2 Samuel 11 - David Does Evil in the Eyes of the Lord

2 Samuel 11

But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord. (verse 27b)

Message: David Does Evil in the Eyes of the Lord

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: I have been developing this habit for some time now. Every now and then I like to stop and reflect on it. The habit here is reading the Bible. Granted, in my bent towards heavy discipline I know I tend to get obsessed with making these posts each day, but the obsession is really getting into the word each day to be trained. I am seeking to be trained in Godliness and yet this simple reading and writing is the education. What I am trying to do is have these lessons transform me into living life differently and yet I know that is not automatic. I am begging the Holy Spirit to reshape me. I suppose not only this, but in other things in life, like regular involvement in online ministry or talking to others more intentionally, though I notice that at times being squandered often by the distractions of work. I also am reading more and it seems reading is a better pastime than sitting in front of the tube, though I drift back to the tube very often as it is mindless and I suppose I need that mindless activity at times. I suppose I want to make sure I am living within the margins of life, living in balance, and not too focused in any one area. 

Well, back to regular scheduled program. For the first time in my reading of I and II Samuel, I am now on a text in which I actually have substantial notes in my Bible. It seems at some point in my past Christian life of reading and study I have looked at these texts now beginning in Chapter 11. I am not sure of the time frame of these notes, but I would guess prior to 2012 and probably after 1997. So somewhere between 30 and 45. I am now 58. 

This chapter is 27 verses and in my Open Bible has the headings - "The Sin of Adultery", "Uriah Does not Sleep with Bathsheba", and "David Commands Uriah's Murder." 

The Sin of Adultery

In verse 1 it means that it is spring and this is occurring "at the time" as I have the note that only certain times would the state of the country permit the march of armies. Well, that is interesting, so marching of armies was not at any time, but at specific times. Nevertheless, David sent Joab (who is over his army) "and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah" while David "stayed at Jerusalem." The note I have is David stayed and exposed himself to the temptation of idleness. It is one thing to stop and think and ponder, but another simply to be idle and have no agenda with one's time. It is in this idleness that one is lured into temptation. 

The time is about 3pm and David got up and "walked around on the roof the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was beautiful in appearance." Something tells me this was not the first time David had seen this beautiful woman. One issue with temptation is once it is discovered in life, the tendency to return to it is very strong. Once pandora's box is opened, we know who is out there and so we return to it to repeat the feeling it gives. But at this time the text records she was bathing. Now the comment here I have is David had the right to claim unmarried women. He had wives and lots of them. It was in his power to have women. That is something to think about with the many people, including later his son Samson and that their position afforded them the opportunity to take unmarried women for himself. In essence, he wasn't breaking a law. He was going along with a prescribed advantage given him. And that advantage was now a normal occurrence in his life. 

David inquires of her and verse 3 states that from the inquiry someone said, "Is this not...the wife....?" The question was raised, but David chose to ignore the question. I think of I Corinthians 10:13 in this moment, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." David was given the way out. But he ignored it. His desire for her had been determined the moment he inquired about her. He wanted her and no response mentioned was going to change that. But he was given an opportunity and he ignored it. 

He go her, had sex, she returned home, and she became pregnant. 

Uriah Does not Sleep with Bathsheba

Moving to verse 6, I have an alternate title for this section -- David tries to hide his sin by deceiving Uriah. Once the sin has been conceived and performed, now the escape shows up. Though he has done something in his power, he did not have the power to take a married woman. And because of that sin, that known sin, he wants to find a way out from that circumstance. He wants to respond in the same way Cain responded to the Lord, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper." David is now going to seek to escape the clear consequences he knows is needed in this situation. 

David sent for Uriah. Uriah has returned from battle and David lets him know that his service is complete and tells him to return home. The pregnancy is now out and David wants to cover his tracks by having Uriah immediately go lie with with wife. He even sends him a valuable present, something a king would send. But Uriah doesn't go. He's a soldier and the soldier's responsibility is to his king. Uriah mentions something of the ark of the covenant and guarding it. His promise as a soldier is important. Now David must switch his plans so seeing Uriah's allegiance he seeks now to get him drunk so that he forgets his senses, but this doesn't work either. Darn it! This guy is ruining my plans for completing the act of deception. 

And isn't this what we do. We plan our escape route even I think, in the back of our mind, while we are performing the act of treason (toward God and ourselves) by engaging in the act of sin. Oh, that this lesson is too familiar. Oh that I have a problem with knowing about this and knowing how to document it too easily with these words. I have been guilty of the same, too often. I have followed the desire of looking away from my wife and instead fallen into the embrace of a picture that brings an enjoyment to rescue me from whatever was ailing me at the time. I sought the good feeling and got it but then planned the escape route. At times, I escape, but at other times I do not. O God, I am not a judge here, but a conspirator. 

David Commands Uriah's Murder

It is interesting in this story as to what time period this chapter encompasses. Probably something like weeks. Not sure, as verse 14 could be days or weeks later in which David writes a letter to Joab to give to Uriah to place Uriah in the line of fire. The phrase is different in verse 14 as it says, "and sent it by the hand of Uriah" which basically gives the idea that Uriah is commanding his own death sentence. David had tried to send Uriah home to be his wife, but that didn't work, so he got him drunk and send him home, but that did not work. So now he cannot be exposed. He can't let the sin simply be found out and face consequences, so he kills off the consequences. 

This is the other problem in all of this and that is the unwillingness to let consequences show up. We fear them. We like our sin and even as we plot an escape, if it doesn't work, we make sure it won't be found out. 

The reality is in this situation that the crime of adultery by a king would have been lightly pardoned, but David resorts to extreme measures rather than face the subject. Also, Joab could have refused. He knew what this was all about, so Joab, though not to blame, was not a person of nobility either. That was seen in the last chapter as well. 

