This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law.

Numbers 5:11-31

This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. Numbers 5:29-30

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:11-31, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for how adultery is to be treated.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God designed and created both man and woman and designed marriage as a lifelong commitment to both God and to each other.  Among the ten commandments, the seventh states "[y]ou shall not commit adultery."  The text here today provides instructions for how to treat a wife's adultery - Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22 describe the harsh penalty (death) that also applies to husbands.  The New Testament redefines - appropriately so - adultery to be a matter of the heart (see Matthew 5:27-28).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Sexual sin is the broad category that includes adultery - like anything else this brief post from DesiringGod.com points out how all such sin is the result of our (believers and non-believers alike) lack of satisfaction in God, so we seek satisfaction in earthly, flesh satisfying sin. God is always the answer to how we treat sin, repent and turn to Him.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid growing comfortable with the world and gaining too much satisfaction from it.  Claim the promise that God is all we need.  Follow the example of many who lost everything - Joseph, Paul, etc. - yet with God were content in all things. Love God above all else.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You designed marriage and I am blessed in my marriage - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my marriage nor any blessing You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

Numbers 25,31

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them. Numbers 25:1-3

Day 42 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's wrath against both the men of Israel who lusted after the women of Midian and yoked themselves to their god, as well against Midian itself, which was completely destroyed save young virgin girls and plunder of livestock and valuables. 

Lust and sexual immorality are enticing sins for many and per my link (which is not exhaustive) the Bible addresses it quite often.  John Piper offers advice to man struggle here.

Jesus refers to adultery or sexual sin as a matter of the heart - even your illicit thoughts are sinful (Matthew 5:27-30).

John Piper's post is spot on here as I have felt the power of the Spirit to gain victory over sexual sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has helped me gain power of sexual sin and many other sins - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and protection.  I sin...daily.  Please help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7

Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. v26-27

This subject - lust - and being led astray by sexual temptation - is an important one and worthy of repetition.  While many, even those in the church, seem to dislike the "Billy Graham rule", I like this balanced view from Focus on the Family.

Pornography and the Internet is something nearly all men (myself included) from time to time struggle with - yet I am thankful how my desire for the Lord has helped me gain more power over this temptation.  Lisa's cancer was very eye opening in how selfish I can be and it led me to believe that the sexual drive all men have is at its most base level a very selfish urge, and it needs to be subordinated to a desire for God first and foremost and also channeled into marriage.  I am not perfect (far from it) but again God has help me in this regard.

 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has helped me grow as a person and a child of God.  While I know I have a long way to go, I know You have transformed my heart and my life and given me greater desire for You and to please You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love...I am harsh with my words and actions and I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.

Proverbs 5

For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. v21

This Proverb focuses on the 7th commandment, "[y]ou shall not commit adultery",  and it provides several warnings, including: ruin comes to the adulterer and how nothing is hidden from God.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17

 

This Proverb also provides an encouragement to maintain passion for your wife:

 

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? v15-20 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God, who loves me, is always with me, protects me, guides me, etc. and so much more - that You love me is amazing.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love as I worry and I fall down - broken.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.