The Slippery Slope
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Proverbs 5:3
I grew up in Clay County, Alabama and the county has red clay throughout. While it is neat to view, nothing is more frustrating than trying to walk in the wet, slippery clay - it sticks to your boots, stains your clothing and if the ground is sloped, slippery to walk in. It is almost comical to watch someone try to navigate down a slippery slope after a recent rain. Many tactics have been used but they normally provide the same results - flailing of arms, feet upended, loud laughter by the observers and a bruised ego by the victim. I know you are wondering what this has to do with Proverbs? Everything!
Solomon describes the enticement of a strange woman in the verse above. Likewise, David describes a similar situation in Psalms 55:21 - The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. We are often misled by the smooth talking of temptation. While the voice is soft and alluring, the intent is harmful. Notice the authors choice of adjectives: smoother than oil, smoother than butter and softer than oil. Each of these descriptions remind me of the wet, clay slope: slippery. Once you start down the slope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to return to safety. And so it is when we are misled by the kind, soft words of those with evil intent.
Jesus warns us of such people with evil intent in Matthew 7:15-20. And he sums it up in verse 20 - Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. So when you are enticed to follow someone down a slippery slope, carefully consider their fruit. Is this someone that you would be proud to be associated with? If not steer clear so that your slipping and sliding down the slope doesn't provide entertainment to the devil!
Proverbs 5:3
I grew up in Clay County, Alabama and the county has red clay throughout. While it is neat to view, nothing is more frustrating than trying to walk in the wet, slippery clay - it sticks to your boots, stains your clothing and if the ground is sloped, slippery to walk in. It is almost comical to watch someone try to navigate down a slippery slope after a recent rain. Many tactics have been used but they normally provide the same results - flailing of arms, feet upended, loud laughter by the observers and a bruised ego by the victim. I know you are wondering what this has to do with Proverbs? Everything!
Solomon describes the enticement of a strange woman in the verse above. Likewise, David describes a similar situation in Psalms 55:21 - The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. We are often misled by the smooth talking of temptation. While the voice is soft and alluring, the intent is harmful. Notice the authors choice of adjectives: smoother than oil, smoother than butter and softer than oil. Each of these descriptions remind me of the wet, clay slope: slippery. Once you start down the slope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to return to safety. And so it is when we are misled by the kind, soft words of those with evil intent.
Jesus warns us of such people with evil intent in Matthew 7:15-20. And he sums it up in verse 20 - Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. So when you are enticed to follow someone down a slippery slope, carefully consider their fruit. Is this someone that you would be proud to be associated with? If not steer clear so that your slipping and sliding down the slope doesn't provide entertainment to the devil!
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