Strictly Preserving Our Physical Purity
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 22:22-30 (NASB)
22 “If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.
23 “If there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death; the girl, because she did not cry out in the city, and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.
25 “But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die. 26 But you shall do nothing to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case. 27 When he found her in the field, the engaged girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.
28 “If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, 29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days.
30 “A man shall not take his father’s wife so that he will not uncover his father’s skirt.
SUMMARY
This passage shows the importance that God places in holiness for conjugal relationships. The passage describes four different scenarios regarding the man and the woman, to assess the offenses and how they are to be “punished” by their actions.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Reading these verses I wondered why the punishment of sexual sin was so harsh, and why this type of sin was punishable in this manner to the point of death. I wondered, “isn’t all sin the same to God, though the consequences are different from a worldly perspective (ex: stealing candy vs. murdering someone)?
As I continued reading the verses again and again to see why God made it this way, and what God is trying to show me through this passage, it came to my heart that God knows that sexual sins are sins against our bodies that so strongly affect us. God already knows the extent to which they drive us so far away from Him. Hence why this law was necessary, to instill fear, impose order, and show how careful we ought to be with this subject matter. God made such a strong law to show the imperativeness and the importance of keeping ourselves and each other physically pure. As the commandment applies to both man and woman in their actions on the matter, this showed me how all decisions are individual and we ought to stand our ground, faithful to the Lord. So even when some decisions are “grey” depending on the situation or perspective, some commandments are “black and white”, with no confusion or misinterpretation whatsoever of how God commands us to live.
APPLICATION
This passage spoke to me reminding me to live pure and holy, in the ways of my body and the ways of my heart. Little things like sleeping in, indulging in sweets, resting in entertainment, I should be very careful to delineate the limit of what is healthy, what is acceptable, what is excessive. I should be mindful when to use self control, be more disciplined, and be more cautious really honoring the Lord in everything I do. The passage also reminded me to be strict in the matters of my heart, things I let go, where I focus my time, where I focus my heart, so that everything I do truly is a reflection of my spiritual walk with God. I was reminded of how I compartmentalize Christ and forget about God in many instances of my day-to-day. So God is there, but He is not with me in everything I do, as I am not really including Him at all times.
PRAYER
God help me remember who you are, and remember what you have called me to do. You have called me to be holy and pure, and when I choose to be holy and pure, separated from all the worldly things that surround me, is when I can see you. Help me enjoy your creation and not idolize your creation, so that my focus may be on you, rather than on everything you have blessed me with. Help me not forget that everything comes from you, everything is from you, so I can see you in everything I do. Help me make the right decisions in every little thing I do, so that my life will be full, filled with the Holy Spirit, in your honor and your glory. Let my life not be self-seeking, but God-centered, just the way you intended it to be.
Help me live life in a godly manner, so that I am on the right path of your ways, which are better and right. Help me not to forget, or to fall astray to go back to my ways.
Thank you for being such a patient and gracious God, who is so faithful always, even when I am not, even when I forget or fall short. Thank you for always loving me, accepting me, embracing me, and waiting for me to turn around in your humbling ways. Fill me with your love, so I can abound in your ways, and I can be the light unto the world that you have called me to be.
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