That’s part of the nature and enticement of evil, at least in some of its phases.

In verse 17, the simple woman declares:

“Stolen waters are sweet.”

True!

“Bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

True again!

Oh the sweet, pleasant thrill of doing what I shouldn’t be doing!

Long before Solomon wrote Proverbs, Moses made the choice to deny himself that sweet, pleasant thrill in Egypt:

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

That’s right — the sweet, pleasant thrill doesn’t last. Pleasure and sweetness have their season in the Sin Cycle. Then they’re gone.

“Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel” (Proverbs 20:17).

Mark! (There, I got my attention.)

Remember that the Gravel Phase comes after the Bread Phase in the Sin Cycle.

Always.

from Proverbs 9:12

A little bit more from Proverbs 9: Is