So Uriah goes to the frontline and is killed. David find out about this through a messenger that Joab sends. The messenger though first talks about the battle and basically says, "Oh by the way, Uriah also died." I suppose Joab did this so that David wouldn't get reinforcement that his actions were premeditated to get Uriah killed. I guess we do this as well. Even after we seek out an escape route for our sin, we try to set it up like it isn't that bad or that we didn't actually have that horrible intention. 

The last verse concludes the episode as David brings Bathsheba to be his wife, they have the son, "But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord."

I suppose that conclusion is needed as a reminder that - this is not right. This is evil. One could say David was successful in hiding his sin, but God knew differently.  God knows. 

Summary: David does not go with kings to battle and instead in idleness sees a woman on a roof, asks her to be brought to him, lays with her, she gets pregnant and he hides his sin by eventually having the husband killed, but God knows.

Promise: God sees everything.

Prayer: Lord, it is good to remember that in life you see everything. I confess I have hidden sin and tried to make it look like I have done nothing wrong, but you see it and you know. I think at times I have received consequences as well from my sin. And at times this still doesn't make me learn or change. Let me take my sin more seriously and that it would mean something that I have sinned against you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 8:7-11 - Showing Mercy and Upholding the Law

John 8:7-11

7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. 10 And straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are the? Did no one condemn you?" 11 And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you, go your way. From now on sin no more." 

Message: Showing Mercy and Upholding the Law

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: As mentioned last lesson, these verses are most likely inserted here in this text as the best place to put them as many of the original manuscripts don't have these verses, but it is believed (throughout history) that these words still belong to Christ. In verse 6 and 8, Jesus stoops down to write on the ground - both times I had a note that Jesus perhaps did this to place him in the advantage and to prevent others from speaking. Or he just took a pause. I notice this often from preachers and teachers that I listen to. Some speak hurriedly while others take a moment to pause and think about the words that are spoken. 

Jesus in verse 7 in reply to the Jewish officials (scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman caught in adultery to him to trap him) turns it back to the accuser and voices, "He who is without sin among you, let him first throw a stone at her." In other words, "All have sinned. (Romans 3:23)." It even has a similar meaning to Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, lest you be judged." First stone. 

In voicing what He did Jesus still uphold the law. He wasn't saying it was not so for he did even say a thrown could be thrown at her, but He said that if you want to enforce the Law, so be it, but start with yourself. The Bible actually prescribes this in Deuteronomy 19:15-21. "if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother." One must be sure of their accusation. 

Here, Jesus is saying that is not that simple to accuse someone. The fact that his accusers had only brought the woman was a problem as they had simply pulled the woman from where she was at in order to trap Jesus. Thus, they were not without sin and Jesus knew this, but it wasn't because He had special powers at this moment, but he saw the obvious, only one was brought - the woman. And so what resulted was the accusers left for they knew their mistake. 

And Jesus responds to the lady. He knows, meaning He does have special powers in that moment and He know that she has sinned when saying, "Go and sin no more." It seems Jesus did not do anything because the charges brought against her were improper and he also no longer had any witnesses. Either way, both with the accuser and the accused he addresses the issue at hand: sin. People sin, but we should have the goal of not sinning. 

On a side note, for many years it seemed the mantra in our country was, "Innocent until proven guilty" but in recent years we seem to have shifted to "Guilty until proven innocent." In an effort it seems to protect the accuser we seem to have moved to this sort of case. Unfortunately, it also inflicts the greatest damage on people and we are a people more and more that do not seem to have a problem labeling people and also blotting the record of the rich and famous. I've seen this most recently in an incident involving a football coach. 

Summary: In response to the accusation brought by officials of a woman in adultery, Jesus tells them to examine themselves first before throwing stones. 

Promise: In our pursuit of justice, we also must be sensitive to mercy, when it is appropriate to do so. 

Prayer: Lord, I have not modeled this well. I am still haunted at the accusations I have made towards those that I love the most - my children and my wife. I have been a person that is too quick to find guilt in them rather than the investigations that I do now in my job when these things arise. Forgive me Lord. I feel such shame and remorse over my accusation towards my children. The regrets abound. Heal me from this and help me to move on and show them mercy and love continually. And help me in going forward to exercise mercy. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.  

John 7:53-8:6 - The Woman Caught in Adultery

John 7:53-8:6

7:53 And everyone went to his home. 

8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3. And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 6 And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground.

Message: The Woman Caught in Adultery

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: This passage which begins with verse 53 of chapter 7 up to verse 11 of chapter 8 is footnoted in my Bible as saying, "Not found in most of the old manuscripts." This is true. That said, the church has thought that it records an authentic episode from the life of Christ, but even here, in looking at the "I am" statement that begins in verse 12, it seems that it is inserted here in this passage. It is a passage that is not even clear that it belongs to the writings of John as one manuscripts has it with Luke. So as we read the first two verses, they are not referring to the conversation that most recently occurred at the end of chapter 7 and in verse 1 of chapter 8 as it mentions the Mount of Olive, this is not elsewhere mentioned by John. 

Now, as the passage explains Jesus has returned to the temple where people were coming to him and he was teaching them. Of note is that temple teaching is a practice that we continue to teach today as we assemble regularly at our churches, bible studies, weekly gatherings to listen to teaching and be taught. Jesus practiced this and we as well. And as was the occasion when He taught, the Pharisees and scribes were present to catch him hopefully with an error. His authority obviously bothered their authority. 

As the passage records, these Jewish officials bring a woman. Only a woman. Not a man also as two would be responsible. The Law mentions in Leviticus 20:10 that both the man and the woman were to be punished, not only the woman. But these officials seem to only be concerned about the woman or she is all they could find as the purpose here is to trap Jesus. And the trap was set. If Jesus agrees with punishment then he would side with Rome, enforcing capital punishments. If he excused her behavior, then he could be accused of not following the Law. So he writes in the dirt, buying a little time, having them wait for his answer. 

