Today is August 7th
I try each day in my Bible study to read the Proverb corresponding to the date. So today I was reading Proverbs 7.
Here it is as translated in the NAB-The New American Bible. I usually prefer the KJV, but for this proverb I think it translated well for modern time.
- 1
- My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands.
- 2
- Keep my commands and live, my teaching as the apple of your eye;
- 3
- Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.
- 4
- Say to Wisdom, “You are my sister!” call Understanding, “Friend!”
- 5
- That they may keep you from another’swife, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
- 6
- For at the window of my house, through my lattice I looked out–
- 7
- And I saw among the simple ones, I observed among the young men, a youth with no sense,
- 8
- Going along the street near the corner, then walking in the direction of her house–
- 9
- In the twilight, at dusk of day, at the time of the dark of night.
- 10
- And lo! the woman comes to meet him, robed like a harlot, with secret designs–
- 11
- She is fickle and unruly, in her home her feet cannot rest;
- 12
- Now she is in the streets, now in the open squares, and at every corner she lurks in ambush–
- 13
- When she seizes him, she kisses him, and with an impudent look says to him:
- 14 I owed peace offerings, and today I have fulfilled my vows;
- 15
- So I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you!
- 16
- With coverlets I have spread my couch, with brocaded cloths of Egyptian linen;
- 17
- I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
- 18
- “Come, let us drink our fill of love, until morning, let us feast on love!
- 19
- For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a long journey;
- 20
- A bag of money he took with him, not till the full moon will he return home.”
- 21
- She wins him over by her repeated urging, with her smooth lips she leads him astray;
- 22
- He follows her stupidly, like an ox that is led to slaughter; Like a stag that minces toward the net,
- 23
- till an arrow pierces its liver; Like a bird that rushes into a snare, unaware that its life is at stake.
- 24
- So now, O children, listen to me, be attentive to the words of my mouth!
- 25
- Let not your heart turn to her ways, go not astray in her paths;
- 26
- For many are those she has struck down dead, numerous, those she has slain.
- 27
- Her house is made up of ways to the nether world, leading down into the chambers of death.
This struck me, this proverb, because last night I was in downtown Greensboro with my husband and as I was walking on the sidewalk of the main street, Elm St., I was struck by the women that were walking around and in particular their attire or lack thereof.
I know our culture encourages women to put all that they have on display, but it just seemed to me to be getting worse and worse. I was concerned for my husband since he has to do business and is around the area a lot. The women looked like prostitutes. Whether they were or not, I don’ know, but it truly saddened me. These poor souls are following down the wide pathof our Godless culture. They are simply modeling what they see in the media. And even for Christians, I must admit, most of us are not as modest as perhaps we should be. I admit to some vanity, I like to keep up with fashion to some extent. I don’ t really have an urge to were a head-covering or skirts to my ankles. I guess I feel it looks out of place. But when I think of it, should not we as Christian women act as we are called to by God “to be in the world, but not of the world.” 1John 2:15-17.
Just looking about, it is easy to see the truth of the scripture, that the World is waxing worse and worse. I am not shocked, but sad about it. I hope that Christian women will be able to not look just like the world. I am not Amish or a Mennonite, but some form of modesty, is good I believe. I also believe that modesty is in ones’ deportment and how one carries one’sself, not simply in clothing choice. If a woman carries herself with dignity and humility;I believe that shows outwardly and men will know where she is coming from. But the opposite is true as referred to the ‘impudent’ look of the harlot. Impudent meaning “Brashly bold and immodest”. ref: American Heritage Dictionary. I cannot expect worldly women to be modest, they will go about alluring men and causing them to lust, but Christian women should know better and do better, myself included.
To Christian men: The three things that we must be careful to guard against says the Lord are: The lust of the flesh, The lust of the eyes, and the Pride of Life. These are the things which are in the World. I hope we will remember also what Jesus said-”Come out from among them and be you separate, touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17. I know as we all do that men are driven to lust by their eyes,fairly easily. So men, I am know it must be a daily battle for you. But keep up the good fight. We need Godly men to show the way.
We are all being bombarded and inundated constantly by “unclean” things. I pray we will come out and walk as lights in this world as we are called. Let us not lose our “saltiness” If we do, then what good are we?
In Encouragement,
LG
