Proverbs 7:22

When is a man as dumb as an ox? As stupid as a repeat offender going to prison? When he pursues another woman! A man playing with a whore will be destroyed as surely as an ox at the slaughterhouse. He pushes ahead, not knowing it is for his life (Pr 7:23). He cannot resist her; the draw is too great; he follows her straight to death and hell (Pr 7:27).

A strange woman – any woman but your wife – is a dangerous attraction. She stupefies the mind and silences the conscience. A fool will follow her straightway – directly and quickly, without proper consideration. As an ox moves into a chute for slaughter, it thinks green pastures are ahead. A fool does not fear and cannot learn, so he continues his crimes, each time thinking he will escape justice. How gravely they are both mistaken!

Solomon taught his son wisdom and prepared him for success in life. He warned often about the strange woman (Pr 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:23-35; 7:1-27; 9:13-18; 22:14; 23:27-28; 30:20). He knew he had to warn him about loose women that would draw him into adultery by their clothing, flattery, and kisses. He used a lengthy parable to describe how she worked (Pr 7:6-23). He introduced and concluded it with warnings (Pr 7:1-5,24-27).

If a man gives a whorish woman an inch, she will destroy him (Pr 7:21,26; 23:28). She is far too pleasant for him to see the pain and death coming (Pr 9:18); she is far too deceitful and desirable for him to deliver himself (Pr 5:6; 7:21). The victim in Solomon’s parable made a fatal mistake when he went near her house at night (Pr 7:6-10). He should have stayed away; he should have rejected thoughts of her; he should have stayed at home.

Women are stronger than men (Pr 7:26)! Evil women use flattery, immodest clothing, flirting, frequent trips from home, casual touching, and verbal discontent about husbands and family to seduce other men. A virtuous woman uses praise, submission, varied clothing at home, a toned body, calculated touching of her man, and verbal invitations to enjoy her husband in a happy marriage. See the Song of Solomon 4:1-16 and 7:1-9.

Man, the danger is great. The consequences are dire. The pleasure is too short, and it is spoiled with fear, guilt, shame, and trouble. Stay away from her! If you look at her, you cannot resist her (Pr 6:25). If you listen to her, she will force you with her words (Pr 7:14-21). If you let her touch you, it is too much (Pr 5:20; 7:13). There is only one sure rule for safety – never go near her. Stay far away from a loose woman; have nothing to do with her; do not even allow a chance for sin (Pr 5:15; 5:8; 6:27-28; 7:25; Rom 13:14).

Is not Samson’s example enough? He knew Delilah intended to destroy him. He knew it. But he kept playing with her. He could not resist her. He could not leave. He could not reject her. And she won. She won easily. He lost. He lost terribly. A pagan Philistine whore defeated the world’s strongest man. He was disgraced before all. He died like a blind animal, mocked and ridiculed by his enemies. Are not Judah, David, Solomon, and others enough warning? Be content with your wife (Pr 5:19-20; I Cor 7:1-5; Heb 13:4)!

Prostitutes in the red light district are not the threat. Most men that go there are beyond hope. The real threat is carnal Christian women that have compromised with the world and lost their inhibitions, modest clothing, contentment at home, and love of Christ. The woman in Solomon’s parable was a churchgoer of class and style (Pr 7:14-18). But she was a wicked woman God despised (Pr 30:20; Num 5:11-31; Is 3:16-26; Ezek 16:30-34).

The lesson is not complicated. If you think about or interact with a flirting woman, you are headed straight for hell and death (Pr 2:18; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18). Yes, even the thought of foolishness is sin (Pr 24:9). Fantasies and pornography are just as bad as literal adultery in the sight of God, and they will both set you up for slaughter and stocks without recovery (Job 31:1,9-12; Matt 5:27-28; 15:19; Jas 1:14-16). The best protection is a great relationship with your own wife (Pr 5:19; Eccl 9:7-10; I Cor 7:1-5; Heb 13:4).

To get your attention, God compares false religion to adultery, for your choice of worldly religions is like a woman leaving her husband for another man (Ps 106:39; Jas 4:4). He describes true churches as pure women, false churches as whores. And the lesson of the proverb fits perfectly. Most rush straightway, or headlong, into the broad way of popular churches that leads to destruction (Matt 7:13). Only a few are noble enough to search for and prove the old paths of true religion (Acts 17:11; Matt 7:14; Jer 6:16; I Thess 5:21).