Summary: A woman is brought by Jesus officials which Jesus is teaching at the temple, stating the woman has been caught in adultery and Jesus is asked to determine her fate. 

Promise: As God's people, we must be concerned with justice, with making sure the innocent are protected and the guilty held accountable. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, than you for your grace and for extending it to me, though I am guilty of many of crime and sin against You, against my neighbor, family, self and others. But you forgive and thank you for forgiving. Thank you for making me whole and thank you for the examples you have in scripture of the way you taught and how we are to live. Thank you for the manuscripts that were discovered and have given us these texts today to read and study and apply to our lives. Thank you for that lasting message. You have gifted so many people and your grace is extended to many and your living waters of goodness, love and mercy are ever present. You are praised and lifted high. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.  

Deuteronomy 5:18 - Adultery

Deuteronomy 5:18 - You shall not commit adultery. 

Message: Adultery

Time: This book chronicles farewell messages by Moses, the 120 year old leader of the Israelite, primarily intended for the lay person. It covers about one month, at the end of the forty-year period in the wilderness - 1405 BC. It is a renewal of the old covenant given at Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.

What the Lord is Saying: 

The Commandments are often distinguished by those that deal with our relationship with God and then those that deal with our relationship with others. Just looking at quantity it is interesting that there are 4 toward God and then 6 toward other people. It seems fair to say that God cares greatly about how we engage in life with others. And yet it often seems like we approach God in the manner that we only need to be right with Him and then we can conduct ourselves however we want in regards to one another. And yet how we conduct our lives with one another seems to have a great significance on our way toward God.  

Thus far, there has already been a commandment about the child-parent relationship, but this one is more directly about the relationship between husband and wife. 

I find it very interesting that God is wanting it to be clear that the secret to a fulfilling marriage is being true to each other and not breaking the covenant that he has set up. Last weekend, my wife and I went to a concert in Las Vegas. If there is one thing that Las Vegas focuses on is sexuality and giving the idea that in the realm of entertainment it is perfectly fine to be entertained by nudity and sensuality. When I was a kid, Las Vegas was synonymous with marriage and a place to get married easily and quickly. And yet now there is no mention of marriage at all in Las Vegas. Instead there are many billboards about gentleman clubs where nudity is prevalent, there are billboards about going to shows that celebrate sensuality and walking around the city are flamingo dancers wearing very little. It is almost like everything is being told to us in these messages that pleasing our senses is permitted and okay. Basically, the adage of "If it feels good, do it." I stared down from our hotel room and saw shops in this strip mall - tattoo's, love boutique, and computers. Just seemed interesting and their was a bar at the end of that strip. 

Clearly God knew that there would be a great temptation among married couples to break that covenant of marriage. And in my lifetime I have seen this sin become easier and easier to commit. It has gone from actually committing the act through engaging in sexual activity with someone not your mate to being able to pull up images on a phone and engage in one-sided activity with someone not your mate. This is the hallmark of sin, that it becomes easier and easier to commit and in the process it becomes less and less offensive in our thinking. 

And as a guy, I feel the temptation all of the time. We are visual creatures and there is so much on that crazy phone of mine that can lure me away from being fully focused on my wife. 

Psalm 84:11 says -- For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Here God is making mention that walking in an upright manner or righteous manner actually yields good. In other words, if we simply trust God to live by His way we will be more fulfilled in our lives than seeking out our own unrighteous ways. 

God created marriage so that we would be vulnerable to only one person. Thankfully, I recognized in my teen and college years that if I gave in to sex in a relationship it changed the dynamic of the relationship. And instead I needed to focus on the non-sexual parts of the relationship and building those up first before letting the sexual part into the relationship. My wife and I both came to our relationship realizing this was most important. We even set a goal to not kiss the first time till our wedding day. We didn't live up to this, but we didn't kiss until weeks after we had gotten engaged. So the first 4 months of our courtship were just that and no kissing. And yet once we started kissing it became very difficult to only kiss. Once we opened up that possibility it was hard to turn it off. 

I Corinthians 7:2 says, "But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband." We are meant to be exclusive creatures: one God, one wife or husband. It speaks to vulnerability. There is definitely pleasure in the sexual union but it also moves us beyond that to a closeness that transcends the relationship. It is also in this relationship that we are shown that we mirror Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32 -- "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church." It is a mystery. It is like we don't even completely recognize the extent of what it means for two to be one. 

It is not rocket science. When I replace my wife with someone else or some other image or am lured away by someone else, our relationship becomes less fulfilling. Sin affects everything and my marriage is affected. Adultery is one of the few grounds given in Scripture for divorce (Matthew 19:9 - "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.") God is wanting to protect me. I must admit. I go back and forth with trusting Him on this. I think of James 4:4 which compares adultery to idolatry or being friends with the world or aligned with the world instead of with God. Again, unity is the issue. "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." He calls people that are joined to the world as an adulteress. So don't be joined to another. 

Summary: Adultery is sin. It is breaking God's commands. It is replacing that which is holy with unholy. 

Promise: I must always be on the guard. The world is trying to pull me away from exclusivity and God's central commands. It is most fulfilling in life when I stay exclusive. We love God's faithfulness and He wants us to be faithful in our relationships as well, most notably with our mates. 

Prayer: O God, you are Holy and your ways are perfect and good for me. Thank you for continually bringing me back to your truth and your ways and showing me how I need you to guide my life. You have set this life up in such a way as to protect me. Thank you for this past weekend and helping me understand disappointment and how it wrecks my life. And you show me the importance of simply believing in You and only You. Lord, strengthen me and keep making me strong. Even at 54 right now, I need that strength and I still struggle with temptation. But there is completeness with my wife. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

The Law is our Guide

The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him. Finding Guidance in the Law - God's Word, all if it, is a guide to my life and I am to meditate on it continually. 

