Flattery. The most dangerous type of flattery is very very common in our lives today. Throughout our culture, we are bombarded with sex, sex sex, and Solomon, with his umpteen women, knows well the danger of their smooth words and smooth tongues!

Proverbs 6:24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 7:5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.

Proverbs 7:21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

In our last post, we spoke of the one who flatters, and that flattery is used to gain advantage over the one being flattered. We spoke of the trap the flatterer sets for the hearer, and that our defense is to understand the influence praise has on our own hearts. We need to admit the influence praise has on our hearts. In the midst of such powerful influence, we tend to make some foolish decisions.

For our verses this morning, we find this truth to be multiplied for the hapless man who is seduced by the evil woman. The the Scriptures speak of seduction, persuasion, smooth tongues and smooth words, but all of this description boils down to having an influence over another, not unlike the original concept of flatterry.

This may be considered a special case of flattery, yet the components of it are similar.

Exaggerated praise

In each of these interactions, the “victim” is praised beyond reality. Now of course, as mentioned in the earlier post, the closer the praise is to reality, the deadlier the trap is, if the motive is evil.

Evil motive

An evil motive is impossible to determine, especially in one who is skilled in the art of flattery. Yet if we are careful to consider the past of the one flattering us, we might find some indication that the flatterer is of wicked intent.

A life of broken promises, of failed marriages, of affairs and dalliances with others does not bode well for the one heaping praise on the “victim”.

Loss of potential

I refer to the one who is being praised as the “victim” for in the case of the flattered, the price of falling into the trap can be very costly. Consider the two cases.

Standard Flatterer

For the standard flatterer, as we discussed in the previous post, the cost may be a job, a loss of a friend, financial ruin or legal troubles. It may become so deadly that there may be a time of breaking from the love of God due to bitterness developed as a result of falling into the flatterers trap. The natural consequence of letting a flatterer influence with praise is many times an indication of our own hearts desire to be puffed up.

Then, when the praise reverts to reality, when the good feelings are gone and reality sinks back in, and negative results come from bad decisions, we tend to blame God. Bitterness can get a foothold.

Sexual Flatterer

In relation to the seductress, this downward spiral falls much deeper. It is not merely the loss of things or relationships, but the very destruction of himself.

Proverbs 6:32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

Solomon, the man with umpteen women in his court, describes the downfall and destruction of the seductive woman

Proverbs 7:21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
Proverbs 7:22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
Proverbs 7:23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

We need to beware the flatterer. He is constantly laying a trap for each of us.

More so, we need to beware the seductress, for the lure is powerful, especially for young men who have not gained the wisdom they need. The danger is only greater as even in the church, it seems to be a danger, with some hunting for the young man, the hapless man that can be ruined.

Beware the seductress. She will destroy you by her smooth words and smooth tongue!

 

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