Is there a contrast between wisdom, personified as a moral woman and an immoral woman? Let’s look at Proverbs 7.
Why do we again have a warning against an immoral woman? Is it still a real problem?
My son, guard what I say and treasure my commands. Keep my commands and you’ll live. Guard my teaching as you do your eyesight. Strap them to your fingers and engrave them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You’re my sister!” and call understanding your close relative, so they can keep you from an adulterous woman, from the immoral woman with her seductive words. (Pr 7:1-5 ISV)
Does she wait for a naïve and stupid man like a predator for its prey?
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) (P4 7:6-12 KJV)
What moves and words does this woman use to seduce the man? What will it cost him?
So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him: “The sacrifices of peace offerings are with me; Today I paid my vows. Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your face earnestly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt. I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, then, let us drink our fill as lovers until morning; Let us delight ourselves with the pleasures of love. For my husband is not at home, He has gone on a journey far away; He took a bag of silver in his hand, On the day of the full moon he will come home.” With her abundant persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she drives him to herself. He suddenly follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of an ignorant fool, Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, And he does not know that it will cost him his soul. (Pr 7:13-23 LSB)
What final warning does the father give to his sons about following the immoral woman?
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 brought to ruin, And numerous are all those slaughtered by her. Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death. (Pr 7:24-27 NASB)
Is there hope for an immoral woman to have faith, be forgiven and saved?
A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:37-50 NIV)
Is there a contrast between wisdom, personified as a moral woman and an immoral woman? You decide!
