Do you hear God's voice?
Sojourning through the Psalms in recent months--especially from Psalm 90 and forward--I've discovered some wonderful treasures. Most of these I've tucked away in a leather-covered notebook received years ago from East-West Ministries.
The Scriptures often stun me, because they openly speak of experiences considered normal, things today we don't normally experience. Isn't that odd?
Why are we not experiencing what Scriptures describe as something to be expected?
GOD'S VOICE: then, and now
Hearing God's voice is one of those things. Psalm 95, for example, after calling for songs for the Lord's ears coming from a posture of humble worship, exhorts, "Today, if you hear God's voice, do not harden your hearts [as your forefathers did]."
This song, prompted by the Spirit through the pen of an unnamed Israelite, was written hundreds of years after the incident it cites: the choice of heart-hardening by the congregation in the wilderness of Sin just after the exodus from Egypt. Rescued from brutal slavery, God's people began complaining at God, charging Him with a lack of understanding about their situation and a lack of care (i.e., not enough water). In fact, this happened twice, in Exodus 17 and again in Numbers 20.
Centuries later, the Psalmist urges his contemporaries to understand that (1) God continues to speak in a way that can be heard, and (2) as they hear God's voice, that a heart-hardening like that which was chosen by forefathers should not be chosen now.
This begs two questions today. First, do we hear God's voice? And second, when we do, how do we order the posture of our hearts?
Unless I'm getting this wrong, the first experience should be normal, and our response should be purposeful.
GOD'S LONGING: then, and now
Over and over again, Scripture reveals a God who loves to speak and longs to be trusted. One who will prove faithful when people hear and believe.
Centuries back (i.e., around B.C. 1450), most of God's people -- the people of His pasture -- heard the Voice but hardened the heart. Psalm 95 remembers God's assessment: they are a people that go astray in their hearts and thus, they have not known My ways (cf. Psalm 95:10). Strikingly, God admits that "I loathed that generation" (of His people).
Whew! God disgusted with an entire generation of His redeemed people, and as a consequence, He pledged out of His righteous wrath, "They shall not enter my rest" (i.e., the promised land of Canaan).
Are we too casual with God's voice today? Are we listening for it? Or are our hearts too astray to be attuned to a Divine communication, too disinterested in God's ways to be bothered?
The consequence, back then and perhaps today, is to not experience the promised rest of God which follows hearing, following, and obeying.
A PLEA
God is a communicator. He speaks, and we have ears that can listen. Remember the spiritually off-line hearts of the ancient Israelites. Refuse to recapitulate their experience.
Today, if you hear His voice, sing to the Lord, bow down before your Maker and the Rock of your Salvation. Head where He points you. Enter His rest.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Thursday, July 13, 2017
A Good Question - What exactly is ADULTERY?
Recently, in response to some O.T. Law teaching I did on a Sunday, this question came: What exactly is adultery? [And] What is the line that should not be crossed before marriage?
This arose as I noted that God's righteousness, expressed in the Hebrew "Torah" (or Law) proscribed capital punishment for a number of offences, including adultery. So, what are God's answers to these good questions?
ADULTERY - VIOLATING AN EXCLUSIVE COVENANT
Our English word "adultery" comes from a French word, avoutre, arise from the Latin verb adulterare, which means "to corrupt." The verb "adulterate" means "to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements."
The Hebrew concept of "adultery" is very similar. It means to debase and violate the intimacy and commitment of an exclusive relationship by either "unfaithfulness" to it or "intruding into it." This violation of an exclusive relationship, defined by the promises of a covenant, was identified as heinous, sinful, a violation both of the holiness of God's character and of the holiness of the relationship. God hates when something exclusive, pure, promised and life-giving is violated by introducing what is impure, inferior, and debasing. Like all sin, adultery destroys the life of what is good and holy.
This is why "adultery" is the term used by the Spirit in Scripture to describe idolatry, the worship of other gods other than the One True God. God made people (in His image) for a love and worship relationship. Thus we are not to love nor worship what is made, but rather only the Uncreated One who made all things. GotQuestions.org explains
The Old Testament often referred to Israel’s idolatry as a wanton woman who went “whoring after” other gods (Exodus 34:15–16; Leviticus 17:7; Ezekiel 6:9, KJV). Further, the entire book of Hosea likens the relationship between God and Israel to the marriage of the prophet Hosea and his adulterous wife, Gomer. Their marriage was a picture of the sin and unfaithfulness of Israel which, time after time, left her true husband (God) to commit spiritual adultery with other gods.
"Adultery" also describes actions which violate an exclusive, love-covenant relationship between a male/husband and a female/wife. When someone pledged to exclusively love, in the marriage covenant, his/her partner, to pursue the love-benefits of that covenant-relationship OUTSIDE of that relationship is to commit adultery, and this can be done emotionally (one's affections) and physically (one's sexuality).
God created the one man-one woman for-life marriage covenant relationship for the purpose of creating life and nurturing an exclusive one-ness (i.e., "one flesh" relationship). To violate this is to destroy it and to dishonor God.
This arose as I noted that God's righteousness, expressed in the Hebrew "Torah" (or Law) proscribed capital punishment for a number of offences, including adultery. So, what are God's answers to these good questions?
ADULTERY - VIOLATING AN EXCLUSIVE COVENANT
Our English word "adultery" comes from a French word, avoutre, arise from the Latin verb adulterare, which means "to corrupt." The verb "adulterate" means "to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements."
The Hebrew concept of "adultery" is very similar. It means to debase and violate the intimacy and commitment of an exclusive relationship by either "unfaithfulness" to it or "intruding into it." This violation of an exclusive relationship, defined by the promises of a covenant, was identified as heinous, sinful, a violation both of the holiness of God's character and of the holiness of the relationship. God hates when something exclusive, pure, promised and life-giving is violated by introducing what is impure, inferior, and debasing. Like all sin, adultery destroys the life of what is good and holy.
This is why "adultery" is the term used by the Spirit in Scripture to describe idolatry, the worship of other gods other than the One True God. God made people (in His image) for a love and worship relationship. Thus we are not to love nor worship what is made, but rather only the Uncreated One who made all things. GotQuestions.org explains
The Old Testament often referred to Israel’s idolatry as a wanton woman who went “whoring after” other gods (Exodus 34:15–16; Leviticus 17:7; Ezekiel 6:9, KJV). Further, the entire book of Hosea likens the relationship between God and Israel to the marriage of the prophet Hosea and his adulterous wife, Gomer. Their marriage was a picture of the sin and unfaithfulness of Israel which, time after time, left her true husband (God) to commit spiritual adultery with other gods.
"Adultery" also describes actions which violate an exclusive, love-covenant relationship between a male/husband and a female/wife. When someone pledged to exclusively love, in the marriage covenant, his/her partner, to pursue the love-benefits of that covenant-relationship OUTSIDE of that relationship is to commit adultery, and this can be done emotionally (one's affections) and physically (one's sexuality).
God created the one man-one woman for-life marriage covenant relationship for the purpose of creating life and nurturing an exclusive one-ness (i.e., "one flesh" relationship). To violate this is to destroy it and to dishonor God.
Jesus taught that to lust after another woman in one's heart (apart from the physical act) was to commit adultery.
Indeed, God's holiness and word requires that all sexual experience and pleasure be a celebration within the marriage covenant, and of the exclusive marriage relationship.
FORNICATION - SEXUAL PRACTICE and PLEASURE OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
The Biblical word "fornication" is actually a distinct term from the word "adultery." Fornication is seeking and having the experience of sexual pleasure before and/or outside of the marriage relationship. It comes from the Greek word porneia, from which we get the English "pornography."
While it may appear remarkably "out of step" with today's widespread sexual practice, the experience of sexual union and pleasure was designed by God for three distinct reasons. First, to celebrate the exclusive marriage covenant. Second, to create a one-flesh bond between a husband and wife. And third, to provide a means for a couple to "be fruitful and multiply," having children who reflect God's image and walk with Him in the world. Sexual experience, by God's definition, should not happen outside the marriage covenant relationship. When it does, God considers it to be sexual sinning.
