Proverbs 7 Study

A verse by verse study regarding the harlot of Babylon

At a high level, Proverbs 7 is issuing a warning against a false and fallen system of worship, known as spiritual Babylon. This writing provides a verse by verse study of the entire chapter. It serves as a supplement to a more formal writing which I have titled “Beware of the Flattery of Babylon.”

VERSE BY VERSE STUDY:

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

Proverbs 7:1

1. God, as our heavenly Father,¹ has written unto us as His children. Laying as the foundation, for all the warnings in this chapter, the keeping of His words and commandments. It is here where we will find safety.²

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Proverbs 7:2

1. A wealthy young man once asked Jesus about the way to eternal life. Jesus responded by saying “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”³ This was spoken in reference to the ten commandments. Those who keep the commandments of God are the ones that will eventually have access to the tree of life.⁴

2. Those who reject the commandments of God, by worshiping a triune deity not found in scripture, and by profaning His sabbaths⁵ with a counterfeit⁶ will be amongst those who will eventually concede to take the mark of the beast.⁷ Everyone that receives this mark will perish with an eternal death.⁸

Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

Proverbs 7:3

1. In the new covenant, God writes his law upon the tables of the hearts of His people.⁹ Once God’s words are upon a table, they are forever.¹⁰ Those who follow the one true Shepherd, will follow His example of keeping God’s commandments.¹¹

Say unto wisdom, thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

Proverbs 7:4

1. The wisdom and understanding of God’s people is seen by all of those around them, specifically through their keeping of the ten commandments which includes the Sabbath.¹²

2. Jesus, the wisdom of God,¹³ is portrayed through a proverb of wisdom. This occurs in Proverbs 8, the very next proverb after this chapter, putting before the reader in allegorical terms the two paths of Christianity.

   1. The first, in Proverbs 7 is Babylon – a false and apostate form of Christianity which teaches truth mixed with error. All that follow her will end their lives with the second death, where they cease to exist.

   2. The second, in Proverbs 8, is Jesus Christ - the only begotten Son of God; the way the truth and the life.¹⁴ All who follow the one true Shepherd will receive eternal life and dwell with Him forever.¹⁵

3. Wisdom is associated with Jesus.¹⁶ Understanding is associated with the knowledge of the holy and the keeping of the commandments of God.¹⁷

That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Proverbs 7:5

1. Proverbs 6:23-24 confirms that it is the law of God which keeps a man safe from the grip of the “strange woman.” The stranger is also represented by the false prophets who will seek to turn the sheep away from Jesus, the true shepherd.¹⁸

2. This strange woman is associated with a whore in Proverbs 23:27. The greatest whore above them all is that of spiritual Babylon, depicted in Revelation 17:1-6.

3. Scripture at times refers to God’s people, or the church, as a woman¹⁹ or a wife.²⁰

4. This is contrasted with references to God’s backslidden people and the apostate church  as a harlot²¹ or an adulterous wife.²²

5. The flattering and deceptive words of the seductress²³ appeal to those with itching ears, who love not the truth.²⁴ Her words are smoother than oil²⁵ as she teaches the doctrines of demons²⁶ in the form of light.²⁷

6. Flattery: “False praise; commendation bestowed for the purpose of gaining favor and influence, or to accomplish some purpose.” False praise comes forth from her mouth as she appears to praise God. The god in which she praises is the false god of this world²⁸ rather than the only true God²⁹ “of whom are all things.”³⁰

7. All those who follow Jesus (wisdom) and keep the commandments of God (understanding) will be safe from Babylon and her mark, and will receive eternal life.

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

Proverbs 7:6

1. It is God who sits upon the circle of the earth,³¹ looking upon the activities of the people below.³² Nothing is hid from His sight.³³

And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

Proverbs 7:7

1. Void of understanding because he kept not the commandments of God,³⁴ for it is by God’s holy law that the simple are made wise.³⁵

Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

Proverbs 7:8

1. Rather than studying to show himself approved³⁶ he was swept up by the winds of her false doctrines.³⁷  

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

Proverbs 7:9

1. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”³⁸  Had this man been standing on God’s word alone, he would not have been blind to the way of the seductress, drawn in by her adornments, and stumbled by her false teachings.³⁹

And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Proverbs 7:10

1. This woman is a wife, but she clothes herself as a harlot. This is false and fallen Christianity. Claiming to be of the bride of Christ, but unfaithful in her doctrines and pursuits. This is Babylon the great, the mother of harlots (false Christianity - Roman Catholicism) and her harlot daughters (fallen Protestantism).⁴⁰

(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

Proverbs 7:11

1. Loud and stubborn, this church system resists the truth that shines against her errors. There is no gentle call of Christ to be found here, but rather a loud pull upon those who pass by, stimulating their intellects and emotions through her music, entertainments, and boasts of knowledge by credentialed Bible scholars.⁴¹

2. There is no true reverence of God within her. She abides not at her house because she has gone out to compromise and adopt the ways of the world.

Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

Proverbs 7:12

1. There are many places throughout the world where it certainly feels as though there is a church on every corner. Certainly, this system has now reached every corner of the earth.

2. In the majority of these facilities we find messages being delivered that mix truth with error. This is the wine of Babylon’s fornication.⁴² 

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

Proverbs 7:13

1. With an estimate of over 45,000 Christian denominations now in the world, the modesty that should be found in a woman who professes godliness⁴³ with a singular devotion to her Husband,⁴⁴ is not found within this religious system. Satan has raised up such a variety amongst the denominations that there is something to grab hold, kiss, and appeal to every carnal church seeker.

I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

Proverbs 7:14

1. Further confirmation that this woman is of a religious kind. Babylon is a religious system of false and fallen churches. Having a form of godliness, she lacks the power of a life which overcomes sin.⁴⁵ This system appeals to those who are more interested in mere religion, social gatherings, and the idea of heaven, than carrying upon their shoulders the cross of Christ⁴⁶ and keeping the commandments of God out of a love and devotion to Him.⁴⁷

Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

Proverbs 7:15

1. Babylon has evangelists which are sent out all over the world in search of those who are not grounded upon the word of God. Most of these evangelists have good intentions, and indeed some are God’s children that need to come out of this counterfeit form of Christianity. Nevertheless, through diligent efforts, as a result of traditions and indoctrination, they propagate the same truth mixed with error that they themselves have received.

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

Proverbs 7:16

1. Contrasted with the wise and godly woman of Prov 31:22, whose purple “coverings of tapestry” are representative of her covering and obedience to the royal law⁴⁸  of God’s commandments, this adulterous woman of apostate Christianity boasts of her linens being of Egypt. Egypt, as a type of slavery to sin, shows that this form of Christianity will teach of a false grace that excuses sin rather than the true grace which gives power to overcome sin.

2. Additionally, Babylon has largely adopted modern versions of the Bible which are rooted in the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus manuscripts rather than the Textus Receptus (used by the King James Version of the Bible). These manuscripts, though presented as better and older, have a plethora of revisions and perversions of truth. Not surprisingly, the origins of these manuscripts are located in Egypt. Thus, the coverings of this woman include teachings and traditions of error, rather than the commandments of God.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Proverbs 7:17

1. Babylon’s errors have been cunningly developed over the centuries to appeal to the intellect, the emotions, and the senses. Just as perfumes are used stimulate and arouse the senses, the doctrines, music, buildings, and festivities of Babylon are designed to captivate, stir, and capture the carnal side of man.

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

Proverbs 7:18 

1. Those that walk in this system are walking in darkness.⁴⁹ Truly, Babylon hates the light⁵⁰ and her lies of deception are carried out in the darkness of night. Her blind leaders are leading her blind followers into the ditches of error.⁵¹ It is only by the light of God’s word, through Jesus Christ, that one will truly see and have their eyes opened to the falsehoods that are intertwined with truth in the teachings of this system.⁵²

2. Those who love the world and the things in the world are drawn to Babylon. It is here where they can find a place for religion as well as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The love of the Father is not found within such people.⁵³

For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

Proverbs 7:19

1. Jesus is the goodman,⁵⁴ which has taken a long journey.⁵⁵ He admonishes his servants to be diligent and to stay awake, not getting entangled with sin and the things of the world.⁵⁶

2. The system of Babylon, with words smoother than butter and softer than oil,⁵⁷ does not impress any urgency upon its hearers to turn from these things. Thus they develop a mindset in their hearts that the “lord delayeth his coming,”⁵⁸ not realizing that sudden destruction will come upon them for their love of the world and flirtation with sin.⁵⁹

He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

Proverbs 7:20

1. The appointed day speaks of the day of judgement when Christ comes to the earth, after the 1,000 year period, for the resurrection and judgement of those whom He knew not.⁶⁰

2. This is the great day of judgement.⁶¹ The great white throne judgement.⁶² The “day of the LORD.”⁶³

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

Proverbs 7:21

1. He ignores the pricks of his conscience and gives in to the seducing spirits that are behind these flattering doctrines of devils.⁶⁴

2. If he loves not the truth, but rather has pleasure in sin, a strong delusion will come over him so that he believes the lies of these false doctrines.⁶⁵ The longer that he sits under these deceptions, the harder his heart will become to the truth, and his conscience will grow dull as if seared by a hot iron.⁶⁶

He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

Proverbs 7:22

1. Finding comfort in the multitude around him, he realizes not that the path he is on leads only to destruction.⁶⁷ He has the clear instruction of God’s Word in his grasp, but he does not obey its teachings. Instead, he follows after the traditions of men and the doctrines of error. He becomes the man that has chosen to build the house of his faith upon the sand. Great will be his fall in the end.⁶⁸

Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Proverbs 7:23

1. At the time of judgement, many will be in dismay when they are turned away from entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Currently, they do not realize that the religion which they cling to so dearly is leading them to destruction. They will cry out “Lord, Lord” but He will respond with “I never knew you.”⁶⁹

Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 7:24

1. Prov 8, just a few verses later begins with wisdom crying out. Here, Jesus is being represented, in type, as “wisdom.”⁷⁰ Jesus, the true shepherd, will call out to His sheep and they will follow Him.⁷¹

2. Here we have the true shepherd calling out to hearken unto His voice.⁷² This chapter begins with an exhortation to keep the commandments. Here we have the “words of my mouth” being impressed upon us to hearken unto.⁷³ Indeed the “voice” of the Shepherd, will lead us to the keeping of God’s commandments.⁷⁴ Of all the laws given to the Israelites through Moses, the ten commandments were unique in that the LORD Himself spoke these audibly to them. They heard His voice giving these commands.⁷⁵

3. To hearken unto the words is to hear them, and to attend unto them is to obey. We must obey God’s ten commandments. The voice of the True Shepherd will be one that leads us into obedience of these commandments.⁷⁶

Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

Proverbs 7:25

1. The God of mercy, who is full of compassion and slow to anger,⁷⁷ calls out to all people. The Bible, as a lamp and light of truth, points us to the true Jesus (and His light) and to His commandments (and their light).⁷⁸

2. To those who have become entangled within this system, and there are many, He calls them to come out of her.⁷⁹ Those who are not “defiled with women... that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth”⁸⁰ will have no part with the harlot of Babylon, neither will they drink of the wine of her false doctrines.⁸¹

3. He warns against placing the traditions of men over the commandments of God.⁸² He warns against embracing deceitful doctrines and the traditions of men, that will lead us away from Christ, the true shepherd, the one and only Jesus.⁸³

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

Proverbs 7:26

1. There is no partiality with God.⁸⁴

2. Those who are weak in the faith and know little of scripture, because they have not bothered to read it, will be cast down into eternal death because they were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.⁸⁵

3. Those who appear to be quite strong in the faith, having much Bible knowledge and minds that have been filled with learning, will have no excuse on the day of judgement. Neither their service and labor in the church, nor their theological credentials will spare them from the second death.⁸⁶ For following after traditions and doctrines of men,⁸⁷ they were unbelieving in the truths found within God’s word. By following the errors of the Babylonian harlot, their rejection of and unbelief in truth will result in them being cast into the lake of fire.⁸⁸

Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7:27

1. “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”⁸⁹ The “house” of this religious system known as the church of spiritual Babylon, is seen in a false form of Christianity which is portrayed by the Catholic church. This is the “mother” of the harlots in Revelation 17:5. A mother is only a mother if she has children. These children, which are mentioned as harlots in the same verse, are found in the fallen denominations of Protestantism around the world which have rejected certain truths of the Bible in favor of doctrines and traditions that are rooted in the errors of the Catholic mother. The movement started by the reformers largely came to a halt with later generations who stopped reforming and simply embraced the errors.

