No one in their right mind suddenly decides to visit a prostitute or sleep with someone else’s spouse. It involves taking numerous small steps that gradually sideline a rational and reasoning mind. After all, the most distinctive and exceptional quality that sets humans apart from animals is their capacity to think and reason.

In case you’re wondering, we’re continuing the series of teachings we began a few weeks ago to mentor a young Christian man toward living a life of shalom. Last week, we paused the series to share a timely message, and today we’ll pick up where we left off.

We are currently reading and discussing Proverbs 7, taking it one small passage at a time. Last time, we stopped at verse 18, saying,

“The woman ruthlessly intensified the heat even further, aiming to boil and destroy him alive, as she said to the young man,

“For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”
With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him.” Proverbs 7:19-21 ESV

As if the young man needed any more encouragement to follow her, the ruthless woman further promised him safety and security. She assured him there was zero chance of being found or caught. Her seductive speech completely silenced his mind and spirit, if he had any. At this point, the young man is no better than a cow or a bird because a man without his mind is merely one of those “irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed” (2 Peter 2:12).

The sage also describes the young man in this situation as follows:

“All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast
till an arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.” Proverbs 7:22-23 ESV

Tragic, isn’t it?

An honorable man, created in the image and likeness of his Creator, God, has been reduced to a bird by an adulterous woman.

The question is, did the adulterous woman fulfill all her promises?

Sadly, not a single one! What is the end of that path?

Only pain, suffering, and death await!

Thus, the sage concludes his teaching to the young man by saying:

“And now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,
for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:24-27 ESV

Pay close attention to verse 26.

“for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.”

The sage uses military terms here to show to the young man how seriousness of the situation.  Her countless victims were not lacking in talent, gifts, or accomplishments. In fact, they were men renowned for their might and capabilities in various aspects—perhaps excelling academically, possessing knowledge and creativity, achieving success and respect in their chosen fields, or even being wealthy businessmen—“a mighty throng.” Where are these honorable men now? They lie slain and dead under the feet of an adulterous woman.

If this isn’t tragic, then what is?

What was it within these men that made them a target for this?

Some may dare to blame the adulterous woman. She presents herself, but it was the young man who approached her, “passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness” (Proverbs 7:8-9).

Is it even possible to rid this dark world of adulterous women?

No!

Here, the young man bears the responsibility and all the blames fall upon him. Yet, how can we protect our future young men from these women who lurk at every corner, preying on the very souls of our sons?

Well, the purpose of including Proverbs 1 to 9 in the Bible is clear: it’s for parents, especially mothers who spend most of their time with their little ones, to firstly read and study the word of God themselves. Then, they can guide their young men in understanding the teachings of God’s Word from an early age. When a young man understand the power of his own sexual nature and how to “strike a blow” to his own sexual nature to “make it” his slave (1 Corinthians 9:27), ensuring that his sexual urges do not direct his life rather allowing his rational and informed mind, conditioned and shaped well by the Word of God, to guide him—he can attain a life of shalom and provide a safe haven for his future wife and children.

But is that all that Proverbs 1 to 9 says about a young man’s sexual nature?

So far, we’ve seen how the word of God cautioned the young man and illuminated the things he needed to avoid. Okay, but what about the things that the word of God not only approves but also urges the young man to pursue and embrace, so that he may take great pleasure in his God-given sexual nature in a wholesome manner?

We’ll address those questions in our next post. So, stay tuned! ///