Soberingly, and without apology, God maintains through Scriptural revelation this moral standard. Passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Ephesians 5:3-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and Hebrews 13:4 are crystal clear - God will judge the "fornicatious" and "adulterous."
FINALLY - THE QUESTION: Is there a line before marriage?
Perhaps the clearest passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Before marriage or between marriages, one believer should not "defraud" another believer in how one uses his/her body sexually. Sexuality is to be controlled in holiness and with the help of the Spirit of God. "Each one of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God." We are not merely to get our cues from unredeemed culture practices, as "normal" as they are argued to be.
This means that before the marriage covenant is made (i.e., before marriage), we must not stimulate one another sexually nor engage in sexual pleasure UNTIL the exclusive marriage covenant is made (i.e., marriage vows). Genesis 2 sets the steps. God made the woman for the man, brought her to the man. The man recognizes God has made the woman for him, and pledges himself to her. Then, and only then, do they become "one-flesh."
Here is where the godly leadership of the male is key. No young man should ever ask the woman he is seeking to marry to dishonor God through pre-marriage sexuality with him. He should set the pace. He should give leadership, saying to her, "Let's do this God's way. And I promise, in my pre-marriage relationship with you, not to lead you into fornication, nor will I ever, once we are married, adulterate my exclusive love relationship with you."
Out of step with today's sexual practices? Without question. Holy, and honoring to God, and life-giving to a life-long marriage? Again, without question.
In our day and age, only the enabling power of the Holy Spirit can bring about our holy obedience in sexual practice.
Indeed, God's holiness and word requires that all sexual experience and pleasure be a celebration within the marriage covenant, and of the exclusive marriage relationship.
FORNICATION - SEXUAL PRACTICE and PLEASURE OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
The Biblical word "fornication" is actually a distinct term from the word "adultery." Fornication is seeking and having the experience of sexual pleasure before and/or outside of the marriage relationship. It comes from the Greek word porneia, from which we get the English "pornography."
While it may appear remarkably "out of step" with today's widespread sexual practice, the experience of sexual union and pleasure was designed by God for three distinct reasons. First, to celebrate the exclusive marriage covenant. Second, to create a one-flesh bond between a husband and wife. And third, to provide a means for a couple to "be fruitful and multiply," having children who reflect God's image and walk with Him in the world. Sexual experience, by God's definition, should not happen outside the marriage covenant relationship. When it does, God considers it to be sexual sinning.
Soberingly, and without apology, God maintains through Scriptural revelation this moral standard. Passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Ephesians 5:3-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and Hebrews 13:4 are crystal clear - God will judge the "fornicatious" and "adulterous."
FINALLY - THE QUESTION: Is there a line before marriage?
Perhaps the clearest passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Before marriage or between marriages, one believer should not "defraud" another believer in how one uses his/her body sexually. Sexuality is to be controlled in holiness and with the help of the Spirit of God. "Each one of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God." We are not merely to get our cues from unredeemed culture practices, as "normal" as they are argued to be.
This means that before the marriage covenant is made (i.e., before marriage), we must not stimulate one another sexually nor engage in sexual pleasure UNTIL the exclusive marriage covenant is made (i.e., marriage vows). Genesis 2 sets the steps. God made the woman for the man, brought her to the man. The man recognizes God has made the woman for him, and pledges himself to her. Then, and only then, do they become "one-flesh."
Here is where the godly leadership of the male is key. No young man should ever ask the woman he is seeking to marry to dishonor God through pre-marriage sexuality with him. He should set the pace. He should give leadership, saying to her, "Let's do this God's way. And I promise, in my pre-marriage relationship with you, not to lead you into fornication, nor will I ever, once we are married, adulterate my exclusive love relationship with you."
Out of step with today's sexual practices? Without question. Holy, and honoring to God, and life-giving to a life-long marriage? Again, without question.
In our day and age, only the enabling power of the Holy Spirit can bring about our holy obedience in sexual practice.
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