In the last 21 years of marriage, Joe and I only have two of the married couples we fellowshipped with that are still committed to their vows with one another. It’s been terribly heartbreaking to see these families fall apart. I have laid in my husband’s arms saying, “What happened?! We have to make certain we take guard and don’t allow it to happen to us too.” These were couples that were active in church, home educated their children, and looked like they had it all together. Of course, these are the homes, families, and marriages that the enemy would love to destroy!
She, the Strange Woman, wants YOUR husband; she wants MY husband! In fact, when we look through the Scriptures we see she isn’t just sitting casually by waiting for him. She is lurking for him. She is seeking him out to destroy him.
My husband and I had a talk the other night about the “strange woman” and how she disguises herself. I told my Joe, “Often the Strange Woman goes to a man and tries to “friend” him, she compliments him, his wife, his family, his work. She shows interest and invites “friendly” conversation that soon becomes a personal conversation.” I suggested to my husband that it was critical for our men to be on guard of this strange woman who draws our men into the rooms of her home that lead to death!
I know we might feel comfortable and think, “Does this Strange Woman really want MY husband?” the answer to that question is YES! Maybe we think our husband is too strong to fall into her devices, let’s not fool ourselves! Satan is after our strong men. In fact, read Proverbs 7: 24-27 “Hearken unto me now, therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways; go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, leading down to the chambers of death.”
So, what is our role in marriage when the Strange Woman is calling for our husband’s attention? Here are some passages that offer us direction and a plan to overcome her devices.
Wisdom-we need to pray that our husbands have Wisdom!. Our husband needs His thoughts in order to avoid her traps! Proverbs 2: 16 “Wisdom will deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger, who flattereth with her words”
Proverbs 7: 4-6 “Say unto wisdom, “Thou art my sister,” and call understanding thy kinswoman, that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the harlot who flattereth with her words.”
Refrain from conversations with the Strange Woman– Multiple passages tell us that it is the conversation, the honey that drips from her lips, that entices our men. This should be a huge wake-up call for us. We must guard our conversations with our husband. We need to make sure we are listening and not just talking. Let’s not give the Strange Woman a window of opportunity because we’re too distracted in “life” to realize his need for conversation! Proverbs 5: 3-6 “For the lips of a strange woman drip as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but her end is as bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are wandering, that thou canst not know them.”
Remain steadfast in obedience to His Word-Proverbs 6: 20-24 “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.”
My prayer is that the Lord gives us Wisdom and grace in our marriage so that we might glorify Him. By His strength, our marriages can withstand all the fiery darts of our adversary! May our homes be pillars of hope to a hurting and lost world so that our lives testify of His mercy and faithfulness toward His people.
Because of Him,
Mrs. Joseph Wood
Wow. Love it! Seriously, you brought to life verses that most women say “ok, that won’t be me”, but in reality it is extremely true, women are lurking about looking for men that are married. It is so sad, but the Bible makes that plain. Thank you for bringing that to light. I actually read this last night, and once done all I wanted to do was hold my husband. This is a very powerful post to me. Thank you for writing it!
I’m happy to hear the Lord used this to lead you to the arms of your husband! Thanks for sharing, Neyssa!
I like your analysis basically. One point though: In Prov 7:4-5 the quotations refers to her as a ‘harlot’, and I don’t know what version you got that from. In Hebrew, the typical noun for prostitute isn’t explicitly given to her. There is much debate over the identity of Proverb’s ‘strange’ or ‘foreign’ or ‘estranged’ (from husband) woman. the RSV calls her in Prov 23:27 an ‘adventeress’. If you notice that verse says ‘a whore (typical Hebrew noun for prostitute) is a deep ditch/pit, and a strange/foreign/estranged woman (RSV has ‘an adventeress’) is a narrow pit/well. Strange woman in Proverbs, from my months of research into the Hebrew, ‘LXX’, Vulgate/Douay, KJV and other relevant versions is, in my opinion, one of two things, or maybe both.
1) A serial adulteress (you seem to get this right, but in Prov 7:4,5 you call her a ‘harlot’)
2) A serial adulterous prostitute (a married prostitute, a prostitute who is a serial adulteress)
It is possible that the strange woman includes both of these, as Proverbs heavily focuses on adultery, so it would be no surprise that an adulterous prostitute would be mentioned, along with a ‘serial adulteress’ (non prostitute).
And it is conceivable that a seductive, serial adulteress could try to ‘take’ men from an actual prostitute by imitating a prostitute by ‘laying in wait at every corner’ (Prov 7:12)
Hopefully you notice in 7:10 she is described as in/with/having an ‘attire of a harlot’, and the Septuagint (LXX) Prov 7:10-12 has:
7:10 and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
7:11 And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
7:12 For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
Again, she is said to have an attire of a harlot, look like a harlot, which is a reason why there is great debate over who she is.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.