Last week we faced the reality of the temptress, who with "smooth talk" and "persuasive words" the temptress leads one off the right path and into sin. Today, we hear from Woman Wisdom calling us to, "Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right." She tells us, "The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."

The Temptress leads people to death -- eternally

Yet, despite this reality and clarity, we know people are taken in by the "smooth talk" and "persuasive words" of the Temptress, the Tempter or Satan. Those crooked words are aimed at our minds. Just like someone who can market a useless item well, many will purchase that item. We've all seen the infomercials on television. A persuasive man tells you that you can receive high-definition television and stop paying cable bills with this little antenna device on the back of your television. It sounds so good -- so real. Our emotions say, "get it!" So, we purchase said useless item and of course realize we've been deceived.

That's a fairly harmless example. But, in Proverbs 7 & 8, the example isn't harmless -- it is life and death. We have a choice to make. Be deceived by "smooth talk" and walk into sin & death ... or control our emotions and analyze what the Temptor is telling us because only then can we avoid the snare laid. Do not be deceived, brothers and sisters -- the Temptor is not as powerful as God -- but the Temptor is the Great Deceiver. Wisdom offers a path of truth and without deception.

If you want a 'good' life, follow the words of Wisdom.

Continuing in the proverbial series of Proverbs ... we move to Proverbs 7 for this day. Sort of an odd proverb for study, yet it is still rich with value. The usual parental command occurs, then the "Teacher" relays a personal experience to make a 'teaching moment'. Sin is ever lurking in every dark corner, waiting to seduce the human into its cluthes. When one acknowledges this reality, one can keep one's eyes open to that fact. Sin only wins when we let down our guard and allow sin to enter. With that the previous chapters have dealt. Keeping your attention on wisdom so sin isn't allowed to sneak in and get a hold.

Here, the adultress waits for the vulnerable person. Then, once that person comes near, she reaches out and begins to persuade. How grand it looks, how smooth her words, how enticing the proposal. Watch out though. There is a price to be paid. Always, there is a price to be paid. Too often, people forgot to examine the price tag.

Christ's Peace and His Wisdom for you.

We continue with the Proverbs series. Last week, we jumped from chapter 4 to chapter 30. Neat stuff there. For this Sunday, we return to chapter 6, back to Solomon's actual contributions to the book of Proverbs.

I hope to focus on verses 16-19 containing so much that I doubt there will be time left for much else. In this set, there is a catalog or list of seven things that God hates. Oh, no! Did I just say, "God hates?" Yes I did. We don't like to hear this part. Much more palatable is God's love and how He will accept everyone in the end (which is not true). God is perfect - perfect in love - perfect in justice - perfect in admonition - perfect in punishment - perfect in provision. Scipture is clear (whether we want to hear it or not) there are things that God hates. Sin was not His idea - it was humanity's idea. God hates sin. He loves humans, but still hates sins.

Anyway, here the proverbs author assembles a list of seven things God hates. We are going to spend time on each one. It is beneficial to study these seven things because we can benefit by watching our own lives for any evidence of their presence. Have a look at the catalog ... maybe choose a favorite or one in which you see your own weakness. Then, I'll see you Sunday to discuss these.

There is an old trucker phrase I remember from my CB days, "keep it between the ditches." That phrase morphed into "keep it between the lines" as ditches disappeared from along mainroads. But, the phrase carried the meaning into basic, everyday life by equating to our life journey along the 'highway of life'. As we travel, we need to keep it between the lines. To wander to the left or to the right means trouble. We may go off the road and into the wilderness. We may end up in a ditch, stuck. Or, we may collide with another in life, going the otherway, if we cross over the center line.

The author of Proverbs takes this same idea in chapter 4, applying it to real life. Look down at 23 thru 27. See it? We'll spend time there, noting an outline form and how those verses apply to our lives.

So, as you journey, I encourage you to keep it between the lines! Christ's Peace to you.'