Proverbs 7:16-17 (ESV)
16 I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
The father continues to recount what he saw as the young man lacking sense encountered the adulteress. The woman has already drawn him in physically and emotionally, and now she presses further by appealing to his senses. She describes her bedroom to him. Everything is prepared. The bed is covered with fine linens, imported and costly. Egyptian linen was known for its quality and beauty. This is not ordinary. It is luxurious, carefully arranged, and visually appealing. She is painting a picture meant to capture his imagination and convince him that he cannot afford to miss this opportunity.
Then she adds fragrance. Myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon fill the air. These were costly and often associated with celebration, intimacy, and desire. Song of Solomon 4:14 uses these same scents to describe the delight of love within God’s design. But here that language is twisted. What God created as good within marriage is now being used to entice the foolish man into sin.
Notice how calculated this is. She is not merely inviting him. She is enticing him with an experience of sight, smell, comfort, and pleasure. She wants him to feel that this is something special. Sin often presents itself this way. It may appear beautiful, desirable, and even rewarding. Those being persuaded can begin to believe they may never have this kind of opportunity again, so they must take it while they can.
Like the fool, when faced with the opportunity to sin, we may begin to think it is not all that bad. We may think that obedience is costing us too much. We may ask, what if God is keeping me from a good time? Genesis 3 reminds us that this is the same lie that began in the Garden. Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable, and she believed that if she ate it, she would be like God. Sin works to move us to take things into our own hands instead of continually asking what God has said about the circumstance we are questioning.
But God is not withholding good. Psalm 84:11 says that he withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. What he forbids is never for our harm, but for our protection. So where are you being tempted to believe that obedience is not worth it? Where does sin look appealing or even beautiful? Do not trust what looks good in the moment. Trust what God has said. Run from what entices you and cling to what is true. What God offers is better, deeper, and lasting. Sin makes promises it cannot keep, but God will never let you down.