Posts Tagged ‘adultery’

Scripture Reading for February 8th: Leviticus 18-20

God talks about sex and all it’s perverted variations in these chapters of Leviticus.  He tells His people that they are not to have sexual relations like the nation of Egypt where they were enslaved.  God’s people are to live differently from the world.  God’s laws about sexual conduct are designed to bring about a holy people who have children who will be blessed by God with His presence and power through a relationship with Him.

Honor is important in sexual relations.  Incest dishonors your father or mother and you if you initiate it.  God also states that it is wickedness.  (Leviticus 18:17)  Sex with another man’s wife (adultery) defiles you! (Leviticus 18:20) Sex with the same sex, homosexuality or lesbianism, is “detestable” to God.  (Leviticus 18:22) Sex with an animal (bestiality) is perverted! (Leviticus 18:23)

When you commit any of these sins, God says that you defile the land where you live.  God states that this defilement causes that land to “vomit” out people who do these sins!  (Leviticus 18:24-28)  In fact, this is why God has destroyed all of the great civilizations up to this point in history!  This makes me afraid for the land we live in today.  When will our land begin to “puke” out those who are committing sins of incest, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and bestiality?   We may appear to get by but the consequences of sin always find us out. (Numbers 32:23)

God’s people are to be markedly different!  They are to be holy because God is holy. (Leviticus 19:2)  This holiness is to be walked out in love and respect for God’s laws and in our conduct towards others. Jesus said that if we love him, we will keep his commandments!  (John 15:10) The other laws of Leviticus 19-20 give details about our conduct that could be summarized as “love your neighbor as yourself”. (Leviticus 19:34)  The two great commandments taught by Jesus are: “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself!” (Matthew 22:37-39)   We find their basis here in the book of Leviticus among the laws for sexual purity for the nation of Israel!

Please pray for our nation!  If God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He will surely judge us!  The earth may be ready to vomit! “And if you defile the land,(with these sexual sins) it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.” Leviticus 18:28

Scripture reading for January 27th: Matthew 19, Psalm 18:30-42, Proverbs 5:1-6

Marriage is an institution that God created Himself with a purpose.  A marriage between a man and a woman was to provide companionship for both the man and woman throughout their lives.  God determined that it was not good for Adam to be alone and that he needed a suitable helpmate.  (Genesis 2:18-25)  Marriage was also for procreation and the raising of godly children who would know and serve God.  (Malachi 2:15-16)  God knew that this could best be done by a man and a woman in a covenant relationship.  Their love for each other and God would provide an environment that the children could learn about His love for them.

But sin entered the world through the first couple, Adam and Eve.  They decided that they could do life by being like God themselves and disobeying His one command to them.  This brought death to their relationship with God and strife to their own relationship.  Work had sweat and toil and childbirth had pain.  There was tension between them because they both wanted to be in control and God had set an order in the home.  The man was to be a priest and protector but sin marred his ability to do that right.  The result was broken families, multiple marriages, fighting and bickering and children who were not raised to fear God!  God’s heart was broken for the children that should be His and take His glory to the world!

Jesus was asked a question to trap Him concerning divorce!  “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that God made them male and female,” and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:3-6)

God’s design was clearly stated by Jesus Christ.  He strongly advocated marriage, between a man and woman (not two men or two women!)  God joins them together and man should not separate what He has joined.   Jesus went on to teach that Moses allowed divorce because of hard hearts, not God’s design.  The only exception given where divorce was allowed was adultery.  Let’s pay attention to God’s design!

Scripture reading for September 7th: Hosea 4-6

Israel had an amazing legacy of God’s revelation of His nature and character to them.  They had experienced God’s presence in their midst and knew personally of His love and mercy and powerful deliverance of the nation from slavery and bondage in Egypt.  Yet, in Hosea’s time, they lacked knowledge and were being destroyed!

“. . My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” ( Hosea 4:6)   This lack of knowledge came from God’s priests ignoring and rejecting the law of God.  When a people willfully rejects knowledge that it has, blindness and judgment come their way.  Consequences of rejecting God’s law bring judgment on the people and their offspring.  Could this be happening in America today?

