Proverbs 7:16-17

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about temptation and the senses:

Proverbs 7:16-17 (ESV)

I have spread my couch with coverings,

colored linens from Egyptian linen;

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,

aloes, and cinnamon.

In the above passage we are reading the words of a prostitute spoken to a young, naive, simpleton.    This entire chapter is about the seduction of this young man and describes all the ways she uses to draw him into her web.   It is amazing the things that titillate our senses.  In the above passage we are told about the linen she used on the bed and the perfume she used in the bedroom.   We are told about the myrrh, aloe and cinnamon smells that wafted from her chamber.   Why do these type of things entice us so much.   She engaged his sight, his smell, and his touch.    He will be brought in by these things.    He will eventually be killed by these things.   This story is a metaphor for the enticements of Folly.  Folly entices us the same way and causes us to miss the benefits of Wisdom.  This is the theme of Proverbs.   However, the story is also a real example of how sin is materialized.   Sin uses our physical senses to draw us into her eventual death.    Sin never shows her real colors.  The addict only sees the pleasure.  Those who watch them tumble down that path see only the pain.   Adultery looks good and feels good and we seldom see the devastation to the other spouse and the destruction of the children.  They only thing two adulterous people see and feel is the fine linen, the myrrh, the aloe and the cinnamon.