Saturday, January 12, 2019

Proverbs 6:24 says, To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.  This still comes under the reasons to keep God's commandments, and when we do they will keep us from evil women who would entice us with flattery, and I believe would also apply to evil men who would tempt women.  Satan will never come to us to tempt us with things that will not appeal to us, but will always appear in a way that is tempting.  Verse twenty-five states, Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.  We are warned against lusting after a strange woman, or even looking at her with lust.  We need to view women as God's children, even if they don't act like it.  We are never to view them simply as objects of lust, as we hear so much about men doing today.  Of course, the same could be said of the way some women view men.  Verse twenty-six declares, For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.  Giving in to temptation, whether it be sexual or otherwise, will always lead to destruction.  This is why we should be guided by God's commandments and laws.  Verse twenty-seven asks, Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?  This is just another way of saying if we play with the fire of temptation, then we are going to get burned.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?  There may be people who walk on hot coals without being burned, but this is not normally the situation.  The best way to avoid being burned is to not step on the coals, just as the best way to keep from giving in to temptation is to avoid it to start with.  If God's word is written in our hearts, we will not be tempted by the things of this world, no matter how appealing they may be.  Verse twenty-nine warns, So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.  This is a warning against adultery.  If we follow God's commandments, we will certainly not give in to this temptation, or any other for that matter.  Verse thirty states, Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;  Though it does not justify stealing, if a person is stealing simply because they are hungry, it is easier to be forgiving.  Verse thirty-one says, But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.  There was also a penalty for stealing if a person was caught, and it was fairly severe.  The person was to repay sevenfold and give all the substance of their house.  The reason for the theft did not remove the penalty.  Verse thirty-two says, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.  There can be no justification for adultery.  It does not sustain a person, but destroys their very soul.  This does not mean that adultery cannot be forgiven, but that it is more than just a physical act, as some would claim.  Verse thirty-three states, A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.  Adultery brings dishonor and reproach.  Verse thirty-four declares, For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.  I believe that this is a warning that adultery will never be viewed with any sympathy, which might have been felt for a hungry thief.  Verse thirty-five adds,  He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.  There can be no restitution made for adultery.  It affects both the body and the soul, and more than just the two people involved.

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