The consequences of the priests rejecting God’s law were evident in Israel.  “Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”" In reading Hosea Chapter 4, seven of the ten commandments are listed as broken by the Israelites!

In America today, there is an assault on the law of God.  God’s word has been removed from the public school system and much of the business and political world.  Posting of the ten commandments was once common and it has now been declared illegal by many states and court systems.  Teaching the basic laws of God was once the foundation of our education system and it is now illegal in our public schools.  In fact, many of God’s laws can be “legally” broken because people and government have rejected the knowledge of God.

According to Hosea, the priests were to blame in Israel.  Christians must take responsibility in America!  We now have a knowledge of God through the Holy Spirit and must live and vote to keep God’s knowledge fresh in our country’s remembrance.  The rejection of knowledge resulted in judgment:  “Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.” “A whirlwind will sweep them away,” (Hosea 4:17,19a) What will happen in our nation?

Scripture reading for October 5th: Malachi 1-4

Malachi was the final voice of a prophet in the era of the Old Covenant.  After him, God was silent for 400 years until John the Baptist came on the scene.  Malachi was like a street preacher of his day.  He would go out where the people were and ask questions of them.  He loved to pose questions and then answer them.  With this style he sought to provoke God’s people to repent and do what God had commanded and required.

There were several issues that Malachi hit hard in his preaching.  One issue concerned the priests who were sacrificing blind, crippled and diseased animals.  God was and is holy and He demands pure sacrifices; His priests were dishonoring Him. (Malachi 1:6-14)  God is a great king who is worthy of our best!

Another issue was priests who were breaking their covenant vows with their wives and also with God, Himself.  They were sacrificing to God on the Sabbath, but then going up to idol temples, sacrificing to idol gods and having sex with the temple prostitutes.  God was watching and angry!  He warned them through Malachi that this practice would defile them and sow violence and divorce into their homes. (Malachi 2: 11-16)  This also dishonored God and broke their vows to Him as well!  This behavior hinders the development of godly offspring, God’s plan for covenant marriage.

God warned them as well of another evil practice.  The law of God strictly forbids stealing but these people were stealing from God.   They were not giving God their tithes, bringing them under a curse.  The devourer was eating their crops and taking away their sustenance.  (Malachi 3:8-12)  The remedy was simple–return to God by bringing Him His tithe!  God tells them that they can test Him in this, the only place in Scripture where testing God is allowed or encouraged!  God promises to open the windows of heaven for those who honor Him with the tithe!  He will also rebuke the devourer and bless their provisions.

God was going to send His messenger of the covenant to His temple.  He would be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap, purifying the Levites.  This process would bring about righteous obedience in the offerings and personal behavior.  Who could stand when this “messenger” comes?  God was going to be quick to testify against those involved in sins of adultery, perjury, sorcery, and oppression of orphans and widows!  (Malachi 3:1-8)  The people better prepare for this messenger and the refining fire!  This fire would reduce those who opposed the Lord to ashes but the righteous would go free!  (Malachi 4:1-3)

Malachi had a message that still rings true today for us.  Jesus is coming!  He is coming with fire this next time.  Those who believe in Him will have their works tested by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Those who oppose Him will be defeated by fire and eternally judged by fire!  We need to heed the time and return to the Lord before time runs out!

Scripture reading for July 6th: Proverbs 5-9

“My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.  for the lips of an adulteress drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil.  But in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.” (Proverbs 5:1-5)

Solomon’s warning to his sons stands as a warning to men of all ages and times.  Many have heard these words and read them, but did not heed the warning and experienced the promised results.  Headlines blare every day about another famous person, politician, minister, or actor who has committed adultery and brought attention.  It is almost a badge of honor to those who are caught up in the world system!  God calls it “sin” and it was punishable by stoning to death in the old Testament!  Adultery leads to shame, disgrace, and ultimately death.  This sin is also a form of idolatry that God sees as “spiritual adultery” in breaking our relationship with Him!

