What is the meaning of Proverbs 7:15? So I came out – The speaker is the adulterous woman introduced in Proverbs 7:10–14. – By saying she “came out,” she shows intentionality; sin does not remain passive but actively pursues (Genesis 4:7; James 1:14–15). – Her appearance “outside” contrasts with the safeguard of staying inside the boundaries of God’s wisdom (Proverbs 7:6–9; Proverbs 4:25–27). – Like the enemy who “prowls around” (1 Peter 5:8), she steps into the young man’s path, illustrating how temptation often meets us where we least expect it. to meet you – The phrase flatters the young man, suggesting he is uniquely desired, when in truth he is just the next target (Proverbs 7:26). – Temptation personalizes its appeal: David saw “a woman bathing” and felt singled out (2 Samuel 11:2–4). – Sin’s lure often feels tailor-made: “Each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14). – By “meeting” him, she imitates counterfeit intimacy, promising what only covenant love can rightly provide (Song of Songs 2:3–4 vs. Proverbs 5:15–18). I sought you – Her search is deliberate, showing premeditated seduction (Proverbs 7:11–12). – Satan likewise “asked to sift” Peter (Luke 22:31); evil actively hunts (Proverbs 1:11). – Temptation studies our vulnerabilities: “the sins that so easily entangle” (Hebrews 12:1). – The young man might feel honored, but her pursuit is predatory—much like the “way of an eagle in the sky… and the way of a man with a maiden” in Proverbs 30:19, where mystery masks danger. and I have found you – The seeming triumph echoes Judges 16:18, when Delilah declared, “Come once more, for he has revealed his whole heart to me.” – Sin celebrates a capture; “She has slain many mighty men” (Proverbs 7:26). – The moment of “finding” satisfies her agenda, not his good (John 10:10). – What appears as romantic destiny is actually the doorway to death: “Her house is the road to Sheol” (Proverbs 7:27). summary Proverbs 7:15 exposes the strategy of temptation: it is intentional, personal, persistent, and triumphant only in destruction. The adulterous woman’s words cloak danger in flattering language, illustrating how sin approaches us. Recognizing the pattern helps us flee to the safety of obedience, keep to the paths of wisdom, and cherish the faithful love that God designs for our good. |
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