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[0:00] Let's take our Bibles and turn to Proverbs 6, and I'll begin reading at verse 20 and read on through chapter 7.

[0:17] ! My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever. Fasten them around your neck.

[0:28] When you walk, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. When you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp. This teaching is a light.

[0:40] And the corrections of discipline are the way to life, keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife. Do not lust in your heart after her beauty.

[0:53] Or let her captivate you with her eyes. For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread. And the adulteress preys upon your very life.

[1:04] Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife.

[1:18] No one who touches her will go unpunished. Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it cost him all the wealth of his house.

[1:33] But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment. Whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot.

[1:44] And his shame will never be wiped away. For jealousy arouses a husband's fury. And he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation.

[1:56] He will refuse the bribe, however great it is. My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live.

[2:08] Guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, you're my sister. And call understanding your kinsmen.

[2:21] They will keep you from the adulteress. From the wayward wife with her seductive words. At the window of my house, I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple.

[2:34] I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. He was going down the street near her corner. Walking along in the direction of her house.

[2:44] At twilight as the day was fading. As the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him. Dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

[2:56] She's loud and defiant. Her feet never stay at home. Now in the street. Now in the squares. At every corner she lurks. She took hold of him and kissed him.

[3:08] With a brazen face she said. I have fellowship offerings at home. Today I fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you. Look. I looked for you and have found you.

[3:20] I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come. Let's drink deep of love till morning.

[3:31] Let's enjoy ourselves with love. My husband is not at home. He has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money. And will not be home till full moon.

[3:44] With persuasive words she led him astray. She seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her. Like an ox going to the slaughter.

[3:55] Like a deer stepping into a noose. Till an arrow pierces his liver. Like a bird darting into a snare. Little knowing it will cost him his life.

[4:07] Now then my sons. Listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. Do not let her heart turn. Do not let your heart turn to her ways.

[4:19] Or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down. Her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave.

[4:30] Leading down to the chambers of death. One of the best ways to teach is through practical real life examples.

[4:42] We were sitting around the kitchen table this week. This past week. With a financial lesson. We weren't using a textbook.

[4:52] Or a podcast. But we were saying. You know so and so. And they knew who so and so was. Just listen.

[5:04] To what they did. Just listen to. What they did. And my kids. Were all ears. And so every time they see this person. That lesson is going to reverberate.

[5:16] In their minds. In their hearts. A true to life example. Is where we begin. Tonight. The NIV heads. Proverbs chapter 7. And with warning against the adulteress.

[5:30] Here's the title I like. Even more. More memorable. Watch this fool destroy himself. Watch this fool destroy himself.

[5:41] Chapter 6 verse 32 says that. Whoever commits adultery. Lacks judgment. Whoever does so. Destroys himself. We are going to get to watch. Someone destroy their very life.

[5:54] Destroy themselves. We are going to come back to chapter 6. But first everyone. I want you to watch this.

[6:06] Watch what's going to happen. Watch how these events. Unfold. And just watch this fool. Destroy himself.

[6:17] It begins with chapter 7. Verse 6. Dad is looking out. The window. In the evening. It might be helpful to know that. Homes generally were.

[6:30] Two story. At least. People of well to do. And that's what dad is. Two story home. Dad is on the second store. Story. Looking out the window. Looking through the lattice.

[6:40] Looking down on the street. At all the people. Mingling. And walking around. And there is this group of young men. Hanging out together.

[6:52] A group of sons. That's the literal word. So if this father is talking to his son. He would be saying. Just like you. Just like you.

[7:03] These guys were. Just like you. And. Then. Then I noticed one of them. Who lacked judgment. Who lacked judgment.

[7:14] Literally. It means he lacked heart. That's not talking about courage. It says. If you were to go inside of this. Of this young man. Look what's stored up there.

[7:26] And there's nothing. He's. He's empty. In his heart. He has no conviction. He has no determination. He has no wisdom. He doesn't have. The fear of the Lord.

[7:37] In his heart. Remember. He's not trusting. In the Lord. With all of his heart. Chapter four. Talks about. Keeping. Or treasuring. Or storing up.

[7:48] Wisdom. In your heart. This young man. You. You. You do an x-ray. And he has nothing. There. It's just what. His desires. What he wants.

[8:00] It's empty. He's not guarding his heart. Nothing's there. There. He's not a total fool. Yet. But he is. One of the simple. We've talked about them. The gullible.

[8:10] They're not all the way. Down the road. Into folly. Yet. They're just. Uncommitted. They're not intent. On evil. They're just. Not. You know.

[8:20] Really committed. To what is good. To wisdom. So that's this young man. He doesn't. Go looking. For the adulterous woman. But. When he meets her.

