Proverbs 7:6
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For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
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And a window casement provides the frame for the unforgettable painting of a foolish young man being destroyed from the inside out by a strange woman. What a picture!
Whether this is an event in Solomon's life or a parable illustrating a common event of life in general, it does not affect the lesson. But since the book is of proverbs and parables, not a history of his life, we will assume the latter. And it gives us additional instruction.
A casement is the frame or sash of a window that opens from the side.
Solomon did not merely watch the passing people. He observed, analyzed, considered, and drew wise conclusions. He did the same with the field of the slothful (24:30-34). Reader, it is your duty to observe and consider the ways of the world, for you can do it safely with the wisdom provided by our Preacher and this inspired book of instruction.
The lesson again is about the strange woman (7:5,8,10). The whole chapter warns of her. The parable teaches how the overwhelming temptation and wiles of a strange woman can easily destroy a foolish and naïve young man (7:6-23). The only hope for deliverance and safety is for him to stay far away from her (7:8,24-27). See the comments on 5:8.
Solomon begins by appealing to his son to tightly retain his wisdom and instruction about the strange woman (7:1-5). And he concludes by telling him the grave danger, how to be saved, and the absolute necessity of caution (7:24-27). In between is the graphic parable.
Here is our lesson from these words. Parents and teachers must use plain, descriptive illustrations of real life dangers. Theory, rules, frowns, and negative answers are not enough. The Preacher did not use the seventh commandment here (Ex 20:14). Rather, he showed plainly the danger and dire consequences of breaking that commandment. Do you know how to teach godly wisdom for solving life's problems? If yes, do you do it?
Whispering, backbiting, talebearing, and slandering are heinous sins. But holy use of real events for godly instruction in wisdom fall into none of these categories. If real people are used, the events must be true, well known, and not used to harm others' reputations. Our beloved brothers Paul and John use several individuals by name, and even a whole nation, to illustrate sins (I Tim 1:18-20; II Tim 4:14-15; Titus 1:12; III John 1:9-10).
Jesus said, "Remember Lot's wife." In three words He illustrated with great power the danger of trying to save your life (Luke 17:28-33). He did Lot's wife no harm. Jesus told of prayers of a Pharisee and a publican. In a few verses He showed the contrite heart of one and the self-righteousness of the other (Luke 18:9-14). He did the Pharisee no harm. The condemned prayer was true, well known, and used for holy instruction.
Jesus knew how to use current events. When told about Galilaeans killed by Pilate while offering sacrifices, He made a lesson of repentance. And He used the story of eighteen who died when a tower fell on them for further stress on repentance (Luke 13:1-5).
The Bible records many sins of many men, both wicked and godly alike. The sins truly happened, were well known in Israel, and were used for holy purposes of instruction. And they were punished openly, so all Israel would hear and fear (Deut 13:11; 21:21).
Consider Jude's short epistle. He reminds us of Israel in the wilderness (5), the fallen angels (6), Sodom and Gomorrah (7), filthy dreamers (8), Michael the archangel (9), brute beasts (10), Cain (11), Balaam (11), Korah (11), and Enoch (14). Get the message?
Parents! Can you use family members, neighbors, and others for valuable object lessons in training your children? Can you take current events of your city or nation to illustrate sin and its consequences? If you can do this, have you done it to save your children?
Academic instruction is of comparatively little value, even in their chosen profession. The practical training of a godly supper table is of much greater value. It is easy to make a living, but it is much more difficult to live godly. Parents! Keep your priorities right!
You cannot assign child training to the local school, a Christian school, or a Sunday School. It is your job. Helping your children with their homework is not training them (22:6; Ps 78:1-8; Ep 6:4). Pagans help with homework every night to make little pagans.
Teach spiritual truth, godly wisdom, holy living, virtuous thinking, noble attitudes, and sober application of it all. Child training is easy, if you will not follow the pagans in their worship of academic instruction. Let your supper table be a feast of godly wisdom! Every day should be a learning experience, for the open window presents many pictures.
A father who can take either an infant's temper tantrum or an international political event and apply the word of God is a wise and valuable father. His children will trust and fear his opinion. A father who can speak plainly about the real aspects of life - such as sex, money, love, and success - is a great father. His children will trust and seek his opinion.
Intelligence, education, nor eloquence is needed. Every man is capable, for a farmer who reads his Bible every day and watches through his casement will have the wisdom to teach his children at every supper table. Fathers! Will you rise to the opportunity?
Solomon spent his life, not reading about sin and the purpose for man, but experimenting with it all. We have incredible experience and wisdom at our fingertips in the Scriptures. We do not need to experiment like he did; but we can learn from his approach and use valuable object lessons for instruction from the real world passing by our windows.
Can you take current events and apply God's word to them? Can you apply Solomon's proverbs to situations in life? It is your duty as a Christian to grow in wisdom and knowledge to be able to discern between good and evil and teach others (Heb 5:12-14).
Our blessed Lord sat and watched the offerings at the temple and drew marvelous conclusions for holy instruction (Mark 12:41-44). And He filled Scripture with examples for our learning (Rom 15:4; I Cor 10:5-6,11-12). If we look through the window of the Bible and watch Him, we will have a perfect lesson for life (Heb 12:1-4; I Pet 2:21).
A picture is worth a thousand words. Object lessons are better than theory. Rules with examples are better than rules alone. Word problems are better than math abstractions.
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