Overcoming Temptation (Part 2)

TEMPTATION'S PLAN OF ATTACK

Temptation is going to come to every living, breathing human being (James 1:14). Like all things of a destructive nature, it is going to attack mankind in some way or another. Now, it will not attack the same way every time but will use a different angle to try and slip in and ultimately cause creation to commit sin. What is this plan of attack and where in the Bible does one find an example of it? The best example of this is found in Proverbs 7. It is in this chapter that Solomon gives a warning to his son concerning “the strange woman” (v. 5). Solomon tells of a harlot who seduces a young man. “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” (Proverbs 7:6-10). This harlot and temptation work in very similar ways. If one works to understand the plan of attack this harlot used, one can understand how temptation works to attack man.

Temptation uses “Daunting Persistence.”

“(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)” (Proverbs 7:11-12). Solomon first speaks of her as one whose “feet abide not in her house.” One fact that will be noticed more in depth is that this is a married woman. There are certain duties that every married woman has to her home (as does the husband) but this woman is not performing these actions. She is “without” or outside of her home. She is standing outside of her home, seeking someone whom she can attract into her home. What is there is no one within the vicinity of her home? She takes to the streets. She finally sets herself at the corner of the street where she can be readily seen from any direction. Also, notice that this is not something she spent a small amount of time doing. This was an action performed “in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.” From morning to night, she’s been busy looking for someone.

Do we read of any entity who is busily seeking for someone whom he can devour? “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8). Even as he stood before God, Satan made it known that he was busy. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” (Job 1:7). Does he know what tempts us? Absolutely. Does he know how to present temptation to us? It’s a job he’s been good at since the beginning. He’s persistent in his attack.

During this search, she finally finds someone. “Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.” (Proverbs 7:15). Has she been diligent? Yes, although she was not merely seeking after this young man alone but for any lover whom she could entice. Her speech is but one of the ways that the harlot will attack. She’s persistent and when she’s attracted someone, she will use different methods to draw that one into her home. Once temptation has our temptation, it is going to use a variety as well.

Temptation uses “Taunting Pride.”

When giving his warning at the beginning of the chapter Solomon is seeking to keep his son from “from the stranger which flattereth with her words.” (Proverbs 7:5). Notice, she flatters with her words. An easy definition of flattery is “insincere praise.” Therefore, if you hear the saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” you are being told “Imitation is the sincerest form of insincere praise.” This harlot is going to use many sayings and will not mean any of them. She has told the young man, “I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.” (Proverbs 7:15). She speaks to him as if he is the only man on earth whom she was destined to meet.

What does this type of speech automatically do? This type of speech is used to lower the defenses of an individual. The ego is enlarged and one is filled with a sense of self grandeur. In Alabama this is called “the bighead.” When one is under this condition, it is real easy to make a bad decision. Remember, this woman is married and when she drops that bombshell it does not faze the young man.

Cheap words also work by telling of the (and this term is used as loosely as possible) “good” involved in an action. She is going to tell him about her beautiful room, the enjoyment of the act, and all the “good” which will occur. She never once speaks of the evil behind these actions. Can we compare this to something in our modern age? Imagine a nightclub. Bright, colorful lights are moving in rhythm to a popular song. People are dancing together and noticing a certain group standing at the bar. This group is laughing and enjoying themselves. Everyone wants to be part of this group. The commercial ends with a popular alcoholic beverage.

What pictures are projected? Do you want to be beautiful, popular, and the life of the party? Drink this beverage. Life is a party and you will be the center of it with our help. You never see the sad reality. In 2003, it was estimated that over 140 million people were alcoholics. It is not 2010. The number has grown since then. Solomon said it best when he said, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1). He never said that a little or a lot of wine is a deceptive mocker. Quantity is never mentioned which logically tells us that alcohol is a mocker in any quantity.