time to share wisdom and to warn against folly.
It is good to read old and new things; content with a today timestamp and words locked onto pages in brittle, old-smelling books.
Let’s spend a few minutes with a Christian leader from history. His name is John Taylor of Ashbourne (1711-1788). His life in England ended just before George Washington became President on our side of the pond.
John penned thoughts on pride and humility which strongly relate to our modern discipleship. I am painfully familiar with the battle against pride. In my early years of ministry, I indulged insecure ambition—attempting to dress it up as passion and drive. I wanted people to view me as a capable leader. I hoped to bypass formative positions as an intern and staff associate to prove my value swiftly. Sadly, I neglected to grow the child of God in me and ended up searching for value in the opinions of men rather than in Christ and his calling.
Here are four paragraphs on the subject from JT paired with a few pastoral thoughts and questions from yours truly.
JT: “He that overvalues himself will undervalue others, and he that undervalues others will oppress them. Pride has been able to harden the heart against compassion, and stop the ears against the cries of misery. It makes masters cruel and imperious, and magistrates insolent and partial. It produces contempt and injuries, and dissolves the bond of society. Nor is this species of pride more hurtful to the world than destructive to itself. The oppressor unites heaven and earth against him.”
KD: Confidence, drive, and forward motion can serve noble purposes. But they can also combine into the persona of an arrogant locomotive—barreling ahead, crashing through whatever dares to get in its way. Is your confidence under godly self-control? Has pride convinced you that you are better than others? Skim through the transcript of your inner monologue. Do you find thoughts of contempt for a coworker or an extended family member? How often does Christ-like compassion feature in your view of others? Jesus says to love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). He would also lead us to avoid making new ones—through overvaluing ourselves and undervaluing others.
—–
JT: “He that sets too high a value upon his own merits will, of course, think them ill-rewarded with his present condition. He will endeavour to exalt his fortune and his rank above others, in proportion as his deserts are superior to theirs. Once fired with these notions, he will attempt to increase his fortune and enlarge his sphere; and how few there are that prosecute such attempts with innocence, a very transient observation will sufficiently inform us. To pride, therefore, must be ascribed most of the fraud, injustice, violence, and extortion, by which wealth is frequently acquired.”
KD: One way we judge the viability of leftovers is by the smell test. We cautiously bring the container close for a telling whiff. Let’s pop open the lid of your heart today. Can you pass the smell test for pride? Are you grateful for and content with what you have? Has pride made you so self-focused that achievements or acknowledgments rarely satisfy? Do you frequently feel unappreciated, undervalued, and unnoticed? Has pride converted you to the belief that you deserve more than others? Are you scheming to get ahead even if it means climbing over or sabotaging competitors? I have been guilty of pushing to get noticed, even on the heels of recognition. At some point, alarms in my heart moved me to address pride’s hold. I was at the center, and shifts were made in thinking and reacting to make Jesus the center more often. Jesus cautions that all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will receive honor (Luke 14:11).
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JT: Another concomitant of pride is envy, or the desire of debasing others. A proud man is uneasy and dissatisfied, while any of those applauses are bestowed on another, which he is desirous of himself.
KD: Ask God to trim away the part of you that envies and resents others. Does their success trigger a plan to outdo or surpass them—to grab back the spotlight? The Bible says a godly life includes intentionally putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). Train yourself to celebrate when others win.
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JT: “Another consequence of immoderate self-esteem is an insatiable desire of propagating in others the favourable opinion he entertains of himself. He therefore tortures his invention for means to make himself conspicuous, and to draw the eyes of the world upon him.”
KD: John Taylor could not have imagined smartphones, social media, and the prideful pressure some feel to get noticed. Yet his century knew this truth in common with our own—our pride loves to “draw the eyes of the world.” Please do not attach your value to people liking, commenting, or sharing what you’ve posted. Dear one, you are enough without the applause of men.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.
Ezekiel 28:1-2 NIV
Be on your guard against pride. It will lie to you, sabotage you, and separate you from those who would love and support you. And it will work to make an idol of—you. Pride wants to compete with God for glory.
Some of what equips us for godliness comes as cozy reminders that we are fully loved, swimmers in a sea of grace. And that is what we are. Do not despise the less cozy questions you prefer not to ask of your soul. Identifying traces of pride and walking with the Spirit to deal with them pays marvelous benefits in every century.
Humility, with an accurate view of self, is just one of the ways Jesus invites you to enjoy him and to live more free.
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”(Matthew 27:50-53 NIV)
Using Our Imagination:
It is late in the morning on the first day of the week. Inside the house, Hannah is working, but not in a hurry. She cleans and puts away what was used for Passover. The jumbled table with near-empty jars and leftover scraps of food speaks of the gathering that happened here. Some of the clutter remains as signs of the earthquake from two days before. She refills a lamp and smiles, lost in the memory of yesterday’s family and food, and the ancient story of God’s provision when death came for her ancestors in Egypt.
