“For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.”
The Battle
This proverb names a striking contrast here, worth examining directly, honeycomb and oil, genuinely appealing in the immediate moment, and yet, her end, this described later consequence, bitter as wormwood, worth holding as honest warning about this pattern’s actual, eventual cost, however appealing its beginning genuinely feels.
This is worth applying against however much your own attention has remained fixed entirely on this described, immediate appeal, without this further, honest consideration of its actual end, worth examining whether you have genuinely, seriously weighed this eventual bitterness against whatever momentary sweetness currently, genuinely tempts you.
Notice sharp as a two-edged sword, this consequence described not merely as disappointing, but genuinely wounding, worth holding as sober language worth taking seriously, not exaggerated warning but honest, accurate description of what this pattern’s actual, eventual end genuinely, actually produces.
Consider today honestly weighing this described end against whatever immediate appeal currently, genuinely tempts you, not dismissing the honeycomb’s real, immediate sweetness, but holding it honestly alongside this proverb’s own sober warning about what actually, eventually follows.
Walk in the Spirit
- Weigh honestly the immediate appeal of temptation against this proverb’s warning about its actual end.
- Consider what bitter as wormwood has actually, historically looked like in your own or others’ experience.
- Practice today choosing based on this fuller, honest weighing, not immediate appeal alone.
Prayer
Lord, let me weigh honestly the honeycomb’s sweetness against wormwood’s bitterness, trusting your own sober warning about what this pattern’s actual end produces. Amen.
Carry this today
Immediate appeal and eventual, actual consequence deserve honest weighing together.