[8:33] He's not ready at all. For that occasion. He's not ready at all. For that test. He's completely overmatched. He's completely unready. He has nothing to stand on. So you get the picture.

[8:44] There he is. He's going down the street. At twilight. It's getting dark. He's in the wrong place.

[8:55] At the wrong. Time. Wrong place. Wrong time. Now whether it was on purpose. Looking for something. That he shouldn't be looking for. Whether it was on purpose.

[9:06] Or just unthinking. It was accidental. He didn't mean to be there. Whether on purpose. Or not even thinking. It doesn't matter. He is a fool. Because he is there. Then.

[9:17] And he wasn't prepared. For that moment. He didn't see the danger. You know. Sometimes when we get ourselves. Into a predicament.

[9:27] We can only blame ourselves. Because we weren't wise enough. To look out for that occasion. To see the danger in it. So. If you are.

[9:39] In Gary. At midnight. On some off. Side road. And. You just don't see the. Danger of that.

[9:50] Well. That's a predicament. That you. Have gotten yourself into. That's what. Is going on. Whether he's there. On purpose or not. He's a fool. Because he's there. And he's then. He's not ready.

[10:01] And dad. Sees. What's going to happen. Dad is wise. He could have taken his boy. His own son. And said. No. Now. Buddy. Just look.

[10:12] At what's going to happen. Just watch how this plays out. Watch what's going to happen. And then there she was. Again.

[10:24] I want to make it clear that. Proverbs is written mostly to young men. And so. The woman. Is the. One that they are warning against. We can just totally flip the pronouns.

[10:36] And it works. So. If you need to flip the pronouns. Then flip the pronouns. There she was. Dressed. Seductively. She's dressed to attract.

[10:48] She's dressed. To titillate. She's. There with crafty intent. Now again. This is where it would be helpful. Literally. It's. A guarded heart.

[10:59] What. So. A young man. With nothing in his heart. Meets a woman. With a. Guarded heart. So. What. What's she really thinking?

[11:10] What is she really feeling? What's really going on down here? You can't tell. By looking at her. You can't tell. By looking at him. Everything that she really feels about this man.

[11:25] Everything she really thinks about him. That's all safely. Stowed away in her heart. She really doesn't. Love him. That's what you.

[11:36] Need to see. First of all. She really doesn't. Love him. She's going to say a lot of things. She's going to act in a. In a way that seems that she has all this affection. But. He doesn't have her heart.

[11:49] She really doesn't care about him. Remember Potiphar's wife. When. She was scorned. When Joseph scorned her. She pretty. She turned on him really quickly.

[12:00] Because she didn't really care about. Joseph. She wanted what she wanted. The same thing is going on here. This guy doesn't mean anything to her. This. This woman.

[12:14] Everything is a lie. Everything she's going to say. Everything she's going to pretend to be like. Everything she's. Putting on. Is a deceit. Everything about her. Is a lie.

[12:26] A fantasy. That she's creating to. Entrap this young man. Now this is. Young people. And adults. If.

[12:38] The one who is. Asking you. To join them in sexual sin. The one who is encouraging you. Or seducing you. Into sexual sin.

[12:51] They're. They're using you. They're using you. To gratify. Themselves. This isn't love. That's. The point. Of Proverbs. Chapter seven. She's going to talk about.

[13:02] Let's drink deep of love. That's not what this is. That's the point. That's what Proverbs is showing you. She. Looks like one thing. But. She isn't showing who she really is. He isn't going to show.

[13:14] Who he. Really. Is. And what he is really. About. You don't have her heart. You don't have his heart. Only in marriage. Only in marriage.

[13:25] When you have given yourself. Body. Soul. Forever. For the. For the rest of your life. And they. To you.

[13:36] When there has already. Prior. Been this commitment. That I am now yours. And you are now. Mine. That I am no longer my own. I have given myself.

[13:46] To you. Only in marriage. When you have already. Given yourself. To someone. In the covenant. Is sex. An expression.

[13:57] Of love. Sex by itself. Is not love. Sexual attraction. Liking someone. That's not what love is. It's not even an expression.

[14:08] Of love. Only when sex. Is an expression. Of my completely. Belonging to you. And you. Completely belonging to me. Is it love.

[14:18] Love. Well. This woman. Is not out to give. She is out to take. Love is about giving. Love is not about taking. Her real intentions.

[14:29] Are safely. Guarded. In. Her. Heart. His real intentions. Young ladies. Are going to be safely. Guarded. In. His.

[14:40] Heart. Now look at her. She's out and about. She's here and there. It says. Her feet are going everywhere. It's interesting. She has. A house.

[14:51] But she doesn't have a home. She is one of these. Wandering people. That can never be satisfied. She's constantly restless. She's restless. As the stormy sea. Sometimes. In Hebrew. The word feet.