The smile evaporates. She is sobered by the memory of death visiting her own family just seven months ago. Her husband left one morning to do a merchant’s work but never returned home. An overloaded cart, they said. A spooked animal, they said. This year’s Passover was the first with an empty place at their table. There were several kinds of empty in Hannah’s home.
———-
On a street in west Jerusalem, a man approached a familiar door late in the morning on the first day of the week. He pushed against it, finding the latch tied from the inside. Now with both hands pressed against the wood he spoke, “Hannah, it’s me.” Philip had not been there in seven months—since the cart overturned.
From inside he heard something shatter against the stone floor. Hannah turned toward the door, ignoring spilled oil and the scattered clay that used to be a lamp. She knew the voice. She also knew it couldn’t be Philip. But it was Philip. Alive.
Honoring Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday:
Just think. Scenes like this probably played out all over Jerusalem on Resurrection Sunday.
On Good Friday Jesus suffered what he did not deserve. He laid down his life so that people like us could be reconciled to the Father. When the Son of God breathed his last, extraordinary power erupted from the place of the skull. Was it a shockwave from the great battle, as death received the death blow? Whatever it was, it rocked Jerusalem with seismic force. The events were wonderful and terrible; disturbing and shocking. Darkness, insults and mockery, nails through flesh, blood and screams, earthquakes, and wrecked cemeteries. The Temple veil, separating the Holy Place from unholy people, ripped from top to bottom. The earth shook—provoking panic and fear. Everyone felt it. And tombs broke open. Let that sink in—dead people came back to life, eventually making their way back to their families.
As you move through your remembrance of Good Friday, remember it as a day that changed history. It changed eternity. The foundations of sin were shaken; its influence forever gutted. Access to God became possible for unholy people.
Remember the dead who came to life. Jesus would experience a resurrection days later and we will experience something similar when our time on earth is done. One day, we will get to go Home.
Thank you, God, for making a way to know you. Thank you for giving your Son in the heat of Calvary’s rejection and in the knowledge of my disobedience. I love that when you act on behalf of your people, mountains move, graves open, and things change. I will live in the grace of Good Friday and the hope of Resurrection Sunday—today and every day—until I am Home.
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I love the feel and smell and of a leather journal. They are perfect for capturing personal prayers and reflections. They are also good for taking notes on Sundays. As much as I love the pen and paper experience, in this post I want to recommend that taking digital sermon notes is a great idea. Here are eight reasons why you should head to church this weekend with a fully charged phone or tablet.
1. It keeps you from distraction. Note-taking locks you in to what is happening as the people of God gather to hear the Word of God. If you are busy taking notes, you are less likely to check social media feeds and less likely to people-watch. It even counteracts the tendency to fall asleep. Your mind will focus and your heart will follow.
2. Digital notes are searchable. That means you can comb through them weeks, months, or years later to find a subject or scripture reference. You might one day find yourself facing an issue when the thought hits, “I think I once heard a sermon about that.” Thorough note-taking can serve you for decades to come.
3. Notes give you space to record commitments. Sermons are preached in the confidence that while one person is speaking, the Holy Spirit is moving in every listener’s heart. As you listen to preaching and teaching, listen with your soul. Before the preaching begins ask God to speak specifically to you, invite Him to address anything in your world, and submit yourself to the authority of the Scriptures. When the sermon is finished, consider these questions: “What is God leading me to do or change or stop or start after hearing this?” and “How should I respond to today’s sermon?” Include the answers in your notes for immediate accountability and future reminders of God’s work in your life.
4. Notes provide a launch point for devotionals during the week. In the days between Sundays, your notes can nudge you to dig deeper into the featured Scripture text or to investigate the sermon concept in published books or other Bible passages. You can also let the notes lead you for praying through how the pulpit topic meets your real life.
5. Digital notes are easy to share. This could be tweeting or posting on various platforms (after the service!) for the purpose of helping others. When the notes are digital, you can select a few lines, copy them, and then paste them in an email to a friend who needs encouragement or challenge. All of that can be done in less than one minute. By taking notes, you might increase how often you encourage and minister to family, friends, and followers. If you hear something helpful, share it!
6. Sermon notes can help your small group. I hope you are part of a church-based small group for community and spiritual development. If your group discusses the Sunday sermon, then your turn to chime-in is made easier by scrolling through the notes.
7. It sets a good example. Note-taking parents communicate value in the preaching experience to their ever-observing kids. If you are not a parent, note-taking can encourage those sitting near you to take the sermon seriously. It can even lead to their decision to start a note-taking habit of their own.