Caring and Protecting Us

The One and Only God - I seek to trust and love God above all else today. Images and Idols - Pictures, statues, symbols, art, people are not bad; but be careful about placing too much emphasis on these things I see. Using God's Name Frivolously - Blasphemy or using God's name frivolously are examples of taking God's name in vain. Keeping the Lord's Day - It is vital that we are setting apart a day to gather for worship and fellowship, resting from our ordinary vocations. Honoring Father and Mother - Parents are to rear their children in faith, teaching them to respect authority and children are to follow. Murder, Self-Defense and Hatred - Murder is not unforgivable and yet like any other sin, even hatred, we need to avoid it. It has consequences in this life.

Jeremiah 13

I was very much moved by this passage from Jeremiah 13 because it amazes me, though I suppose it should not, when I see how relevant the word of God is to the time of today. As I read these words and study them I am amazed that they are so relevant to today. As a reminder, I have been working on reading the Bible daily, - following the M'Cheyne Reading Plan "Secret." Yet, I struggle and fail often. It takes time for me to study and my time gets displaced often. But, I am thankful for coming back to the Word. Today I read from Jeremiah 13 and I have prepared this outline based upon my thoughts from Enduring Word.

TWO WARNING SIGNS

The Sign of the Linen Sash

Hiding the linen sash - verses 1-5

• Lord tells Jeremiah - Get a sash (decorative belt) and put it around your waist (1)
• Sash was a priestly garment for High Priest and Regular Priest - a sign of dignity and nobility
• Go to Euphrates (not sure if this was actual journey or vision) for if it would have been a 3 month journey that would have alarmed people of Anaathoth (4)
• Hide the sash in a rock (4)
• The direction of the Euphrates was where Babylon would be coming from to destroy Judah

Finding the Decayed, Useless Sash - verses 6-7

• Go to the Euphrates and retrieve the sash (6)
• It was still there, but had deteriorated and was ruined, good for nothing (7)

Ruining the Pride of the People - verses 8-11

• In the same manner of the sash, the pride of Judah and Jerusalem will be ruined (9)
• These people would be taken to the Euphrates and beyond
• 3 main sins of Judah (10)
• Refuse to hear God's words (Not reading His Word)
• Follow the dictates of their hearts (trusted in themselves, looked to self instead of the Lord)
• Walked after other gods to serve them (trusting in themselves, they were led to idolatry)
• As the sash clings to a man, so we are to cling to God
• But they would not listen (11)

The Sign of the Wine Bottle

Every bottle filled with wine - verse 12

• Every bottle shall be filled with wine echoes the proverb - Everything will fulfill its purpose

The people of Judah drunk and destroyed - verses 13-14

• Wine breaks people and God's rebellious people would be in a state of stupor and stupidity, drunk with wine (13)
• The people would be dashed against one another (fighting among themselves - we are really seeing this today like never before) (14)

How to Respond to God's warnings

Humble yourself and give glory to the Lord - verses 15-16

• We are told of the biggest problem we have for not listening to God - our pride (15)
• "For the Lord has spoken" - as he speaks we have a choice on how we will respond - yea or nay
• Thus, give glory to God before darkness is all we know (16)

The price to be paid for not heeding God's warnings - verses 17-20

• Jeremiah didn't merely observe, he experienced weeping and tears because judgment was coming (17)
• And so he keeps pleading "humble yourselves" (18)
• It should begin with the leaders - King and Queen (18)
• The invaders are coming for the beautiful sheep (20)

The guilt of those whom the Lord punishes - verses 21-23

• When the punishment actually happens, the people were incredulous that such calamities had overtaken them (21), just as a woman in labor would exclaim "Why have these things come upon me?" (21,22)
• Them (enemies) are taught to be lords (chieftans) over them (21)
• Your skirts have been removed (22)
• Judah commits spiritual adulteries and they would be terribly and tragically violated by their conquerors
• "Lift up the skirt" is a euphemism for sexual attack both here and elsewhere in the OT
• Can the Ethiopian change his skin or leopard his spots? (23)
• God changes/transforms the nature of man

The determination of the Lord to scatter His people - verse 24-25

• Their lot was to be scattered across the Babylonian empires (24)
• And because you have forgotten Me and trusted in Falsehood (25)

The exposed shame of God's people - verses 26-27

• For not humbling oneself, a greater shame results (26)
• The Lord exclaims that they still are not clean (27)

Promise: In this chapter is the promise that the primary sins of Judah can also be sins of our day and they are not reading God's word, trusting in ourselves and in turn trusting in idolatry.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of your word and showing me continually the importance of listening to you and keeping my focus on You. Not on You means it will be on me and I will find fulfillment instead with me. Lord, I pray that I will humble myself and I would get out of the way from what you are teaching me and accept it.

Mark 10:10-12 - When God Allows Divorce

Mark 10:10-12
¹⁰ In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. ¹¹ And He *said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”

Message: When God Allows Divorce


Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface -  Jesus preaches to many and teaches, as is His custom. He answers the Pharisees question on divorce and reminds them that marriage is an institution God ordains and we don't abandon it just when our feelings don't align with it. For God has joined a husband and wife together.

This passage more specifically addresses divorce. As a reminder, Jesus has mentioned that man will often harden his heart toward the institution of marriage and declare it is not workable. In today's world, all that is necessary often is irreconcilable differences. Granted, it seems often that divorce is inevitable. For many years, I felt like divorce was always unacceptable, but as I listen to people at times and there efforts to work things out, I tend to think that divorce can be justified. People sometimes enter into the matrimony lightly. I also see that people enter into the relationship with different ideals - intimacy, companionship, kids; thus, right from the beginning they are abandoning God's laws for life.

