"Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter"
This verse begins a section of the consequences of adultery and unfaithfulness. A person needs to regularly be reminded, in the most graphic ways, what will happen if they commit adultery; and most importantly, what it will feel like eventually – like an ox to the slaughter; like a bird in a snare.
The key to this whole section on the harlot is that the young man is impulsive. Notice the word “suddenly.” This verse is the climax impulsive action; an impulsive choice which is made in the moment. Okay, what can it hurt he says to himself. Or... Okay, let's get it on. He goes with the flesh.
If you stay in the zone of temptation long enough, sin will all of a sudden become the right or good or best action; and this feeling of let's do it or this feels good right now will come suddenly. It is destructive and the zone of temptation should be avoided. You will not be able to resist the impulses to sin within the zone effectively or if you stay there too long.
If you keep staring at the cheesecake you shouldn’t have, it will become irresistible. If you keep in connection with the adulterer or adulteress, then it is inevitable that you will succumb to temptation. In a flash of fleshly insight, you will give in and suddenly you will do the wrong thing. Don’t hang out near the place of temptation for you.
Take an honest look at your life and face the fact of what tempts you:
It could be pride and false flattery
It could be envy and the possessions of others
It could be lust and sensuality
It could be anger and the ability to get your own way through anger and even violence
It could be sloth and the desire to procrastinate
It could be greed and the insatiable need for more money, possessions, and stuff.
Whichever of these temptations connects to you the most, set up protections so that you do not hang around the particular source of temptation that draws you. Be willing to admit to yourself, God, and maybe trusted others that you are tempted by these things. If you think you are strong enough to resist all temptations on your own and especially in the presence of that temptation, you are fooling yourself.
There is a reason why the New Testament says to flee – to not become a “suddenly” statistic.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz