Proverbs 6:30-31. 30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, 31but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. 32He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. 33He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
Solomon continues to warn his son about the consequences of adultery. This time by contrasting it with theft. Both theft and adultery are forbidden by the Ten Commandments. But the starving thief is understood and not despised. However, the adulterer makes no sense. There’s no excuse for it. The thief can be forgiven, but not so easily the adulterer. He or she is only despised and disgraced. No one needs to commit adultery to stay alive. It is nothing more than a sin of complete self-indulgence and pride. And as Paul told Timothy, the self-indulgent are dead even while they live (1 Tim. 5:6). They destroy themselves.
Hopefully you are not actively in an adulterous relationship today. If you are, you must repent and confess your sin to God and those you are dishonoring. Make things right. Seek help. God does not condone adultery, but he will forgive adultery.
The truth is we commit spiritual adultery against God regularly. In fact, adultery is the primary metaphor God uses in scripture to describe our idolatrous hearts. Think about the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Old Testament. Gomer is an adulterous wife. Hosea is the faithful husband who forgives, redeems, and restores Gomer.
Israel was Gomer. We are Gomer.
We have all left our first love at times and chased after other lovers. We have all pursued satisfaction from people and things that are less than God. Why? Because we lack sense.
But the good news of our union with Christ is that our spiritual adultery will never destroy us because those who are truly in Christ will not forsake their lover for long. Like Hosea did with Gomer, God has built a wall around our hearts to keep us from wandering.
Hosea 2:6-7. 6Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. 7She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them.
Christ in us is that hedge. The indwelling Spirit is that wall. A wall of steadfast love and faithfulness. A wall of love that protects our heart from itself.
You: What lovers have your pursued this week?
You in Christ: How does knowing the love of Christ serve as a wall around your heart that keeps you pursuing Christ?
Christ in you: Is there any sexual sin or spiritual adultery that Christ is calling you to forsake today?
Pray: Father, thank you for hedging in my heart with your steadfast love and faithfulness. Spirit, keep my heart and mind from wandering from Christ. Amen.
To Live is Christ 