As I read through the book of Proverbs, I’m struck with a thought: “What is the deal with Solomon and women?”
Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman. (Proverbs 7:4-5, New Living Translation)
Actually, that’s not my thought because I know enough of Solomon’s story to know that he should have remembered his own advice.
His early life: God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man … And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. (1 Kings 4:29-32, New International Version)
His later life: He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. (1 Kings 11:3-4, New International Version)
Makes sense now, doesn’t it. But, just so we don’t get the impression that Solomon blames women for everything, we need to understand that, throughout Proverbs, Solomon speaks to “my son” about two women. Both wisdom and sin are personified in Proverbs (Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly). Both are attractive, but one will lead to life and blessing and the other will lead to death and destruction.
I guess he knew that some old hairy dude was not going to be much of an enticement in either direction!
Question: Solomon portrays temptation as an alluring and promiscuous woman. What other metaphors are helpful?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to learn from your perspective.