Satan has used women and sexual desires to cause the ruin and death of many throughout history.  Solomon’s own father, David, succumbed to the temptation of adultery and his sin has been read about for over 3000 years!  Solomon, himself, had over 1000 women in his harem.  These wives were his downfall, because many worshiped idols and they brought idolatry into Solomon’s life!  Sexual promiscuity is itself related to idolatry.  We are setting up our desires as superior to the Word of God and creating an idol out of our own appetite!

Many times, men recklessly believe that they will not be seen or caught in their adulterous forays.  Even if the affair is secret to all others, God sees everything !  (Proverbs 5:21)  God promises us that the cords of our sin will hold us fast and we will die for our lack of discipline!  (Proverbs 5:22-23)  Often men blame the women for enticing them.  They may also blame their own wife for a lack of sex or affection that drives them to another woman.  The truth of the matter is God sees it as their own folly that is at fault!

The Bible is very clear on the consequences of adultery.  Death and the grave are both mentioned more than once as a consequence of going in with an adulteress. (Proverbs 5:5) (Proverbs 7:27)  Regret, oppression, depression and misery are also mentioned as following this adulteress.  (Proverbs 5:9-14; Proverbs 6:33)   Possible retaliation by the husband of the adulteress could cost your life and peace! (Proverbs 6:34-35)  The verse that talks about taking fire into his lap may be referring to sexually transmitted diseases.  Scientists have found that syphilis was common among the kings whose remains were mummified.  (Proverbs 6:27)  When looked at objectively, there are really no desirable benefits to adultery!

Wisdom will keep us from the adulterous woman.  Discretion will guard us and keep us away from her door.  The fear of the Lord will cause us to hate this evil and love truth.   Jesus Christ has been made to us our wisdom!  (1st Corinthians 1:30)

Scripture reading for March 30: 2nd Samuel 11-14

In my years in the church, I have witnessed a number of moral failures.  Many of these have been in ministry and were men and women of God who had powerful ministries and were great people of influence in the church and community.  Those in ministry have caring hearts and are often the target of Satan.  Satan knows that if he can get a man or woman of God to compromise, he has a good opportunity to trip up many in the church as well.  These moral failures were often a result of pride, success, and lack of accountability.

In today’s reading, King David decides to stay home from the battlefield and take a break.  He’s about 50 years old at this time, has had great success, and is looked upon as God’s anointed leader.  While resting at home, he sees his neighbor’s wife bathing and sends for her.  They have a sexual encounter and she conceives a child.  (2nd Samuel 11:4-5)  When David is notified, he sends for her husband, Uriah.  David hopes to have Uriah spend time with his wife but the plan fails as Uriah has made a vow of abstinence while his army is fighting.  King David sends Uriah back with orders for Joab, his army commander,  to have Uriah killed in battle.

Sin always takes one farther than they want to go!  David’s failure to restrain his passions brought an unwanted pregnancy.  David essentially had Bathsheba’s husband murdered.  (2nd Samuel 11:25-27)  David then married Bathsheba.  This turn of events displeased the Lord!  Sin never makes God happy and its pleasure is passing for those involved!

What lessons are here for us today?  First, sexual sins are always deadly!  David’s son, Solomon, also born to him through Bathsheba, wrote about sexual sin and adultery in several places in Proverbs.  (Proverbs 5-7)  God’s Word warns us that we must not commit adultery!  When we do, we violate a sacred union.  God has joined the man and woman together as one in flesh and spirit.  They are a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church!  (Ephesians 5: 31-32)  When we separate what God has joined together, we open the door to violence between the parties involved.  (Malachi 2:15-16)   David was moved on by Satan to have Bathsheba’s husband murdered.  Bathsheba’s grief is mentioned as well.  Not only that, but the child that was conceived died as a consequence.  More death and grief result from a short time of stolen pleasure!  Oh that we would learn from God’s Word and avoid all the death and grief!

Check your own heart today in this area of sexual lust and sexual sins.  Have you been looking at things you should not be looking at?  Have you entertained temptation rather than resisting it?  Are you emotionally involved with someone who is not your mate?  Flee temptation today and turn to the Lord for forgiveness and help!  David’s own advice can be found in Psalm 32: 1-6!

