Thursday, November 6, 2008

November 7

Nov 7 - Today from Proverbs 7 we look at verse 5
"(Wisdom and understanding) will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words."

It is supposed that Solomon composed most his proverbs early in his reign. In his proverbs he often alludes to the dangers of being ensnared in the act of adultery - here he devotes an entire chapter to it. Adultery is the subject of one of the Ten Commandments. The seventh command admonishes, "You shall not commit adultery." You're on very solid ground when you base the teaching of wisdom on one of the Ten Commandments. In spite of all this, Solomon's downfall ultimately came through his weakness with women. We read these sad words in 1 Kings 11:3 & 4, "(Solomon) had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God."
Perhaps Solomon attempted to justify his actions in that his father David was a polygamist (although it is quite clear that there were many consequences in David's life for this behavior). Perhaps Solomon justified his actions in that his marriages were politically expedient in expanding the size and influence of the land of 'God's people'. Regardless of the motive - it was a self-serving attitude and it violated God's law. The spirit of the law is to keep sexual relations within the confines of a covenant relationship (matrimony), one man with one woman. Jesus clearly states this was God's intent from the beginning (Matthew 19:4-8). Jesus should know, He was there at the beginning.
The New Testament writers expanded adultery to fornication - or all sexual immorality. It includes adultery, but stands for any sexual relationship outside the bonds of one-man/one-woman matrimony. This relates to all manner of extramarital sex including pre-marital sex, homosexuality, pedophilia, bigamy, polygamy, and bestiality. Besides any obvious reasons for keeping integrity in this area, it extends into the mystery of the spirit realm. Paul touches on this subject in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. Paul quotes the first revelation of the mystery from Genesis 2:24 where God says, "The two will become one flesh." There is an unseen bond that takes place in a sexual encounter. The second revelation of the mystery is found in verse 17 where Paul writes, "He who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit." and verse 18, "he who sins sexually sins against his own body." Paul is asking the believer if he wishes to engage the Lord in an act of sexual misconduct. The final exhortation . . . "Therefore honor God with your body." That too is the spirit of the law.
It is interesting that metaphorically speaking, the association of pagan idolatry with doctrines of the Christian faith are referred to as fornication (adulteries), in the book of Revelation (14:8; 17:2&4; 18:3; 19:2). Solomon's physical fornication led to his spiritual fornication. Now his legacy, which could have been a shining example to the generations, was forever tainted and corrupted. God's intent is not to humiliate Solomon, but to warn us that we too can attempt to twist God's Word to make it fit our selfish ambitions - but in trying, we will end up as nothing less than spiritual fornicators.
So, we must ask ourselves; "Is that which is so appealing to myself today worth corrupting my legacy?" The simple young man of Proverbs seven never bothered to ask himself this question - at least in the heat of the moment of temptation. If we will but honor God for the moment, He will honor us for eternity. His grace is sufficient for the moment.

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