Proverbs 7:14-21, “I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.”

We will yield to temptation if we fail to recognize sin’s appeal. That was yesterday’s devotion. Today’s text teaches us that we will yield to temptation when there is a failure to recognize the power of sin’s appeal. The temptress was…

• Seemingly Pious: (v. 14) Amazingly, she begins her appeal on the basis of piety. According to the law of the peace offering (Leviticus 7:11-18) the leftover meat from the sacrifice was to be eaten before day’s end. She appears religiously concerned. Most likely this is a ruse. If not, it’s just phony religion.
• Prepared: (v. 15a) Dripping with hypocrisy concerning the ceremonial law, she aggressively follows her plan of seduction in violation of God’s moral law.
• Passionate: (vv. 15b-20)
• Persuasive: (v. 21) She persuades him with food, finery, and fulfillment (only temporarily).

Failure to recognize the power of sin’s appeal, whether by naiveté or pride will cause us to succumb to temptation. (Note: By naiveté I’m not suggesting it is unwise to be naive about particular sins. I am saying that being naïve about sin’s appeal and the power of that appeal is foolish. There is a difference.)