Proverbs 2:16
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To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
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Noble readers will let the wisdom and knowledge of Proverbs enter into their heart and be pleasant unto their soul (2:10), for then discretion and understanding can save you from the strange woman (2:11). Here is a deliverance or salvation indeed!
What is a strange woman? She is any woman you have not married, so you have no right to any romantic or sexual pleasure with her. She does not belong to you. More specifically, she is a whorish woman, who entices men to commit fornication with her.
Jephthah's brethren despised him as the son of a strange woman, for his mother was a harlot (Judges 11:1-2). Their own mother was their father's wife, but his mother a whore.
She is a stranger, for she belongs to another. As saints are strangers in the earth, because this is not our home and we don't belong here; a strange woman is an evil woman who is away from her home and seducing men other than her husband.
We will meet with this warning again, as it is a great temptation for men, especially young men (6:24; 7:5). No man can play with this temptation, for many strong men have been slain by her (7:26). Samson was powerless before Delilah (Judges 16:4-21), so that he told her all his heart, even though he knew she sought to destroy him.
Determine in your heart beforehand to avoid this woman, for she is waiting to cause you to sin (23:26-28). She does not seek wicked and profane men, but rather those with virtuous souls (6:26). So we see Potiphar's wife enticing noble Joseph, who firmly rejected her advances with a soul committed to God (Gen 39:7-12).
You could meet her today. We work with wives of others more than ever, and they are more whorish than ever. What can a man do? He must commit his soul to God in all sexual matters, and he must flee any forward or friendly woman. The flattering attention of a woman is too strong a force to allow, for it will lead to the slaughter (7:21-23).
Do not lust after a woman's beauty or enjoy her eyes (6:25)! Reject and flee her words of praise and flattery (6:24)! Do not think of her later in your heart (Job 31:1)! Stay away from her presence with great diligence (4:15)!
Flattery is kind and friendly speech to win your attention. It is not sincere and virtuous, for the intentions are neither noble nor righteous. A woman's praise can take a man easily, so avoid it and disregard it (5:3; 7:21).
Of course, she will not say her goal is sin; instead she will praise you, commend herself, describe creative lovemaking and great affection, and say she wants to give you solace and love (7:13-18). Hate her words! Run from them! Reject them! She lies! Though she seems delightful and pleasant, her end is bitter and painful (2:18-19; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18).
Solomon wrote much of Proverbs to protect his son from strange women. Wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding will keep you from her (2:10-11). Knowing and understanding God has condemned all adulterers and whoremongers (Heb 13:4) and the consequences of adultery are horrific (6:26-35), it is a man's wisdom and discretion to stay far away from any woman but his wife.
The daughters of God must learn to modestly cover their beauty, limit their eye contact, and limit friendly speech with other men. If you do not, you are kindling a fire that will destroy your own soul and home and those of others as well.
Dear reader, may God give you grace and strength to be faithful to Him and your spouse this day; for remember that Jesus Christ used the example of a strange woman with harlot daughters as the picture of the apostate Roman church, who left Him for pagan ritualism.
God loves His sons, and Solomon loved his son. A great danger facing men is fornication, which we meet with often in Proverbs. Both God and Solomon warn against immoral women, who increase this sin much among men (23:28). Let every father and son take heed, for here is a warning of extreme importance to the safety of your soul.
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