At first read, we might dismiss Proverbs 7 as irrelevant, choosing to skip over this chapter if we don’t struggle with sexual sin. After all, it’s entitled “The Wiles of the Harlot” in my Bible. But before we move on too quickly, let’s stop and dig a little deeper. I believe there’s something here that applies to all of us.

There is an obvious, literal interpretation of a father’s warnings to his son to beware of the temptress in the street, but the principles shared apply to any kind of temptation to sin. If you’ve ever watched the original Disney version of The Little Mermaid, this could be the basis for the scariest scene in the movie, where Ursula plays to Ariel’s desire to be human, enticing her to give up her voice to achieve her desires. Ever since Eve traded the perfect fellowship she enjoyed with God for a desire to be like God, men and women throughout the ages have fallen victim to the temptation to fulfill sinful desires or to fulfill good desires in sinful ways.

The harlot in this chapter personifies temptation and is given a vivid description that applies to any sort of temptation to idolatry (anything that takes God’s place in our lives) or willful disobedience that breaks God’s commands.

“Temptation” is cunning of heart, boisterous and rebellious. She is in the streets, in the squares, lurking by every corner. She is brazen and bold, openly offering an immediate pleasure. She deceives without remorse. She flatters. She seduces. She entices with many persuasions.

Her target is a young man lacking sense who makes a sudden decision in the moment of temptation. He meets her because he was passing through the street near her corner, in the middle of the night and in the darkness. He surrenders to the temptation not knowing it will cost him his life.

What can we learn from this disturbing story? How can we protect ourselves, and resist temptation when it comes?

Here are a few takeaways.

#1 – We must treasure God’s wisdom first before temptation comes.

Proverbs 7:1-5 – My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching 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 call understanding your intimate friend; that they may keep you from an adulteress, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

Defeating temptation starts with knowing God’s word and committing ourselves to it. We must prize it above all other wisdom and fill our hearts and minds with it. Remember the words of the psalmist?

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Psalm 119:9-11)

#2 – We must be wise about time and place.

Proverbs 7:6-9 – For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice, and I saw among the naive, and discerned among the youths a young man lacking sense, passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house, in the twilight in the evening, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.

While temptation can find us in the most unexpected places, there is some wisdom in being careful about where we go, who we’re with, and what time of day it is. We can avoid a lot of heartache and bad decision-making by simply avoiding the times and places where we could be tempted. An alcoholic ought to be home with his family after a day’s work, not stopping by the local bar. A lonely woman should avoid the nightclub. A person who struggles with pornography should not spend time alone on their computer or phone without putting some protective measures of accountability in place. The one who overspends the family budget on frivolous things should limit their trips to Target. We reveal ourselves as “lacking sense” when we knowingly put ourselves in places of temptation.

#3 – We must accept the reality of the devastating results of sin.

Proverbs 7:24-27 – Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Sin leads to death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 3:23). For the unrepentant sinner who has never accepted God’s offer of salvation, sin can cause our physical death, but will ultimately lead to spiritual death – eternal separation from God in a place called hell.

Those of us who belong to God’s family through faith in Jesus are still susceptible to temptation and sin. While I do not believe a true, saved follower of Jesus can lose their salvation, we can lose our fellowship with God, our testimony to the world, and suffer the discipline of our Father, even to the point of early physical death (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 for an example).

Temptation is real, and it comes in many forms. I’m so thankful that God made a promise to us, to always make a way to escape. Whether or not we take it is up to us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.