Proverbs 7:9, “In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:” 

Last week we began the effort to gain wisdom about temptation from Proverbs 7. That chapter presents nine reasons why we succumb to temptation. So far, we have examined four of them.  

#1—We neglect God’s Word,  

#2—We do not learn lessons from life, and  

#3—We fail to make wise choices in advance.  

#4—We live on the edge.  

Today we consider reason #5: We yield to temptation when we are deceived by the darkness. The young man of this Proverb was purposefully in the wrong place (reason #4—living on the edge) at the wrong time. Darkness provides an illusion of covering and concealment for sin, but it is just an illusion (Job 24:15-17). Darkness creates isolation, which creates vulnerability, and vulnerability without accountability is a looming disaster. Proverbs 10:9, “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.”  

To walk with integrity is to walk surely, and you can never be too sure of your steps in the dark. God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. We have no (good) reason to be deceived by the darkness.