Jesus is clear in these verses that adultery results when a wife or husband marries another and yet there are allowances for divorce:

• Matthew 19:9 - And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
• I Corinthians 7:13-15 - And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

In addition, this passage spells out what is permissible by Jesus as a union - Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery. I think it is clear from these verses that a man and woman constitute a marriage, not a man and a man or a woman and a woman or any other combination that seemed abominable years ago but now is becoming more normal as each person's gender is up for grabs. Granted, God's forgiveness remains open to all, but each person, after surrendering themselves to the Lord should seeks to desire to surrender themselves to the will of the Lord, which may mean changing something in their lifestyle. 

Summary - Jesus continues teaching and instructing and reminds us that a marriage is between a man and a woman and when a husband or wife marries another it is adultery. 
 
Promise: Jesus reminds us here to let him define our lives, and this includes marriage. We must always come back to the scripture, realizing that this is still hard, but we owe it to ourselves as his children and followers to continue to depend on Him for strength and surrender our lives to Him. In this instance, a marriage is between a husband and a wife. And adultery is the result of marrying another unless immorality or living with an unbelieving one has occurred. Obviously, irreconcilable differences remains common and so in those cases, we must remember that God still forgives sins.

Prayer: Lord, I am reminded here of the importance of defining life by your criteria, not man's. We must always look to you, but this seems to be harder and harder as we live our lives by what seems justifiable at any given moment. Lord, thank you for forgiving sin. Help us to stay focused on You no matter what, though. I pray that people would submit and surrender to You. Help me to be a light to many in this world.

Mark 8:38 - Of Whom the Son of Man will be Ashamed

Mark 8:38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Message: Of Whom the Son of Man will be Ashamed


Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is headed to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he questions the disciples as to who He is and they answer He is the Christ, the Jewish Messiah. He tells them what the Son of Man must do, but Peter rebukes Jesus, and then Jesus reminds them his purpose is not man's purpose. He speaks to the multitude and the disciples that to follow Jesus means we deny ourselves and take up our cross.

I've been listening to these messages by John Piper on this passage of scripture - Mark 8:34-38. He did four messages on these 4 verses, each about 10 minutes long. He states that verse 34 is the command and then verses 35-38 give reasons as to why denying yourself and taking up your cross.

³⁴ And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Come after and follow me has the same idea - follow. The cross was an instrument of death in that day. He states that to take up the cross means (1) embracing opposition, (2) bearing shame, (3) suffering, and (4) death. To come after comes with a risk. We must deny our old self. Our old self wants (1) approval, (2) honor, (3) comfort, (4) safety and (5) life. So when we find this attitude rise up we deny it. We have a new self. We are to take up the cross and deny that old self that does not want to take up the cross. Cross-bearing is losing one's life. To lose life is to embrace the old self and it's ways; to save your life is to bear the crosses way of life. One way is a loss, the other way will save my life. The new self loves Jesus more than the things of the old self (approval, honor, comfort, safety and life) and even if it costs him his life (opposition, shame, suffering, death). 

And then verse 36 says that no amount of money used to acquire the old self ideals of approval, honor, comfort, safety and life can buy one's soul. You cannot acquire the soul this way. And then verse 37 takes it a step further and says that nothing at all can be exchanged for the his soul. So, it isn't just the old self ideals, but it is nothing. 

Verse 38 then concludes Jesus' thought with very clear words. To be ashamed of something is to deny your association with whatever that is. If the world hates Jesus (and it does) then you want to be as far from that as possible. The world desires to please itself (generation). James 4:4 says, "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." It is not that I love opposition or I love shame or I love suffering or I love death. No, but it is that I love approval, honor, comfort, safety and life more than I love Jesus. Jesus is at the center here. 

For me, I think this entire discourse by Jesus is because Peter first, as the representative of the disciples, speaks in response to Jesus' question of who do you say that I am and responds to Jesus that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. Then Jesus states his purpose on earth and Peter rebukes him. Peter says, "no Jesus, I will tell you your purpose." This is the danger of man. Even after understanding who Jesus is we still want Jesus to do what we want. And so Jesus then emphatically and with clarity states that to love Jesus means accepting a different purpose for your life. Jesus taught in verse 31 that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. But Peter rebuked this mission. Peter wanted Jesus to maybe continue doing the things that he saw people wanted of him (healing many, casting out demons, exhibiting the power of God, walking around with his people, teaching, preaching); these are all good things but Peter wants it his way. But Jesus says that this isn't simply about knowing who I am so that I (Jesus) will then meet all of your needs, "no" this is loving Jesus more than everything else in life and accepting whatever that comes your way. Jesus says that to follow me means taking up a cross of opposition, shame, suffering, and even death. Anything else is a lost life, it is forfeiting the soul, it is loving the world and the things of the world and so it is not receiving eternal life and having the Son of Man be ashamed of me.

This is a radical and tough statement. Those that see Jesus as the Christ, as the Messiah can still miss it. They can still miss eternal life. We are not a people that simply knows who Jesus is, but rather a people that love Jesus more than anything else in our lives. 

Summary - John Piper concludes - Therefore, take up the cross of opposition and shame and suffering and death, and deny the old self that lives off of the approval of others, and human honor and comfort, and safety, and in your new self -- the self that loves Jesus more than life - follow Him.  

Promise: Jesus will forgive me when I repent for being ashamed of him. But, if I persistently refuse to be identified with Christ, then I am most clearly not his disciple.  

