The Flattery of the Strange Woman

Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

It is difficult for new and sometimes older Christians to fully comprehend sin's effects. From God’s perspective, every facet of sin involves a vile act. However, from man’s viewpoint, though sin can be extremely harmful, the temporary pleasures (Hebrews 11:25) distract from sin's injurious nature. For instance, Proverbs 6:24 warns about the “evil woman.” We might think this to mean that we should stay away from women who say bad things, yet the evil woman does not always speak negatively. In fact, this woman is said to speak with flattery; she says nice things but with impure motives. This warning is so important that it was given on multiple occasions (Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 7:5, 21). The warning here is given specifically about a strange woman (a woman other than the man’s wife), but it applies to men and women alike. We ought to always be on guard about those who flatter us with their words.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

(For children): Delilah acted like she was interested in why Samson was so strong. Her words would make Samson feel especially important. She sounded convincing but Delilah was really getting paid by Samson's enemies to find out his secret so that they could take him captive.

(For everyone): Why is the warning concerning flattery so important for young people? What are some dangers that our young people face when it comes to flattering words from the opposite sex?

(For everyone): In what ways could this warning save marriages? What are some things that married men and women ought to be on the lookout for in their dealings with others?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

Ask the Lord to protect your home from flattering lips.

Ask God for wisdom and discernment when dealing with flattery.

SONG

My Heart, My Life, My All I Bring

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