Preacher’s Pulpit by Dr. Joe Tims
Ten Commandments #7: The Hurt of Adultery
Exodus 20:14
INTRODUCTION
The state of matrimony is one of a scared relationship.
It is a divine institution and is to take precedence over every other human relationship.
There are five principles that characterize the marriage relationship from a Biblical standpoint: monogamy, permanency, fidelity, mutuality and love.
It can be said that in the Seventh Commandment the Divine Lawgiver is: guarding the chastity of marriage, the sanctity of the home, the blessedness of the household, the preservation of society and the up-building of mankind.”
It is a proven fact that over 50% of all human misery can be traced to ADULTERY.
We shall learn how to avoid the trap of adultery from this commandment.
I. THE CONSEQUENCES OF ADULTERY
(Prov 5:3) “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:”
A. As with any trap there is bait.
B. The lure of adultery is appealing and tantalizing.
C. From verse three we see that the temptation to be unfaithful is present by our enemy the devil as that which is attractive.
D. But to see the whole picture we must look at: (Prov 5:4)”But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.”
E. The end of an AFFAIR always brings bitterness.
F. The trap of unfaithfulness begins with “oil and honey” and “ends” with “BITTERNESS” and “WORMWOOD” which is poison.
G. For a Bible Story of this read about David and Bathsheba.
H. David’s sin of a moment of pleasure brought him years of grief and pain.
I. The only way to enjoy a relationship that will bring joy and peace of mind is with ones own mate and no one else.
(Prov 5:18-19) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. {19} Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
J. One can not enjoy this kind of relationship if one ignores the principles that prohibited Adultery!
II. THE TRAP OF ADULTERY
(Prov 5:8) “Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:”
A. This verse teaches the importance of staying AWAY from all that is temptation
B. WE must not toy and flirt with adultery
C. All sin begins with a temptation.
D. To avoid sin, we must stay away from all temptation. (2 Tim 2:22) “Flee youthful lusts…”
E. In other words. don’t play with fire unless you expect to get burned.
F. Adultery begins in the heart and therefore you must always keep your heart right with God.
H. Learn to be faithful in your heart and you will be faithful in your life.
I. To see a Bible example of fleeing all the temptation of adultery notice in: (Gen 39:7-9) “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. {8} But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; {9} There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
III. REMEMBER THE COMMITMENT YOU MADE TO YOUR MATE
(Prov 5:15) “Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.”
A. What does this mean. “drink waters out of thine own cistern?”
B. Every Jewish home had its own cistern to hold fresh water.
C. Water brought refreshment and satisfied thirst.
D. So should mates brings refreshment and satisfying of each others thirst.
E. It was accounted a great crime to steal someone else’s water and so it is to steal someone else’s mate.
F. Commitment has to be worked at.
G. Just as water in a cistern has to be kept fresh, so must your effort to keep your marriage relationship fresh and pure.
IV. YOU MUST FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLE OF SATISFACTION
(Prov 5:19) “Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.”
A. You are to be happy with your mate.
B. God commands it to be so!
C. The real thief that steals romance from married life is DISCONTENTMENT.
D. You are an easy prey for the devil when you grow discontented with your mate.
E. Here is the danger of the soap operas, romance novels and pornography.
F. They are traps used by the devil to create dissatisfaction with one’s mate and to stir up a desire for someone else who you think is more exciting.
G. When in reality he or she may be a living devil!
H. Learn to guard your eyes, ears and heart from becoming dissatisfied with your mate.
I. It will bring you nothing but pure MISERY!
(Prov 5:21) “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.”
CONCLUSION
We may hide from our mate, our parents, our friends and our neighbors, but not from God. God sees! Are you willing to be ashamed for a few minutes of pleasures? Or do you want to bring eternal pleasure to the Lord? Keeping marriage fresh and exiting takes a certain amount of energy and special care, but happiness and satisfaction that follows is worth every hour invested. Plus with it brings no shame nor sorrow.