Solomon's Advice in the Battle Against Sin
I had the privilege of taking a course this Fall on Old Testament II (Job through Malachi) with Dr. Jim Hamilton. My love for God’s Word has grown as a result, and I am deeply grateful for Dr. Hamilton’s erudition and passion for the truth.
One particularly helpful lecture he gave was on the book of Proverbs. I could point to many helpful things he discussed including the structure of chapters 1-9 or the proverbs about parenting.
But one compelling idea I want to point out comes from his discussion of Prov 7. In that chapter Solomon observes the foolish young man who is enticed by the seductive adulteress (note: this should be seen as paradigmatic; young women are certainly open to seduction). Solomon looks out his window and sees the young man “passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness” (7:8-9). The young man has set himself up for sin, and, indeed, sin is what follows.
Jim Hamilton explained, among other things, that we see in this chapter a framework for how we should think about sin and temptation to sin. I don’t have the exact words from the lecture, but here is how I summarized it:
The Apostle Paul tells us, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13). Hamilton’s thoughts here provide an excellent weapon in the daily fight to “put to death the deeds of the body.” The result is life.
One particularly helpful lecture he gave was on the book of Proverbs. I could point to many helpful things he discussed including the structure of chapters 1-9 or the proverbs about parenting.
But one compelling idea I want to point out comes from his discussion of Prov 7. In that chapter Solomon observes the foolish young man who is enticed by the seductive adulteress (note: this should be seen as paradigmatic; young women are certainly open to seduction). Solomon looks out his window and sees the young man “passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness” (7:8-9). The young man has set himself up for sin, and, indeed, sin is what follows.
Jim Hamilton explained, among other things, that we see in this chapter a framework for how we should think about sin and temptation to sin. I don’t have the exact words from the lecture, but here is how I summarized it:
1. Identify the things that tempt you, the ways you have fallen in to those sins before. The young man knew the woman would be waiting.
2. Back your way out of it, step by step. The young man took her street, passed near her house, and he did this in the cover of darkness.
3. Then, follow the sequence of actions that led you to fall into that sin. At some point the young man chose to go that direction at that time.
4. Now you have discovered the battle that will lose the war. If I give in on that front which I have identified, the battle will be lost. If, by God’s grace, I win on that front, the battle is won.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13). Hamilton’s thoughts here provide an excellent weapon in the daily fight to “put to death the deeds of the body.” The result is life.
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