Proverbs is a loving Father, doing his best to educate his son in the way of the World in light of the reality of God, sin, and human frailty. As such, Solomon spends a lot of time dealing with the issue of temptation. He knows well from experience how the allure of sinful things can draw us off from following God and His Word. Nothing’s changed.

Context is important here.

As a Father speaking to his son, perhaps in his teen years, Solomon knows full well two things are at play; first, raging hormones.

We are complex creatures. As such we do not just have minds and bodies, but those two are bound together in such a way that each impacts the other. Our physiology often impacts our psychology. In the extreme we see this in alcohol and drug use (Solomon will deal with alcohol more than once). But even something more benign like caffeine can make one anxious or jittery.

In my mother’s latter years, she came to me complaining that she could not sleep in her own bed because she became so anxious and fretful – but could not attach the anxiety to a specific matter. She prayed and sought the Lord and could not overcome. It grew worse. She saw it as a lack of faith issue. Not trusting the Lord enough.

One day, looking over her medications, and doing a little research online, I suspected the root cause may have been interactions between 2 certain meds. Calling the Dr. we switched out the one, and overnight her crippling anxiety eased wonderfully. Her problem wasn’t unbelief, it was chemically induced.

Teenagers, boys or girls are undergoing immense changes physiologically which have psychological and spiritual implications. Solomon got that.

Second, he’s talking to a young man. And so he casts the character of temptation in general, in the form of a seductive woman. He is not saying women are somehow inherently temptresses to be thought of poorly. He is using this example to demonstrate how attractive sin always is, and how we each have our individual propensities toward particular sins, even at specific times and certain circumstances.

Hence my title: “What’s in your wallet.” Where do you locate your wealth? What is most alluring to you that you count gain? What tempts you most? For what you value or treasure most – that will be your “temptress.”

Is it fame? Reputation? Success? Family? Money? Social status? Peer opinion? Relationship? Safety? Being known and appreciated? Marriage? Obliteration of pain or failure? Accomplishment? Self-image?

What?

Irrespective of what it is that tempts you most, Solomon’s words to his son here are absolutely indispensible in overcoming temptation. Even temptation complicated by hormones, past experiences or individual propensities and circumstances. Solomon outlines his approach in vss. 1-4.

Proverbs 7:1–2 “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;”

Here is the “secret” to obedience – that God’s Word is “treasured”, prized and delighted in – not because of the material only, but especially because of Who has written it to us.

We delight in Him and therefore want to know everything He has said.

And when that kind of love is at the bottom of it – we are never in the place of simply carrying out commands, we are indulging ourselves in our highest Love.

Only an entranced love can keep you from the seductions and wiles of the enemy. Nothing else will do.

The apple of the eye is the pupil. It represents both what we prize most – i.e. keep our eye on, but also what we protect most. We protect our eyes at all costs. So we need both to value and protect the Word of God.

2. Proverbs 7:3 “bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

The idea is that effort must be expended in order to keep these things of the Spirit embedded in the heart and mind. A mere surface acquaintance will not do. Due to the effects of the Fall on our human constitution, this takes work.

God’s commands must be kept and guarded from loss, and corruption. Loss in ignoring them or not retreating to His Word for them, but inventing our own and guarding in letting people redefine them, including ourselves. We must not either add to them nor subtract.

And how are we to do this? As above, like the reflexive response of batting anything away that comes near the eye. As though this is most sensitive and needs careful protection.

3. Proverbs 7:4 “Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,”

Understanding ourselves, God’s Word and the nature of temptation will find us on our knees, calling out for wisdom and insight and deep intimacy with truth as God knows it. Nothing less than conscious, constant, deliberate dependence upon the indwelling Spirit of Christ as the very Spirit of wisdom Himself.

And in pursuing this – what does Solomon say will be the result? Proverbs 7:5 “to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.”

It is to seek Christ and the depths of His finished work on our behalf, and the gift of His Spirit. This Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3)