What do you listen to? Where will it take you? Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7:24 (NASBStr)

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

The word "listen" in the above proverb, in the Hebrew, is used over 1,000 times in the Bible.  LIke trees on the road you might simply pass it by without noticing.  Solomon, in chapter seven, is describing for us the perils of an adulterous women (code-speak for the deceptions of folly in our lives).   After describing at length what she looks like and how she approaches the "naive", he is now given us the one proverb solution to avoid her charms, but then her crimes, and eventually her crushing blows.   In the first four verses of this chapter and the next verse (25) Solomon gives us the key to unlock the chains of seductive sin.   HIs solution?  Listen!!  Pay attention!!   The words might cause us to pause and think this is too simple.   Yet, that is his solution.   He is telling us that the way to avoid the sin of folly, especially as it manifests itself in the seductive nature of adultery, is to hear God's Word and pay attention to the wisdom found in it.   But, the listening is not simple grade-school-passive-hearing.   To listen to God's Word is to digest and allow the things it teaches us to impact, motive and direct our lives.   If we get caught "listening" to the seductress; or, paying attention to the flattery of her words, we will be lead astray.  It should be noted that the seducer in this chapter gets the attention of the naive one through his senses and then has him "listen" to her.  The lips stick gets him to "pay attention."  The words lead him to listen and fall.   We listen and obey many things.   But, the solution to avoid sin is to use those senses to listen to truth, rather than deception.  If you want to avoid the pains of death listen to the words of life.