Wisdom Wednesday #26 - A Comparison

Last week, I said I would show something interesting about relating the Torah to Proverb 7 and Proverb 31.

According to Jewish tradition, the foolish woman in Proverb 7 is the Evil Inclination personified. In my study, I found this quote related to verses 7-13:  "Heresy, the harlot, bides its time and begins casually.  Someone slowly goes astray, distancing himself from the Torah's moral values, until he becomes the harlot's guest.  He becomes accustomed to going to her, until she controls him."* (Vilna Gaon)

In verses 14 - 15, "Deceitfully, she implies that she is inviting him to perform the good deed of enjoying  sacrificial meat."* (Ibn Ezra)

Have we not found this to be true?  Impulsive decisions lead to associations and friendships that lead one away from G-d and His ways.  Soon, those entertainments are more alluring than Him and His truth.  

The verses also imply that one can be deceived into thinking she is doing a good thing, when actually she is sinning. I will give you an example of this.  

A young woman told me she was going to begin an association with a friend in hope of leading her to the L-rd.  That was good.  The bad part was that she planned to "minister" to this friend by going with her to a bar / club.  I advised against it, but she did it any way.  The young woman fell further and further away from G-d and eventually left her husband and family.

Beloved, we must guard against being deceived in this way by clinging to G-d's Word and guarding our hearts and minds from anything that draws us away from Him.  

In contrast to Proverb 7, the passage in Proverb 31 shows us a model for our lives. In verse 10, we see that we are to be "wise" or "virtuous" or full of "valor".  The Hebrew word used implies more than that though.  I will quote this information:

"It includes the possession of whatever attributes are needed to carry out the task at hand.  The hymn (proverb)contains an alphabetical acrostic as a further allusion to her all-encompassing virtues.  This passage has been interpreted as a metaphor for the Shechinah (Divine Presence), the Sabbath, the Torah, and the soul."

By drawing near to Hashem and reading His Torah, we will have the strength and wisdom to do whatever task is at hand. I encourage you to study both passages and compare the fate of these two different women.  One is cursed.  The other is blessed.  

L'Chaim - Choose Life!

**quotations are commentary from the Tanach (Stone Edition).

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 Spiritual Sunday

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A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up  
Wordless Wednesdays 

Winsome Wednesday

A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday 
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Hearts for Home
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Wisdom Wednesday #25 - Foolish or Wise?

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This week we will look at the remainder of verse eleven as well of the rest of Proverb 7 about the Foolish Woman:

She’s the coarse, impulsive type,
whose feet don’t stay at home;  

rather, she stalks the streets and squares,
lurking at every streetcorner.

Being impulsive is not wise.  Yes, I can hear someone saying, "I love being impulsive.  It's fun."  I agree in some cases.  There are times when you get a great opportunity and you take it without even thinking about it.  A good example would be if you were offered a spur of the moment invitation to dinner paid for by a friend.  I know I'd rather eat out than cook for sure. 

This verse is talking about acting on impulse, without thinking things through.  It most certainly includes failing to seek G-d's guidance. (see Proverb 3:6)

It's interesting that the verse links impulsiveness with not staying at home.  If you read further in this chapter, you will see that this woman is married, and her husband is out of town.  Her interests are not centered in the home and her husband.  She has decided to seek excitement elsewhere.  She's decided to go out and party and have some fun.  Obviously, she hasn't thought this through.  

The verse says she was out on the streets.  I don't know if there were bars back during this time, but today's equivalent of being on  the streets would be going to bars and clubs.  It's always been my opinion that bars are frequented by people looking for one of two things: alcohol or relationships.  

Yes, I'm old fashioned and I don't apologize for it.  I believe that if you have friends who like to hang out in bars and clubs, you are asking for trouble, ladies.  If a man sees you there, he thinks you are there for more than alcohol.  And if you are honest, you know he's right.  

Affairs don't "just happen".  There are steps to becoming involved with someone other than your husband.  The first step is impulse:  the quick decision to go out and have some fun apart from your husband.  That is dangerous and it is not wise. 

Thinking things through would include asking yourself:  would I want my husband to do what I'm doing?  Would I want him to be in this environment or situation?  More importantly, would G-d approve of my thoughts and actions? 

Verses thirteen through twenty-three read like a soap opera or a current television show.  This woman's actions are that of a prostitute, although she probably doesn't think of herself that way. 

I see many women, single and married, modeling their lives after the foolish women they see on television, movies and music videos.  Those women are role models of how to be a prostitute.  These are the role models many young girls are aspiring to become.  How sad.

Who is teaching the young women to be G-dly, pure women?  I raise my hand, even though my views are not popular.  I will probably even be called judgmental, but the opinions of others do not sway me.  I look to G-d for His approval, and He has commanded me to teach these truths diligently.  (see Deuteronomy 6:1-9)

Dear Gail-Friends, young and old, this woman is foolish and her behavior will have consequences as we see in the remainder of the chapter:

 

²⁴ So now, children, listen to me;
pay attention to what I am saying.
²⁵ Don’t let your heart turn to her ways;
don’t stray onto her paths.
²⁶ For many are those she has struck down dead,
numerous those she has killed.
²⁷ Her house is the way to Sh’ol;
it leads down to the halls of death.

Proverb 7 is an example of the woman we don't want to be, while Proverb 31 is an example of the woman we are to become.  I urge you to read these two chapters and evaluate your own behavior.

Proverb 7 is also an example of the type of woman we would avoid, and Proverb 31 is an example of the type of woman we would choose as a friend. Again, read the two chapters and evaluate your friends.  It is not wise to hang out with girlfriends who think the behavior of the woman in this chapter is acceptable.  If you go with a friend just because she doesn't want to go alone, you are putting yourself in a risky situation.

Next week, I will show you some very interesting things about these two chapters related to the Torah.

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 I'm linking up today with:
 Spiritual Sunday

The Gathering Spot Link-Up

All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up

Modest Mom Monday Link-up 

Growing Homemakers Link-Up

Titus 2 Tuesday 

Tuesdays with a Twist

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up  
Wordless Wednesdays 

Winsome Wednesday

A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday 
Wake Up Wednesday
Whimsical Wednesday

Hearts for Home
Favorite Things 

Fab Creative Friday
Friendship Friday 
Freedom Friday