Prayer: Lord, in my life, I notice how much I value the approval of others. I love to be included, to be valued, and in acquiring this I will often sin through gossip or slander of others, just so that I can achieve approval from the audience I have before me at any given time. I want people to be proud of me so that I receive the honor and glory. I want it my way. But, Lord, this is choosing what the world loves, what my self loves - getting it my way - over You. Lord, you have saved me and washed me clean. You have called me to love you more than anything, more than father or mother, more than friends, more than any good. Lord, I have moments where I choose You, but I rather want to have a life that loves you Jesus more than life. I want to follow You. Only you can give me this type of strength. It goes against me to accept opposition, shame, suffering, and even death, but help to realize that loving you and following you is the only way to the Father. You have already bore my shame, my sin. I want to run to You, follow You, love You, honor You, glorify You, even if it means not getting my way.  

Mark 7:20-23 - Evil in Heart

Mark 7:20-23

20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Message: Evil in Heart

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface: Jesus speaks to all the people, going beyond just the scribes, and declares clearly that when speaking of being clean, the key is what comes out of a person, not what is taken in. What is unneeded to the human body are thrown off and eliminated through waste. If the people want to know what defiles, it is what comes out of a person that matters most. Jesus is declaring this radical message over and over - the heart. We need to focus on the heart. 

Jesus is emphasizing that what comes into a man - be it drink or food, even eating with unclean hands is not what defiles a person, but rather that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. There is a clear contrast here that he is emphasizing.The Pharisees and scribes questioned why the disciples were not maintaining the tradition of hand washing that was thought to render people clean. Ultimately, Christ explains that cleanliness is an interior matter. It is the state of one's heart that determines cleanliness for the heart is the origin of all uncleanness. Before any sinful deed can be committed, it is conceived in the heart. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. 

God and man see people differently. This, to me, further emphasizes the radical nature in which Jesus came. I Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This verse reminds me of the way God has always been and therefore God sees in a way that man does not see. Naturally, we look at the outward and our prisons are set up because people have committed outward violations. The civil law is set up like this. But, God and Jesus go beyond the outward to the inner. This must be a difficult thing for society to comprehend for everywhere we are trained in the idea of the outward, but everyone God trains us on what is on the inside that matters most. 

Here sins are listed to clearly show their inner origins: fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. The first six in this list are acts that are seen outside of the flesh while the second six are attitudes behind the acts. 

First on the list is fornications. It is interesting for there is such a great power of sexual sin and sexual temptation that has been present in every culture of man. It was a problem 2,000 years ago and it is a problem today. The internet in the last 25 years has seen the proliferation of this sin. This is a sin that seeks to become more and more private.

Second is thefts. To be a thief is obviously abhorrent in society. But, for me, the acts of being a thief are changing. We most definitely grade this sin, in that taking a dollar versus $100 is seen a way different. With the advent of movies in the home came forth the issue of piracy. Even the internet and youtube made piracy of music more prevalent to the point that they had to figure out a way to make money on listening to music and now it has become the norm to listen in this manner. 

Third is murders. For me, personally, Roe v Wade in 1973 was the biggest change that occurred over the issue of murder for society accepted that murder of the fetus was warranted based upon a woman's choice. In the nineties, doctor assisted suicide started to appear as we looked at the other end of the spectrum, the elderly. Again, sin began to be disguised as warranted behavior. Society still today does not view either of these as murder. 

Fourth is adulteries. Adultery is not a new thing. It is a sexual sin practice that has been present for thousands of years. As a person that loves to watch old movies, adultery in the movies has always been present. There was a notion that if one was wealthy then they more easily could afford a mistress. The woman as an object of the man's desires crept more and more into people's thoughts and was then culminated with pornography being viewed as entertainment. 

Fifth is coveting. Coveting is a internal desire seen outwardly. Consumerism has made coveting a normal practice. The desire to have what your neighbor possesses is viewed as competition and moves us to be a strong business person. 

Sixth is wickedness. This is all kinds of wicked behavior. Thus, anything not covered previously is covered here. 

This is what we see and now Jesus focuses on what is on the inside. Deceit means lying, not telling the truth, deceptiveness, false witness. Lying can be pretending to be something we are not. Lying shows up in church all the time as people want to pretend to others that they are religious in order to get acceptance from society. 

Sensuality shows up in our behavior and speech. It is a dirty mind. Once again, society has made having a dirty mind being completely acceptable. Its amazing to think of the TV sitcoms and their attitudes and behaviors that made having a dirty mind comedic.  

Envy is to look with hate or to look with anger. 

Slander is to have abusive speech such as blasphemy. I went and saw a movie yesterday, one I should have avoided for the slander or abusive language that occurred in the movie, all under the disguise of laughter and entertainment was incredible and the most haunting thing was to witness children in the movie laughing at themes most likely they did not understand at all, but only laughed because their parents also laughed beside them. 

Pride is the feeling of being superior to others. And then foolishness, to be unthinking or senseless.

The issue that I'm seeing more and more is the normalizing of these sins in society. We don't think of these in a serious light because we have such a thirst for entertainment that we excuse these behaviors because they have made us laugh or enjoy life. 

Summary - Jesus, in a way, concludes the utter defilement of the heart by naming a list of these sins and repeats the idea that evil comes from within. While we stare at the outward, it is what is on the inside that matters most.  

Promise: Sin and holiness are fundamentally issues of the heart. Although holiness can be faked before men, God is never fooled. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to walk in holiness. I thank you for forgiving me of my sins and I'm embarrassed of how prevalent these sins continue to be in my life. I should know better. Thank you for the reminder and continue to clean me up, not only so that my witness is better but so that I can have peace with myself in life. 

Proverbs 7:21-27 - The Gatekeeper of Death

Proverbs 7:21-27
With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him.
Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as fetters to the discipline of a fool,
Until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it his life.

Now therefore, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths.
For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Message:  The Gatekeeper of Death

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Background
For me, the crux of the first 20 verses of Proverbs 7 is the pleading from a father to his son to treasure the commandments that he is passing along. Treasure the words of the sage, of the Father God. Stay close to them. Adhere to  them in your life, for only then will you be able to withstand the temptations that will be present in this life. And temptations will be many. But, the sexual temptations, or the carrying away of ourselves to abandon our principles will be the strongest. We can't even give them a moment. The door opens when we allow ourselves to be in a dangerous environment. For the young boy, it is walking down the road of the adulteress, where she lives. There are other ways to get to our destination, so we should not even go there. 

