7 My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
2 keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister”,
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words.
This chapter continues the discussion begun in 6:20-35, and presents it in dramatic form. One recognises that the discussion of a subject of this nature might be painful and embarrassing to sensitive spirits, and it might be thought that it is inapplicable to one's present circumstances. This is fair comment, but over against it, two things may be said: the first is that we may never know when it might become a very real issue and tempta- tion, and we can never be too careful; secondly, it is open to us to spiritualise the mes- sage here, as is done, for example in the book of Revelation, and in the Old Testament prophets, where literal and spiritual adultery are frequently linked together in such a way that it is often impossible to be sure which is being referred to in any particular in- stance. Kidner suggests the following analysis of the chapter: first of all, a prologue (1-5), followed by the unfolding of the drama in 6-23, with a picture of the victim, the huntress, her tactics, and the kill; and finally, 24-27, a short epilogue. We shall look at it in this light, seeking to learn its solemn lessons, bearing in mind that these things are written for our admonition.