8. It reminds you that you are not in an audience listening to a speech. The sermon is a supernatural moment; teaching and preaching from a man who sought the Lord on your behalf. He studied and prayed and edited and crafted—for many hours—to find the best way to communicate deep and filling Truth to you. I’m not talking about taking notes to honor his efforts. I’m talking about note-taking as a reminder to self that you still need to be taught, that you are sitting under spiritual leadership. This isn’t a speech—it is a Spirit-driven moment of proclaiming things you need. Note-taking keeps us in the position of a humbled learner, participating by listening and then capturing by note-taking the things preached for God’s glory and for our good.
I challenge each of you to try this for eight Sundays. Don’t worry about typos and auto-correction; you can clean them up later (But let me know if you get some funny auto-corrects!). Choose an app for your phone or tablet or laptop and take notes on the next eight sermons you hear.
If you are new to note-taking, do not worry about method or format. If your preacher uses lists or outlines, the path is laid-out for you. If not, just type things in a way that makes sense to you. After all, they are for you.
Can you think of any other benefits of sermon note-taking that I left-out? Join the discussion in the comments below.
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Stacy and I love college students. Here is a prayer for the thousands who this week step into a new semester or quarter.
May God give you vision for how your coursework connects to His purpose for your life.
May you increase in boldness for living and speaking the Gospel on your campus. May you find deep joy in the college experience—making memories that last.
May He protect you from sickness, favoring you with quality sleep and physical protection. May God bless you with strong Believing friends in a Christ-centered church; a community to cheer you on as you follow Jesus, speaking grace and truth as needed.
May God guard you from the schemes of the Enemy—helping you spot his traps and drowning out the false whispers of comparison and shame.
May God favor your hard work in study so that papers flow easily and exams pose no threat. May you know the sweet security of clinging to Christ when trials and storms assault your life.
May this semester or quarter be a season of great growth in your affection for Jesus and in your passion for increasing His fame where He has planted you.
May God help you rest in the knowledge that everything that will happen in this season—He already knows it and He is able to carry you through it.
May you find peace and confidence from knowing that not only is He with you, He goes before you to prepare the way.
Amen.
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"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said." (Luke 10:38-39 NIV)
Jesus is near. This is our faith.
Spending time with him between Sundays can feel elusive or confusingly mystical since he is not with us in the flesh.
Go to him – in your living room, around the dining table, out on a walk, in your car before going into the office, or settled into a spot at your favorite coffee shop.
Sit at his feet in these four practical ways:
Worship him for who he is.
Worship him for what he has done.
Ask him for help in your circumstances.
Apply his teachings to your life.
Respond to any emotions that come while meeting with him, but do not chase a certain experience. It doesn’t need to feel a certain way to count as meaningful.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
Jesus is near.
Sitting at his feet is good and important and necessary.
If you would like to watch the full teaching segment around this topic, you can find it here.
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Good fathers want to keep their children safe. They teach their kiddos about external threats and internal compromises leading to disaster. In the seventh Proverb, Solomon speaks to his son about the costs hidden within sexual temptation. He illustrates the danger through a temptress and a simpleton.
“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.”(Proverbs 7:1-9 NIV)
This father is convinced that a close relationship with wisdom can keep his son from the lies of the forbidden woman. This is true for every kind of temptation. God’s wisdom reveals His expectations and preferences, instructing us about the choices that will cost us or bless us.
Modern military units train in Shoot Houses to simulate hostile environments. They move room by room in teams, learning to react quickly and safely, targeting foes, and rescuing civilians. The stories of the Bible serve as training scenarios. We can enter the narratives to watch and learn from heroes and fools. Solomon’s graphic scenario helps his son—and us—move through life safely; quickly identifying the adulteress as “foe” before she even launches into her tempting speech.
Solomon compels us with words of action— to keep, to guard, to bind, to write, and to say(7:1-3). Practicing these looks like discipline, devotion, and scheduled habits of Bible interaction. Our Father defines where we should and should not play. He wants us to avoid the traps. He is a good and attentive and protective Father.
God invites us to know and to keep His Word so that we may live (7:2). His wisdom paths lead to life and joy and contentment and satisfaction. Love the scriptures! Marinate in them; hide them in your heart. Solomon pleads with his children to cling to wisdom because has seen (7:7) what happens to those who do not.
The Floozy
“Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: ‘Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.’”(Proverbs 7:10-20 NIV)
Crime dramas and podcasts tell the story of predators snatching children from parks or playgrounds—luring them with teddy bears, candy, and lies. Narrators describe how evil people coax the innocent into vehicles, carrying their victims to horrific mistreatment and sometimes even death. As much as the thought of a tender six-year-old ensnared to her death triggers nausea and rage, the woman and the young man in this proverb should provoke similar reactions. The temptress set a trap disguised by perfume. She is not absentmindedly flirting. She is on the hunt.
