The Harlot - Part 3

The Harlot - Part 3


Over and over again, God describes his wayward people as harlots. Examples include Ex. 34:15-16, Psa 73:27, Isa 1:21, Jer 2:20, Jer_3:1; 6-8, Ezk 16, Ezk 23, Hos 1:2....

So it certainly is not a stretch  to look at the adulterous (strange) woman in Proverbs 5 & 7 and see her as a spiritual parable and not just physical.  Many, including myself have a tendency to view this only as a physical parable. Once you see it, it  is quite shocking. Today, just as of old, Gods New Testament people continue playing the harlot. So this parable would apply not only to Old Testament Israel but would equally apply to New Testament spiritual Israel.

Here is the way that the harlot entices God's people:


Pro 7:12b ...(she) lieth in wait at every corner.
Pro 7:13a So she caught him, ...


lieth in wait (H693)- to lurk or ambush
caught - (H2388) - to fasten upon

The harlot leads God's people off into the worship of other gods.  She leads them astray into Babylon, Egypt, Assyria for example. Many times God's people didn't even realize that they were apostatizing. Strangely enough, according to Prob 5:6, the harlot does not realize either that her paths aren't the paths of life.

Pro 5:6 So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not.

So I wonder if the harlot thinks that her ways DO lead to life and that might be the reason that she 'lieth in wait' in order to catch him. The harlot is convinced that her way is correct and that she is justified in what she does. Who is the harlot?

As I was reading Habakkuk 1:14-16 a few weeks ago, I saw another hidden example of the harlot. In this passage, she is referred to as the Chaldeans (or Babylon).

Hab 1:14 and (the Chaldeans) makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
Hab 1:15 He (the Chaldeans) taketh up all of them with the angle (hook), he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag (net): therefore he rejoiceth and is glad.
Hab 1:16 Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag (net); because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.

So here the Chaldeans are fishing for men with hooks and catching them in their net, then they are happy. How odd since Jesus said said in Matt 4:18-20 that He would make us 'fishers of men'.


Mat 4:18 And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.

So Jesus wants to make us fishers of men too? Yes, He desires that we become fishers of men also. In some regard, we'd be doing the same thing as the harlot. Heres the difference: Peter and Andrew left their nets and followed after Jesus. They came after Jesus and realized their nets had no importance. Their nets had no value nor did their worldly knowledge of fishing.


On the other hand, the Chaldean (Babylonian or the harlot) takes them up with the hook, catch them in 'his net' and gathereth them. Then they are happy and sacrifice unto 'his net' and burneth incense unto 'his drag' (net). Seems they view their nets, hooks and drag as having much value. They are using their own means to fish for men.

How odd. One uses his natural ability to 'fish for men'.  While the other  follows Christ where ever He leads, in recognition that his own fishing ability is 'as dung'. Hmm. Works of the flesh versus the works of the spirit?

Notice this verse below which ties this these thoughts together.

Ecc 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman (harlot) whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. 



Here the womans (harlot) heart is snares and nets and its those who escape from her that please God. Wow!