Proverbs 22:14

Flattery will get you somewhere! It will get you in deep trouble, if you listen to it from a strange woman. Pray God to protect you, for female flattery has destroyed many. Do not allow any woman you have not married to seduce you by flirtatious words by any means.

The enticing and flattering words of beautiful women are an incredible draw, and they seduce and trap men in sin, as pits were dug to trap wild animals. Adding intimate kisses to her alluring words, only a few exceptional men can resist her. But her warm embrace and charming words should chill your soul, for they indicate the LORD has forsaken you.

In Solomon’s time, digging a deep hole and covering it with sticks and leaves was a way to capture large animals. While prowling at night, the animal would fall through the weak covering and be unable to get out of the deep pit. In the same way, the flattering mouth of a whore hides the pain, trouble, and destruction of touching her (Pr 23:27-28; 6:29).

Once a man has fallen for the seductive pleasures of a whore, he is only rarely recovered. The pit is too deep, or too narrow, to allow ordinary means of escape (Pr 23:27). Proverbs and Scripture warn that only a few men are ever delivered from the addiction and judgment of sexual sins (Pr 2:19; 5:22; 6:32; 7:26; 9:18; II Pet 2:14; Rev 21:8).

A whorish woman uses her mouth to allure, invite, and kiss her prey into submission, and few can resist her (Pr 2:16; 6:24; 7:5,13,21). “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil” (Pr 5:3). A woman’s mouth can be used for good or evil: godly women use them to adore, reverence, and kiss their husbands.

The sensual look, sound, feel, and invitation of a woman’s mouth were too much for Samson (Judges 16:15-17), but Joseph heard her, rejected her, and fled the scene (Gen 39:7-12). And here is the secret to avoid her deep pit – run, young man, run! Go far from her (Pr 1:10; 4:14-15; 5:8; 7:6-10; 9:6; 13:20; Matt 5:27-30; Rom 13:14; II Tim 2:22)!

How do strange women use their mouths to seduce men today? They flirt boldly in public with compliments, insinuations, jests, and invitations. And sometimes these even occur in the churches of Christ. And they also use the modern means of telephones, chats, cell phones, texts, email, cards, notes, letters, and e-cards. All wise men will steer clear of all such correspondence and communication with any bold or forward woman. Be a Joseph!

God is able to deliver men from strange women, which is why Jesus taught men to pray that He would not lead them into temptation (Matt 6:13). But when a man sins against Him, He can and will abhor him practically and temporarily. He will let him fall into the deep pit of the whore (Deut 32:19; Ps 78:59; 81:12; 106:40; Amos 3:2; Rev 3:16). If it were not for the examples of David and Mary Magdalene, men might despair of mercy.

How do you get out of the deep pit? Repent, and beg God sincerely for mercy, fully stating the obvious nature and consequences of your folly (Pr 28:13; Job 33:27-28). Then get away from her and anything to do with her. Cut off all avenues Satan has to remind you of the pleasure she gave and all opportunities for you to encounter her again. Show your sincerity by practicing godly repentance as defined in the Bible (II Cor 7:10-11).

Do not despair with this sin or its horribly binding consequences. Run to Jesus Christ and beg for mercy. He does not owe you immediate grace and strength, so stay on your face before Him until He delivers you. He will forgive and strengthen you, as He did all the harlots that came to Him in the New Testament. Take Paul’s example of casting himself upon the mercy of Jesus Christ for his own problems with concupiscence (Rom 7:7-25).

When you think it is impossible, when you think your case is hopeless, remember the Lord’s answer to His disciples about the impossibility of a rich man making it to heaven, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:23-26). The Lord Jesus suffered every temptation you face to a much greater degree: He can relate and help with your temptations and failures with strange women (Heb 2:18; 4:15-16).

Young man, in order to never need the remedy, you must avoid all attractive and forward women. Keep your heart with all diligence, and avoid all lusts and activities that lead in her direction. Find a God-fearing wife and maximize your marriage. Learn to appreciate and love Joseph. Forget Samson’s strength and see his great weakness for evil women.

God condemns false religion by comparing it to an adulterous woman – a whore that leaves her loving husband for the greedy, lustful abuse of paying men. He considers Himself married to the children of God and churches of Jesus Christ, so spiritual adultery is the plainest and strongest charge against their compromise with the world or sin.

But none has used her mouth more lasciviously and promiscuously than the Church of Rome. John described her as the great whore and mother of harlots, who had committed fornication with the kings of the earth, and who was drunk with the blood of the saints (Rev 17:1-6). The solution with false religion is the same as with a false woman – get away from her (Rev 18:4; II Cor 6:14-17; 11:3-4; Jas 4:4; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:1-5).