Scripture Reading for February 7th: Leviticus 18-20

SEX!  There, that got your attention!  God talks about sex and all it’s perverted variations in these chapters of Leviticus.  He tells his people that they are not to have sexual relations like the nation of Egypt where they were enslaved.  God’s people are to live differently from the world.  God’s laws about sexual conduct are designed to bring about a holy people who have children who will be blessed by God with His presence and power through a relationship with Him.  If we want this blessing, we must become a holy people as He is holy.

Honor is important in sexual relations.  Incest dishonors your father or mother and you if you initiate it.  God also states that it is wickedness.  (Leviticus 18:17)  Sex with close relatives (incest) is wrong and dishonors the family.  Sex with another man’s wife (adultery) defiles you! (Leviticus 18:20) Sex with the same sex, homosexuality or lesbianism, is “detestable” to God.  (Leviticus 18:22) Sex with an animal (bestiality) is perverted! (Leviticus 18:23)  God has designed man for one woman for life and has promised to bless that monogamous relationship.  (Genesis 2:24)

When you commit any of these sins, God says that you defile the land where you live.  God states that this defilement causes that land to “vomit” out people who do these sins!  (Leviticus 18:24-28)  In fact, this is why God has destroyed all of the great civilizations up to this point in history!  Wow!  This makes me afraid for the land we live in today!   When will our land begin to “puke” out those who are committing sins of incest, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and bestiality?   God’s Word is truth and will ultimately come to pass.  We may appear to get by but the consequences of sin always find us out. (Numbers 32:23)

God’s people are to be markedly different!  They are to be holy because God is holy. (Leviticus 19:2)  This holiness is to be walked out in love and respect for God’s laws and in our conduct towards others. Jesus said that if we love him, we will keep his commandments!  (John 15:10) The other laws of Leviticus 19-20 give details about our conduct that could be summarized as “love your neighbor as yourself”. (Leviticus 19:34)  The two great commandments taught by Jesus are: “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself!” (Matthew 22:37-39)   We find their basis here in the book of Leviticus among the laws for sexual purity for the nation of Israel!

America today needs our prayer and intercession!  Its sins are like those described here in our reading for today.  We are a nation who knows too much and applies too little.  These sins are prevalent in the church as well as in the nation we live in.  Take time today to repent and pray for God’s mercy.  The earth is ready to vomit!

“And if you defile the land,(with these sexual sins) it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.” Leviticus 18:28

Scripture reading for January 13th: Genesis 37-40

The story of Joseph is a fascinating one!  He was a dreamer and the youngest of 11 brothers.  He was also his father’s favorite and probably a little spoiled.  His dreams that showed his father and brothers as somehow bowing down to him caused him to nearly lose his life!  Jealousy arouses forces that cause trouble! At least one of his brothers showed a small amount of compassion and his life was spared.  So much for the big dreams!  Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt.

Joseph was evidently quite handsome and muscular.  In his new role as servant to a wealth Egyptian, Potiphar, he was noticed by his master’s wife.  One day when Potiphar was gone, as Joseph was doing his duties in the house, he was propositioned by Potiphar’s wife.  “Come to bed with me!”   Joseph’s response was full of truth and godly wisdom.  “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.  How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”  This happened day after day and Joseph continued to refuse her advances.  What amazing self-control!

Adultery is a sin!  It is a sin against God and another person made in God’s image and joined as one to their spouse.  God hates sin and this sin causes lying, jealousy, hatred, violence and ultimately death.  Adultery sows violence in a relationship and destroys marriages and homes.  Children are the victims and the devil loves to devour children in the midst of adultery, lying and violence.

Joseph gives us some very practical advice about how to escape temptation.  Our first line of defense is our feet!  If we would just quickly remove ourselves from the temptation, how much easier we find we can resist!  When we linger and begin to make allowances and reason we will always be defeated!  Running away may seem cowardly but it is sure better than the mess caused by sexual sin!  “Use de feet to avoid defeat!”

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside.  She caught him by the cloak and said, “come to bed with me!”  But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:11-12  “

Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed should be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4