Proverbs 7: The Simple
AS P. T. BARNUM was fond of saying, "A sucker is born every minute." The book of Proverbs agrees! Proverbs teaches through images and metaphors like that of the simple young man. The tale of his seduction serves as a concrete example of the way in which folly can capture a simple-minded person. From Solomon's point of view, every one of us is born "simple"—that is, gullible, credulous, naive. But while Barnum saw human gullibility as an opportunity for profit, the proverbs see the condition as a character weakness to be corrected. All around us people appeal to our gullibility in one area or another. If we're to escape with our money, health and integrity intact, we need to develop what the proverbs call prudence. The first practical step to wisdom is to identify the simpleton in ourselves. The proverbs in this study are a mirror which lets us see where and how we are naive. And more than that, they will set us on the road to wisdom.
Warming Up to God
All of us would agree that young children are naive or simple in all areas of life. But all of us remain naive or simple in some areas. In what way might this be true of you?
Read Proverbs 7. »
Discovering the Word
- Proverbs 7:6-23 gives us the first full-blown portrait of the simpleton. What does the seductress say that is probably true?
- What does she say (or imply) that is actually false?
- Men and women "without judgment" can be persuaded to do foolish things other than adultery. From your own recollections, describe a case of persuasion which follows the same pattern as Proverbs 7.
- How are the comparisons to animals drawn in verses 22-23 appropriate?
- Does the warning in verses 24-27 seem overly dramatic to you? Why or why not?
Applying the Word
- All of us have spheres of living where we, like the simpleton in Proverbs 7, have little choice but to believe what we are told. What are some of these areas in your life?
- It's one thing to know we're naive in this or that respect, and quite another to develop the character strength called prudence. What can you begin doing now that will make you more prudent in the future?
Responding in Prayer
Jesus said, "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Mt 10:16). Pray for wisdom like that.
For Further Study
Proverbs: Learning to Live Wisely by William Mouser