The year was 1992. Seinfeld was already popular and two new shows were premiering on TV that year in Mad About You and Melrose Place. In the world of Christian Music, a newer band called dcTalk released their brand new album Free At Last, and what would eventually become a more popular song on this album was called, The Hard Way.
Some people gotta learn the hardway
I guess I’m the kinda guy that has to find out for myself
I had to learn the hardway,
Father I’m on my knees and I’m crying for help
Now I’ve been high and I’ve been low
I’ve been some places that you will not go
I never thought there would come the day
When I wished I never would’ve lived this way
But I’ve been searching for a long, long time,
I thought the devil was a friend of mine
I turned my back on everything that was true
And wasted years that belong to you
It took so long for me to see
That I’m a victim of nature and me
Left to myself I realize
I am the maker of my own demise
But you accept me every time and again
And never mention just how selfish I’ve been
Why must…
This is exactly what Solomon is getting at in his warning against adultery in Proverbs 7. The thing is, I’m pretty sure this applies to much more than adultery.
“For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense…”
Proverbs 7:6-7 (ESV)
How many times have you done something only to think, “Ahh, I should have known better!” Those moments when we realize that, in fact, we have learned something the hard way, I wonder if we could have easily learned the lesson from another’s example, if we’d only been paying attention.
Throughout Scripture, we have example after example of God’s people getting it right, and example after example of God’s people getting it wrong. If we make sure we are spending time in His Word, we are giving the Holy Spirit the greatest tool to provide us correction without necessarily having to learn things the hard way. Perhaps this is why Solomon starts this chapters by saying,
“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.”
Proverbs 7:1-2
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