Evidence of Purity
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 22:13-21 (NASB)
13 “If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then turns against her, 14 and charges her with shameful deeds and publicly defames her, and says, ‘I took this woman, but when I came near her, I did not find her a virgin,’ 15 then the girl’s father and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of the girl’s virginity to the elders of the city at the gate. 16 The girl’s father shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man for a wife, but he turned against her; 17 and behold, he has charged her with shameful deeds, saying, “I did not find your daughter a virgin.” But this is the evidence of my daughter’s virginity.’ And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city. 18 So the elders of that city shall take the man and chastise him, 19 and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give it to the girl’s father, because he publicly defamed a virgin of Israel. And she shall remain his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days.
20 “But if this charge is true, that the girl was not found a virgin, 21 then they shall bring out the girl to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed an act of folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father’s house; thus you shall purge the evil from among you.
SUMMARY
Moses teaches the Israelites what a marriage between a husband and a wife should be built upon - trust and faithfulness. Marriage is a holy gift from God that people should hold sacred. Husbands and wives are required to love each other, and build a relationship of trust. A false accusation from a husband will require a fine and be followed by a strict order. Moses also points out the importance of purity of a bride before marriage. The evidence of the girl's virginity is taken as an important factor when the issue comes up as a matter in the court. Failure to keep pure before marriage will result in stoning a bride to death.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
The bride has a very special meaning in the New Testament. Jesus describes himself as a bridegroom in all the gospels, and tells us to be like brides eagerly waiting from the bridegroom. When the bridegroom is united with his bride, they should rejoice and enjoy every moment. How joyful it would be if we, the brides, would patiently wait for our perfect bridegroom and keep ourselves pure for our big wedding day.
APPLICATION
Although the passage from Deuteronomy is about brides keeping their virginity for the bridegroom, I was drawn to the symbolic message of this passage related to our Savior, Jesus Christ. How can I keep, and later show, the evidence of my pure heart for Jesus Christ? When Jesus returns back to us in the near future and asks me for an evidence of my faith, would I be so willing to show my purity of faith? Would I have enough oil for the lamp to greet my groom? Would I be awake for Him? I have a long way to go to reach that as of now, but I am walking day by day in faith, so I may be ready and prepared.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for loving me as a bride who is quietly and patiently waiting for my bridegroom. I pray that you would make my heart pure so that I could rejoice fully when I see you. Lord, guide me on the right path. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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