Prayer: Father, life is filled with choices. Why would anyone who is fully aware of what is on the line, choose the highway to hell? Help me to effectively communicate the gravity of our choices. Amen.
Reading: Proverbs 7 key: vs. 24-27
24 Now then, sons, listen to me,
pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray onto her paths.
26 For many are the victims she has brought down,
and numerous are all her slain.
27 Her house is a highway to Sheol,
leading down to the chambers of death.
Attention: Are you aware that the system of highways which run across our nation have a methodology? Highways with even numbers run east and west, odd numbers run north and south. Smaller numbers begin in the north and become larger numbers toward the South.
When I lived in Southern California, I discovered that the locals used names rather than numbers to identify their highways. For instance, the I-5 highway runs from Canada to Mexico. In Seattle we just call it the I-5 freeway, but in LA, they call it the Santa Ana freeway. I realized right away, I needed to speak their language if I was seeking directions.
Solomon is giving instructions about sexual sin, particularly regarding prostitution. What is prostitution? In Solomon’s time and for centuries, prostitution was distinctly women who received money in exchange for sex. Today, prostitution is not exclusively a female activity or industry.
I want to make one other observation about this Proverb. Years ago it was popular to take an apple to school for your teacher. Solomon makes the statement to his son, “Keep my mitzvot (commandment) and live, my teaching as the apple of your eye.” Apples are frequently cast as a desirable fruit. Solomon is giving his son, an apple in instruction and he wants his son to look upon his instruction like he would an apple.
I pray that our desires will come to align with scripture.
I recently attended a prolife prayer rally event at a local pregnancy resource center located kitty corner from a Planned Parenthood facility. The event featured a local pastor speaking on behalf of the unborn and their mothers. He was advocating and giving a voice to the unborn. While he was speaking, vigilante members of the pro-abortion group had come to harass and disrupt our peaceful assembly. They heckled, employed handheld noise makers, set off their car alarms, held signs with demeaning messages and turned the volume up on a music system playing Highway to Hell. How arrogant to boast in choosing Sheol or Hell as a preferred destination. Choosing death over life.
The demonic forces were out in force and volume to see if they could shut us down. I encourage you to engage in the battle by showing your allegiance to the One who brings life and terrorizes those who want to terrorize. Choose Life and live. Choose Life as a lifestyle.
Action: I choose to listen to the instruction of God through Solomon and choose life.
Yield: I surrender when I listen and obey.
Engage: I give myself to the instruction of the Word today!
Relationship: I Choose the instruction of scripture as the apple of my eye.
Prayer: Father, I love Your Word and Your instruction. Your ways are higher than mine. I will keep Your Word as the apple of my eye! Amen.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 7:1-2
My son, keep my words
and treasure my mitzvot within you.
2 Keep my mitzvot and live,
my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Music Video: Don Moen – I Just Want to be Where You Are
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”