The Problem
These remaining verses catapult the encounter and we get to witness first hand what is in store for the person that gets pulled away. I must admit, as a man, these verses resonate with me because I am pulled away too easily, it would seem. The clothing manufacturers have continued to make clothing that simply show off too much of a woman. I struggle with my eyes and it is a struggle when people are bending over in front of you or wearing short dresses. I'm captivated by my wife, but would prefer it in the privacy of my own home. It's really a horrible thing for the man to live with for it is everywhere. And the phone makes it worse. It is too easily accessible. Thus, the title of this message: the gatekeeper of death.

Studying this passage
Verse 21 begins "with her many persuasions." Again, these to me are not just verbal, but they are visual persuasions. They could be a glance, an alluring look, but most likely they are the way a person carries oneself. 'Many persuasions' also speaks to the many different ways we are confronted with this. The temptation now shows itself in so many different ways. But also in these verses is the inference that the person is reluctant because "she entices" and "she seduces." Thus, even in these verses, one could apply I Corinthians 10:13 in that there is a way out when the temptation presents itself.

And then the striking words of verse 22 "suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to slaughter." The road to death is set. The man is walking it. He is captivated, and yet, his life will never be the same. The visual expression of an ox going to slaughter is such an assault; it is such a picture of what the sin does to us. It because a drug that overtakes all of our senses. The ox is obviously not realizing his destination. The ox is being led somewhere that it is thought will only yield good outcomes. The "slaughter" represents the end, not the journey. But "he does not know it is his life." He is consumed with the moment, not the end. The consequences or results of this act are not overtaken by the momentary high.

And so the chapter ends the way it begins. There are words from the wise one to the son, "Listen to me" and "pay attention." Here is the reason: "Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways" and "do not stray into her paths." In these words is the idea I think of 1 Corinthians 10:13 and it is "don't go there." Don't put yourself in a position that is hard to come back from. Once the ox is on the way to the slaughter, it is too late. I must think about this in my life. For instance, I just realized that when I am down on life, or angry, then it is not good to have my phone with me and so, like going to bed - don't bring it to bed. Leave it in the other room. 

At the end of this passage is more ammunition. It is the father building the case. He hopes that the son would simply listen to his words. He would hope that this is compelling enough. But, he also then shows the son the results of the sinful lifestyle. This paints the picture of any addiction in our lives.

For many are the victims she has cast down, 
and numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol, 
descending to the chambers of death.

The language is final. They are victims. They are numerous. This is a problem many have. They are slain - again death. Her house is on the trek to death. Her house is lower than any person really wants to go. It should be clear, but instead deception has taken over. 

Promise: The foolish young man who heeds the call of the adulteress will find nothing but destruction in her arms.

Prayer: Oh Lord, I need help in this. I am not strong. I am too easily lured away. Once the sin starts, it just continues to be a problem. I'm embarrassed as to what this sin has done to me over the years. To think that I can be so easily enticed. Lord, place a hedge around me. I need your protection. Give me strength. Give me rest today. Lord, I want to be free. I hate the feeling of being a slave to it. I want to follow you. Help me Lord. 

Proverbs 9:13-18 - Meet Woman Folly

Proverbs 9:13-18

¹³ The woman of folly is boisterous,She is naive and knows nothing.
¹⁴ She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high places of the city,
¹⁵ Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight:
¹⁶ “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks understanding she says,
¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet;
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead are there,That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Message: Meet Woman Folly

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: Throughout Proverbs wisdom is personified as a lady calling out to society to sit at her feet and listen to her righteous words. But, the Woman of Folly, as noted here in verse 13 is also mentioned and she presents an antagonist perspective.

This woman or this person or perspective is first of all loud. She is boisterous. And yet in the loudness she is naive and knows nothing. The loud voice is not necessarily the correct voice. The one who is loud is not necessarily the one who is right. She is simply loud. She shows a lack of experience and really knows nothing.

Second, she is lazy and simply looking for an opportunity to pounce on someone. She sits at the doorway of her house looking for someone that will be lured away. She is idle. She is focused on one thing and that is calling to those who pass by. More specifically, her audience is those who are making their paths straight. I can't help but go back to Proverbs 3;5-6 which says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. The one that is seeking to put their trust in the Lord, who has set themselves as a goal to not lean on their own understanding, but in all their ways acknowledge Him and therefore, He is making their paths straight. And this is the one that Woman Folly is calling to and sitting and waiting for. It is those that have the intent and desire to be men and women of God. 

But she is really focused on those who lack understanding (v. 4, 16). The problem with the Christian often is they have a little bit of knowledge, but if they do not plant themselves in the Word of God, yield to it and get trained by it, they are lazy or naive and lack understanding. Many a Christian has no idea what to do when someone comes to their door to question their faith or makes a remark. They are set in the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, but that setting is a little watery. It is a setting where they can move about. The goal is for us to be firmly fixed in place. Otherwise, we are easily given into the world and its ways. 

One of the things that makes sin so attractive is the fact that it is often hidden or done in secret or off the beaten track. There is a conquest in doing it for we are people of adventure and there is something special about getting away with something and that something then giving us a fix of enjoyment. 

Proverbs 5:15 says to Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well. This is referring to intercourse or sex and the admonition to drink only from what is yours or has been given to you. And then here in 9:17 is the idea that Stolen waters are sweet. Adulterous intercourse is sweet. Human nature is corrupt and human nature is attracted to that which is unlawful. We struggle with being content and accepting the gift God has given us. Instead we want more. 

