You shall not commit adultery. 

Exodus 20:14

 

God instituted the covenant of marriage in the beginning. He designed one woman for one man for one lifetime. They were meant to become one flesh. God is very serious about this seventh command even if our society today is not.

We live in a day where adultery is almost expected in every marriage. We are not shocked when we hear of it, we are not even shocked when we are approached by another married person with an invitation to commit it.

There is a reason that adultery and idolatry sound so similar. They are the same act but one is against our covenant with God, the other against our covenant with our spouse. (Well actually both are against our covenant with God.)

In James 4:4 we read, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

God refers to our relationship with Him as a marriage. He uses marriage to teach us of Himself. He uses marriage to illustrate His covenant with us (Ephesians 5:22-32).

He tells us that we are to have eyes only for Him.

In our marriages we are to have eyes only for our spouse.

God tells us that we are not even to look at the ways of false gods and idol worship and desire them (Deuteronomy 4:15-20) and Jesus tells us the same about our relationship with each other.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;

but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her

has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28

God knows that as we think within ourselves so we will be (Proverbs 23:7). Our thoughts unchecked become our actions.

Adultery is the breech of a covenant. It is a wound like no other. What we must realize is that adultery can begin before the actual marriage takes place. I am to have eyes only for my spouse even before I meet them face to face, even before the marriage is consummated. I am betrothed to them at birth even though I know them not, and this is how I should live and think.

I am not to defile another’s marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4) in the search of making my own.

The bond of marriage is sacred may we treat it as such. Let us respect and honor our spouses and in doing so we will also honor the spouses or future spouses of others. May our marriages be an example of Christ and may we display the image of our God as we live out our covenant with each other. 

The phrase, to give in marriage, comes from the word “halal” and it means to be clear, to shine, to make a show, to boast, to celebrate, glory, give light. The duty of marriage is “ownah” and it means “to dwell together” 

Our marriages to each other are to be a clear picture of the image of God. They are to shine and to show His image and they are to celebrate Him. They should display the glory of God and they should give His light to those who are lost in the kingdom of darkness. 

In our marriages we are to dwell together as one flesh. 

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, 

and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 

Our marriages should also be full of grace of and truth.

Just as idolatry and adultery sound similar… so do marriage and image. 

 

Oh Father,

Thank You for blessing us with the covenant of marriage. May we never forget that our marriages have a purpose bigger than mutual satisfaction and self-gratification. Our marriages are designed to display Your image to a broken, fallen, and blind world. As we hold true to one another in this covenant relationship, maintaining eyes and hearts for each other alone may we also illustrate the way mankind is to only have eyes and hearts for You, their Maker, and their Husband (Isaiah 54:5).

My Jesus, it is in Your name I pray,

Amen