DAWN

     Explanation: In Proverbs 7 Solomon commands his son to keep his sayings and to make wisdom his kinswoman so that he might be delivered from the persuasions and the allurements of the whorish woman. Today's painting depicts a couple stealing love from others, as in today's chapter of Proverbs.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 5. Proverbs 6. Proverbs 8. Proverbs 9. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 7 - #1. Proverbs 7 - #2.]

     Solomon tells his son to keep his commandments as if they were the apple (pupil) of his eye. He must bind them upon his fingers and write them on the table of his heart. He should treat wisdom as if it were his sister and understanding as his kinswoman. If he does this they will keep him from the strange woman who flatters with her words (1-5). To increase the impact of his lesson, Solomon gives an example which he observed of a woman seducing a young man. He was looking out his window when he saw a young man who had no understanding. He was passing by the house of an adulteress at twilight. She came to him subtly, dressed like a harlot. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet do not abide in her house; she goes about from place to place and lies in wait at every corner). So she caught him; she kissed him; and, with an impudent face, she told him that she had peace offerings with her and had just paid her vows to the LORD. (This was a claim to be religious and to be at peace with the LORD). Therefore, she said, she came to seek him. She had decked her bed with tapestry, with carved works, and with fine linen from Egypt. She perfumed her bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. So she invited him to come with her and to take their fill of love and to be joyful in it (6-18). She said that the man of the house was not at home. He had gone on a long (or remote) journey (road). He took a bag of money and would not be home until the day appointed. With her seductive speech and her flattering lips she compelled him. Instantly he went with her like an ox to the slaughter, or a fool to the correction of the stocks until a spear strikes through his liver, or as a bird hastens to a snare, not knowing it is for his life (19-23). Solomon therefore tells his children to hearken to his words, to not allow his heart to decline from the ways of wisdom, and to not go astray from it, because she cast down many wounded. Even strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death (24-27).

¹ My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
¹ Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
³ Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon table of thine heart.
⁴ Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
⁵ That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

⁶ For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
⁷ And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
⁸ Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
⁹ In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
¹⁰ And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
¹¹ (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
¹² Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
¹³ So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
¹⁴ I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
¹⁵ Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
¹⁶ I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
¹⁹ For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
²⁰ He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
²¹ With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
²² He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
²³ Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

²⁴ Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
²⁵ Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
²⁶ For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
²⁷ Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.