I have struggled with this. It is so easy in this day and age to get enticed away. If we give those sites or show our eyes, if we allow our senses to sit at their feet, we get lured away, and for a moment, a brief moment, there is a thrill and intensity. We have stolen a glance. We have garnered the forbidden fruit. We have turned to our God and said, "No sir, I'm in charge." We have denied the commandments and we feel superior in that moment. I have been there. I go there at times. It is wrong. I know it, but for whatever reason -- sickness, anger, feeling lonely, hungry, feeling tired and yet not sleeping -- in that moment of weakness I fall into bed with the woman of folly. I hate it. As Paul says, "I do what I don't want to do" but I do it anyway.  

In scripture, meat and wine are offered to the follower of God. Here the woman of folly offers bread and water. Both can meet a need, but meat and wine are more pleasurable and more powerful and longer lasting. This is what God is telling us. Seek My ways and listen to My commandments. Do what I tell you to do and you will receive more enjoyment. You think you have all that you need right now. You are in a habit, but know this, come to the Living Water and you will never thirst again. If I submit and surrender to him, then I am rich and full and complete.

This is a very powerful set of verses. In verse 18 is these words - But he does not know that the dead are there. The lure of the woman brings us in, to experience the pleasure and yet everyone in that place is basically dead. And even more her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Her guests, that is, the woman of folly, other companions, the others she has lured in, are empty. The danger is that we just jump from one pleasure to another pleasure. We are always in this state of needing to feed our senses and our desires, programmed now to think that this is the meaning of life. 

I think of Romans 1, when we give it an open door in our life, that is sin, when we stop honoring God and stop giving him thanks, then God says, "Go at it." He gives man over to it. And man is engulfed in it. This is the abhorrence of what is occurring everywhere. The Christian is as much a problem as those that clearly attack the Christian and try to silence him. 

Promise: Sin is seductive. 

My Prayer: O God, heal us. Bring us back to the joy of our salvation. Get me back on the straight and narrow path. Forgive me for thinking that I am God and I know better. You are everything and we need. Poor into the lives of my family and bring them to a true and complete knowledge of you.

Proverbs 5:15-20 - Standing Firm Against Adultery

Proverbs 5:15-20
¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you.
¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ As a loving hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.
²⁰ For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

Message: Rejoice in your wife

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

In the previous 14 verses of Proverbs 5, Solomon gives clear warnings to his pupil regarding committing adultery. Between the two warnings are the points that (1) it is not how it may appear, and (2) it will yield a hard life both today and for eternity. 

Solomon continues the conversation here in these verses, but here talks about how we are to live, with this adultery in mind. It is true there can be application to other idolatrous passions in our lives but it is clear that this is talking about adultery and cheating on our wife, or the woman that God has given us. And it really goes without saying that marriage is sacred and these are passions that are not meant to be stirred prior to marriage and so adultery is viewed even as a warning that is presented in Song of Solomon as "do not arouse or awaken love before its proper time."

Only enjoy your wife
Verses 15-17 are the clear direction from Solomon that, the pupil, or son, is to keep in mind that his relationship with his wife and more specifically, the sensual relationship with his wife, is for his eyes only and to only be enjoyed by him and he is not to seek out anyone else for this enjoyment. It is not a sin to notice beauty or a beautiful person but to seek out after that person for further gazing and interest is a sin. Society knows that sex and beauty pulls people in and so this temptation is present in our world all the more. 

I've heard verse 15 mentioned several times and it is a verse I have loved reading in the Bible. It speaks clearly and reminds me that God is very concerned about my relationship with my wife and the importance of that relationship. Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well.

Adam Clarke (1760 or 1762 - 1832) was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar. He wrote on this passage: Be satisfied with thy own wife; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband; and not tempt him by inattention or unkindness to seek elsewhere what he has a right to expect, but cannot find, at home. These are tough words especially to the wife to not tempt the husband to seek out attention and kindness from other sources.

Verse 16 says, Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Your springs or fountains are the lawful husband and wife relationship. The streams are their offspring. Children can be dispersed abroad when they are grown up and carrying on with other lawful relationships.

Not roving passions 
My passions are to be for my wife and my wife alone. They are not to be for anyone else. Again, this is hard as the world presents itself too many temptations. But, this is not their problem, but really my problem. My satisfaction is to only come from my wife and I am to be satisfied with her. Let them be yours alone. My passion is not for anyone else. If a person goes into a relationship with other women and their is offspring then it becomes unclear who's offspring is what. The harlot has many partners, so how can you be sure what is yours; and not for strangers with you.

Know (only) your wife
There is clearly an intimate union present between a husband and wife. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful wife; the Spirit of God is in her and she submits to me and satisfies me completely. This testifies more clearly to me God's graces. My wife is to be mine completely and it pains me to think of days when I have had the idea that she is not sufficient. At times, early in my life, non-married life, I trained my mind to think that I could engage in mind harlotry. Oh how this is contrary to God's perfect plan. I am to be patient and wait for the wife of my youth. When she came she was everything I could have dreamed of and more. 

The hind and does were prized and petted upon for their beauty and affectionate dispositions. They are not rough and tough creatures, but delicate and graceful and so they should be treated as such. The husband is to treat his wife with dignity and not simply an object for his desire. There is a union present there that is firm. Her bosom or breasts are to charm him and satisfy him, not for all days, but at all times. It is possible that sickness and illness may come to the wife. The important thing here is the body of the wife is for the husband and meant to be his charm. I often have thought of a mainstream song by Backstreet Boys which says she is my safest place to hind. The wife is my refuge and my safe place. I am to be exhilarated always with her love.  

It is clear that it makes no sense to be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner. Why should we seek after something that isn't kin to us and made for me? It makes no sense. 

Promise: Rejoice in the wife of my wife. She is everything that I need.