2. Throughout the centuries, God has built the true church, which is founded upon the true Jesus⁹⁰ and His commandments.⁹¹ Those who reject these things in favor of Babylon and its teachings will find their end, eternally, outside of the gates of New Jerusalem and in the chambers of the second death.⁹²

God Bless,

Charles

Scripture Index

1. 1 Cor 8:6, Eph 4:6

2. Exo 20:6; Prov 3:1, 4:4; Jn 14:15, 15:10

3. Mt19:17-19

4. Rev 22:14

5. Eze 22:26

6. Eze 8:15-16

7. Rev 13:15-16

8. Rev 14:11-12

9. Jer 31:31, 33; 2 Cor 3:3; Eze 11:19-20, 36:26-27

10. Isa 30:8

11. Eze  37:24; Jn 10:16

12. Dt 4:2, 8, 13; 1 Chron 22:12; Psa 111:10

13. 1 Cor 1:24

14. Jn 14:6

15. Jn 3:14-16

16. 1 Cor 1:24; Prov 8

17. Psa 111:10; Prov 9:10

18. John 10:5

19. 2 Jn 1, 5; Rev 12:6

20. Isa 54:5-6; Jer 2:2; Eze 16:8; Hos 2:19-20; Eph 5:27-28; Rev 19:7-8

21. Isa 1:21-27; Jer 3:1-3; Eze 16:15-58, 23:2-21; Nah 3:4; Rev 17:1-5, 19:2

22. Jer 3:6-9, 20; Hos 2:1-7, 3:1

23. 2 Tim 3:13; Titus 1:11; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Jn 1:7; Jude 1:4

24. 2 Tim 4:3-4

25. Prov 5:3; Psa 55:21

26. 1 Tim 4:1

27. 2 Cor 11:14-15

28. 2 Cor 4:4

29. Jn 17:3

30. 1 Cor 8:6

31. Isa 40:22

32. 2 Chr 16:9; Psa 14:2, 11:4, 33:13-14, 102:19

33. Psa 90:8; Heb 4:13

34. Prov 7:2-3

35. Psa 19:7

36. 2 Tim 2:15, 3:16-17

37. Eph 4:14; Rom 16:17-18; 1 Tim 4:1, 16; Heb 13:9

38. Psa 119:105

39. Jn 8:12, 11:10; Eph 5:8

40. Rev 17:5

41. Rev 3:17

42. Rev 14:8, 17:2, 18:3

43. 1 Tim 2:9-10

44. 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:27

45. 2 Tim 3:2-7

46. Mt 10:38, 16:24

47. Exo 20:6; Dt 7:9; Dan 9:4; Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:2-3

48. James 2:8

49. Eph 5:8

50. Jn 3:20

51. Lk 6:39

52. Psa 119:105;  Jn 8:12; Rev 3:18

53. 1 Jn 2:15-16

54. Mt 20:11

55. Mk 13:34

56. Mk 13:35; 1 Thes 5:4-8

57. Psa 55:21

58. Mt 24:48-49; Lk 12:45

59. Mt 24:50-51, 25:30; Lk 12:46; 1 Thes 5:3

60. Mt 7:23, 25:41

61. Rom 2:5; 2 Pet 2:9, 3:7; Jude 1:6; Rev 6:17

62. Rev 20:11-15

63. Isa 13:6; Joel 1:15, 2:1-2; Zeph 1:18; Mal 4:1

64. 1 Tim 4:1

65. 2 Thess 2:10-11

66. 1 Tim 4:2

67. Mt 7:13

68. Mt 7:26-27

69. Mat 7:21-23

70. 1 Cor 1:24, 30

71. Jn 10:2-4, 16

72. John 10:3

73. Exo 15:26; Dt 13:8, 15:5, 26:17; Psa 103:20

74. Gen 26:5; Dt 13:4, 27:10, 30:8; 1 Sam 12:14-15; Jer 7:23, 11:4; Jn 14:15

75. Exo 20:1-20; Dt 5:4-22

76. Jn 14:15, 15:10

77. Ps 86:15, 145:8

78. Psa 119:105; Prov 6:23; Jn 1:9, 8:12

79. Rev 18:4

80. Rev 14:4

81. Rev 17:2, 18:3

82. Mk 7:8

83. Col 2:8; 2 Cor 11:4

84. Rom 2:11

85. 2 Tim 3:4

86. Rev 20:14

87. Mk 7:7; Col 2:22

88. Rev 21:8

89. Psa 127:1

90. 1 Cor 3:11

91. Rev 12:17, 14:12, 22:14

92. Rev 20:14, 21:8, 22:15