The Seventh Commandment

Beware The Adulteress Woman

Courtesy of piereligion.org

     Living in an age of ubiquitous images, and the privacy of such, is a danger which the church is not taking seriously. The writer of the book of Proverbs, however, takes it very seriously. Read the first 7 chapters of the book and you will quickly realize the sober reality in which the author lives: Sexual sin is the deadliest snare for men.

     In reading chapters 5, 6, and 7 we understand that it is not because the sin of sexual immorality is more heinous than all other sins; but rather, men appear to be their weakest in resisting this temptation.

     So what hope does the author offer? Christ! "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." and "Search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, but they testify of me." It is Christ who kept the seventh commandment perfectly, and it is Christ who covers our sin of violating it! 

     Does that deliver us from considering these warnings from Proverbs? Do not be a fool! The third use of the law is that we synergistically - empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit - might grow in conformity to the Person of Christ by loving and keeping his law. Therefore, heed the Proverbs!

     Do not consider these passages to apply only to physical relationships with married women; but, understand the complexity of the manifestations of adultery. The author warns "do not turn down her street:" Do you go in the neighborhood of inappropriate images on the web? He again warns "they go in the night to see her:" Do you take advantage of the privacy of a smart phone to view that which your eyes should not?" "She says my bed is perfumed and my husband will not return for several days:" Do you justify your lustful desires and satisfaction therein by saying "no one will ever find out?" Then BEWARE! For you are an ox being led to the slaughter and at the end of your life you will say "How I hated correction, how a spurned discipline!" The gates of Sheol are opened ever wider to allow in all the oxen being led to the slaughter.

     So what hope is there? This temptation overwhelms me! Then pray to him who was tempted in suffering in every way but without sin, and he will deliver you! But work for the sake of the glory of Christ! Heed the warning of the Proverbs and the rest of Scripture! Do not turn down her street! Do not desire her beauty! Do not go around in the night! Pray to God to deliver you from evil! Read the Scriptures, pray the Scriptures, go to church, fight the fight of Faith and be a man!