Solomon’s forbidden woman is not a prostitute; she’s just dressed like one. She is not a professional; she is a woman in your neighborhood. She is a woman at your office. She is a woman in your church. She is forbidden because she is someone else’s wife.
Perhaps her husband is away at work too often. Perhaps she genuinely suffers neglect from attention, praise, touch, or the comfort of a man’s strong arms. She stalks a willing party because she is thirsty to hear that she is beautiful and desirable. She is thirsty for companionship. She is thirsty for the peace and comfort and value extended through a lover’s gaze.
While her thirst is sad and preventable, her solution is evil. Her actions ignore God, defile her body, betray her husband, and pull a young man into sin. Inner thirst, even loneliness, can drive us into wrecked relationships, with serious injuries and permanent scars.
The woman in Solomon’s cautionary tale is determined and brash; she is loud and aggressive. Before she says anything to the young man, before she explains how easily he could have her, she grabs him and kisses him.
She literally gives him a taste of what could be his—and he is hooked. A biological reaction begins, overriding reason and judgment. The adulteress knows what she is doing. Her kiss triggers nerves and chemicals, awakening a desire that demands satisfaction. Pornography does the same thing. Flirtatious touching does this. The wayward woman would give a speech, but she did not need it. He was caught. The hunt was over. Take note: It is never “just a kiss.”
Smooth words promise that their time in bed could remain hidden; her husband would not find out. No matter how “free” temptation appears, it always includes a cost. The argument that, “No one will ever know,” is a lie. God knows. And so does our conscience, made in His image. Think of Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart or the haunting guilt in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment.
Even if you are neglected, seeking fulfillment outside of your marriage is wrong. When reaching for one who is not your spouse, new problems, greater than the original loneliness, come into play. You sin against God, betray your spouse, and damage your marriage. Atop this heap of sin, you also become a stumbling block to a fellow child of God. “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come!”(Luke 17:1 NIV)
Husband, love your wife! Wife, love your husband! Be careful to meet their reasonable needs. Cover them so well that they never leave home in a state of thirst. Talk to your spouse before the flesh talks you into quenching your thirst somewhere else.
Put down your phones, click off the TV, and ask your spouse if their needs are fulfilled. Then listen—don’t defend or offer excuses. Yes, these conversations include awkwardness, but they are easier than handling the fallout from betrayal, easier than consulting divorce lawyers. Greater still, there is the potential that a conversation could cause a withered heart to bloom, potential for renewed joy and intimacy to fill your home.
The Fool
“With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.” (Proverbs 7:21-27 NIV)
Solomon paints the picture of a man wandering down a path of destruction. He is young and lacking sense (7:7). The wise man never allows close conversation in shadowy places. The wise alcoholic avoids the local bar—never walking through the door—choosing to avoid the fight, instead of counting on discipline to order Dr. Pepper instead of Scotch. He knows better.
Many people—both men and women—get into trouble because they believe themselves strong enough to maintain control. Perhaps this fool believed he could just look and flirt, then she kissed him, and he was pierced.
Solomon begs his son to listen. He knows the stakes. If the fool’s sin remains secret, he might return to her bed. If the sin gives comfort, he might become deluded, believing this is a good path for taking care of his own needs.
Our fool could claim false innocence, “It was all her idea! I was just walking along, or just scrolling, minding my own business.” But he was walking—or scrolling—where it was not safe. And adulterous fruit is forbidden even it is willing, even if she is eager. We are responsible for our choices.
What physical or digital places do you frequent, where trouble lurks in the shadows?
A beautiful woman radiating sensuality, spouting flattery and a lusty invitation, is a powerful force. If biology takes over, it’s game over. The wise man sees a willing woman on his screen or on his path and clicks away, crossing to the other side of the street instead of trusting himself to say “No” to a tempting offer.
Fools take a chance on winning or losing.Wise people avoid the fight.
If an encounter with temptation is unavoidable, assume a combat posture. Her words might be smooth but hold your resolve at a sharpened edge. This is not a moment for polite banter. She is luring you to the grave (7:27). Her tender talk disguises lethal talons. The moment calls for a few firm words, then run away.
Solomon speaks in pleading tones to keep his boy from the arrow or snare. He speaks plainly. He does not hint or skirt the issue. He wants his son to be right with his wife, but also right with God. Solomon understands that the root crime in adultery is thievery; someone taking what belongs to another. Perhaps he is thinking about his own parentage—David taking Bathsheba.
In love, Solomon points to a path of wisdom, the difference between life and death. Any man can be tempted and lured and trapped and devoured. Only the fool believes himself impervious.
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