Proverbs 6:24
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To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
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Men love the praise of a woman. They love the adoration of a female. It is even more exciting, when it comes from a new woman, a beautiful woman, or a popular woman. Evil women use this weakness to seduce men into adultery and fornication. Virtuous women use this need to honor and love their husbands. Young men must be taught repeatedly against the seducing power and grave danger of the flattery of a whore.
King Solomon, being a good and wise father, sought to prepare his son for the throne of Israel. Knowing that power is one of the greatest aphrodisiacs and motives for corrupt women, he warned his son often about the danger of enticing words from a strange woman - any woman he had not married (2:16; 5:3; 7:5,13-21; 22:14; 29:5). He knew the thrill of praise from another woman, implying her desire for intimacy, was a great threat.
An evil woman will go to bed with a man she has not married; she is an adulteress and a whore. She is a strange woman, because she is foreign to his marriage bed (Heb 13:4). There are women, and more today than ever, that think lightly of sexual purity or loyalty. Virginity at marriage is not a great desire, and neither is faithfulness after marriage. They usually prey on noble and successful men, especially kings' sons (6:26; 7:26; 23:27-28).
These evil women have only a few basic tricks, which young men must be taught to identify and avoid. First, they expose and emphasize their feminine beauty by immodest dress or conduct to capture his eyes (6:25; 7:10; Is 3:16). Since men are stimulated by sight, this is a great temptation. Wise men avoid the presence of immodest women (5:8).
Second, these women use their eyes to admire a man and show their willingness to be his sexual partner. The use of eyes this way is often called "bedroom eyes." Evil women know how to signal a man that they want him, and few men can resist the look (6:25; Is 3:16). Virtuous men do not allow such eye contact with any woman but their wives.
The third trick is flattering speech to break down a man's resistance and close in for the sexual kill. Immodest attire tempts men at a distance without involvement. Eye contact is usually the first personal connection that begins the seduction. But intimate words confirm the willingness, express adoration in more detail, and persuade the man to yield.
How powerful are words from a woman? Far more than most imagine! Consider Samson. Though he knew Delilah intended to destroy him, due to his three tests that she flunked terribly, he could not resist her daily pressing him with enticing words (Judges 16:1-21).
Safety from this third level of seduction is simple - do not talk more than necessary with women. And cut off any woman that is flattering in her words. This includes telephone, email, or chat rooms, where men can be seduced by words without seeing a woman or having eye contact. If this requires avoiding family friends, changing jobs in an office, or other drastic measures, it should be done quickly (Matt 5:28-30; Rom 13:14).
Young men must be taught to dislike and avoid girls that are forward in speech or conduct. Immodest attire and bold faces usually identify them, but not always. From a young age, both parents should warn their sons that forward girls are evil and dangerous. Specific examples from school, the neighborhood, or even a carnal church family should be used to drive the point home and train sons to despise this threat to virtue and success.
Wise parents recognize from the warning in this proverb that restricting and/or monitoring conversations with girls is important to protect sons from fornication. The telephone is a boon to business and interpersonal communication, but it poses a new threat to young men. The cell phone, or the sin phone in many cases, provides a vehicle for communication that is much harder to restrict or monitor. Parents, beware!
Only foolish parents focus on unchaperoned dating or other obvious opportunities for sexual intimacy. Wise parents will seek to cut off the flattering conversations that seduce hearts and fuel desires before a couple has even been alone together. They know that the sexual stimulus and emotional appeal of lengthy conversations, or even emails, can steal hearts and morals before two young people are allowed to be alone.
Young women should be taught to never flirt with words, letters, cards, notes, phone calls, or emails until they are married or nearly married. They should know flattering words are for their husbands, not tricks to seduce or frustrate men. They should be taught the meek, quiet, and shamefaced appearance the Bible teaches (I Tim 2:9-10; I Pet 3:3-4). Godly mothers will also illustrate and teach how to use words to please their husbands.
Good words and fair speeches are used for more than sexual sins. Paul warned that they are also used to entice Christians into false doctrine (Rom 16:17-18). False teachers will not tell you that they want to mislead you from the truth. They do just the opposite. They sound as orthodox and Scriptural as possible. And they often promise many spiritual blessings and benefits in their religion. What is the protection here? Prove all things by the word of God and reject every false idea (Ps 119:128; Acts 17:11; I Thess 5:21).
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