The Seventh Commandment – Part 2

Good day to each of you reading this column for this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Before we get into the lesson, let me share a couple of true stories with you:

We had to have our garage door repaired. The repairman told us that one of our problems was that we didn’t have a ‘large’ enough motor on the opener. I thought for a moment and said we have the largest model that you make. It’s the ½ horsepower model. He shook his head at me and said, “There’s your problem, you need a ¼ horsepower. Excuse me, I said, a ½ horsepower was larger than a ¼ horsepower. He said back, ‘No sir, it’s not, everyone knows four is larger is two’. We changed repairman promptly.

This story came out of the Midwest—The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it’s safe to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, ‘What on earth are blind people doing driving?’

Let’s move on—People say the darnedest things, but that’s what make the world go around and around. Is marriage a contract? Yes, and here’s why—Marriage is a triangular contract that intertwines the husband, wife and God when the vows of marriage are spoken. This commandment provides for the union of the husband and the wife to provide the sanctity of the home. Divorce creates the breakup of the home and the upheaval of life for both families.

Turn, with me, to Leviticus 20:10-21—When you read the laws of Domestic Morality, just remember that God does not take adultery lightly for this is penalty according to God’s law. In verse 10 (FF) “The man who commits adultery with a wife; the man who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor. Shall be killed; –both the adulterer and the adulteress.

Are the above punishments extreme and harsh? Here is the commentary from the NIV on the above verses: God has no tolerance for such acts for the following reasons: (1) they shatter the mutual commitment of married partners; (2) they destroy the sanctity of the family; (3) they twist people’s mental well-being; (4) they spread disease; (5) they break the triangular commitment or vows between God and them—I added Number 5!

Sexual sin has always been widely available, but the glorification of sex between people who are not married to each other often hides deep tragedy and hurt behind the scenes. When society portrays sexual sins as attractive, it is easy to forget the dark side. God has good reasons for prohibiting sexual sins: He loves us and wants the very best for us.

God’s laws are not outdated—Man does not wish to abide by God’s laws because man is self-centered and goes by “what feels good at the moment” to quench his mental appetite, even for just that moment without thinking of the consequences when that moment passes. God’s laws concerning sexual relations go beyond the adulterer and adulteress—death is pronounced for the crime of sodomy and for carnal relationship with beasts.

Upon reading the Digest of Divine Law, by Howard Rand, he adds that betrothed damsels are treated, under the law, as though they were married; with the death penalty for the man who molests them. A problem, the mishandling of which has caused untold suffering, involves young people who have been compelled to marry. Under the law, it was mandatory that they marry, and it’s stipulated as an atonement that the young man pay a sum of money to the girl’s father. In addition, the law declares that the young man may not divorce her for any cause all the days of his life. This act has made binding upon himself the need of keeping, supporting and cherishing her to the end of his life.

Are there any grounds under the law that Jesus stated was justification for divorce? Yes, turn to Matthew 5:32 (NIV) But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress; and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Let’s break this down, divorce shouldn’t automatically occur when the spouse commits adultery. Why? “unfaithfulness” implies a sexually immoral life style, not one who has confessed and repented act of adultery. If you have discovered that your partner has been unfaithful, make every effort to forgive, reconcile and restore the marriage. Look to restore the marriage relationship rather than make excuses to leave it.

As we wrap up the seventh commandment, take into Solomon’s words: Proverbs 6:32— “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.”

Is your soul being destroyed? Confess and repent for forgiveness so you can reconcile and restore your marriage—It is that simple, if you will get on your knees and begin the process which begins and ends with God.

May God bless you each day and May you bless God each moment that you live.

We move to the eighth commandment next time—four simple words with such an impact.

Jeff