[15:02] Is a euphemism. It's a polite way. Of talking about. Private parts. So this very. Very well. Could be a double. Entendre. Saying. Her feet are everywhere.

[15:13] She. She. Sleeps around. This is not. Her first. Time. Doing something like this. She is brash. She's brazen. No one can tell her.

[15:24] What to do. She's not confined to. By social restrictions. By her husband. By her own obligations. She's not committed to anyone. Not to her husband. Not to her family. Not to the community.

[15:35] She is. Her own woman. She's going to do. Her own. Thing. And so she sees him. And she goes up. And she. Kisses him. With. A brazen face.

[15:45] That means a fearless. Bright. Shining. Intense. Fierce. Face. She kisses him. Fearlessly. Wow.

[15:57] The boy says to himself. I've never met anyone like that. She's. She's wild. She's no restrictions. No boundaries. There's no holding back.

[16:09] There's nothing this woman won't do. No. And that's exciting. And that's. Sexy. And that's. Thrilling. And then she's talking about religion.

[16:20] She's talking about these fellowship offerings that she. Made. Why exactly? We're not. Sure. Maybe she's just saying. You know. I did my religion for the day.

[16:32] It's all good on that front. Or. She could say. This is sort of an expression. I'm being religious. It's really unclear. Everything is good on that front.

[16:43] The thing you should know about fellowship offerings is. Only a little bit. Part of it. Went to the priests. And. Were burned up in the sacrifice. Most of the fellowship offering. You had to eat that same day.

[16:54] And so. I think what she is saying is. We have a lot of food. And tonight. We have to get to it. Or. We can't eat it. So I came out to meet you.

[17:05] I looked for you. I found you. What is the greatest. Aphrodisiac. You. You.

[17:16] You. You. You. Let's talk about you. You're so handsome. You're so beautiful. You're so funny. You're so smart.

[17:27] You make me feel so good. There's no one like you. You. My husband's not like you. My wife is not like you. My parents aren't like you. No one's like you.

[17:40] Flattery. Worship. To be desired. Ultimately. It's not our beauty.

[17:50] That gets him. Ultimately. It's her words. That ensnare him. So if someone starts flattering you. Talking about how good you are.

[18:05] One. Be very very careful. And. If it's a person of the. Opposite sex. Be extremely careful. Run. You're.

[18:17] You're not that great. No one is that great. Nobody. This dim-witted. Son. Is just one of one hundred. One of a thousand.

[18:29] It. It could have been anyone. But that's not what she's going to pretend. That's not what she's going to make him. Think. But he's a fool for believing it.

[18:41] So now. My bed's all ready. She talks about how she prepared her bed. I was thinking about this all day. I was getting ready for tonight. So come on. Let's drink. Deeply of love till morning.

[18:52] Let's enjoy ourselves with love. Well. What about your husband? What about your husband? That. Oh. That man. He's. He's gone. He's gone for.

[19:02] For at least two weeks. He's gone for a while. So. You don't have to worry. He's taken plenty of money. He. And. She doesn't even use the word for husband.

[19:14] She uses the word. This. Even a different word. That's not normally used for husband. And just. That man. She belittles him. And isn't that generally what happens. In an adulterous situation.

[19:27] The spouse at home. Is belittled. And that's what she's doing here. He. He doesn't mean anything to me. He's long gone. You know. He's really nothing. Nobody to her. You.

[19:38] This person in front of her. That's the. The person that she cares about. So come on. Come on. Let's go. Let's go. I've been waiting.

[19:49] I've been wanting. I've been thinking about you. So come on. And then there's. This pregnant. Pause.

[20:04] And I wonder. Do you. Feel. The power. Of her seduction. You're. You're. You're meant to. In a way. You're.

[20:14] You're meant to. Feel. Something of. This is why. This young man. Does that. So do you feel. The power. Of that seduction. and all of a sudden his defenses go down all of a sudden his reservations evaporate and he follows her like a stupid ox marching boldly to the slaughter or a dumb deer walking into a snare or walking right into an arrow's path little knowing it will cost him his life remember the title that I gave this story is watch this fool destroy himself and he the moment he started following her the moment he went home with her he's destroying himself it's costing him his life he is now he's just violated a rich man's wife and so in one sense there's no end to his resources there's no end to the husband's willingness to destroy this boy and we could say but she chased him down she's the one that seduced him but that doesn't mean that the husband isn't going to want to punish him and make him pay that doesn't mean that he didn't do this to himself and we read chapter 6 and we're going to get to it but there's no mercy in this situation there's no compensation there's no bribe there's no way that he can put out the husband's jealous rage his fire so as the father is looking down in the street and watching this happen watching this young man fall for her he's saying he just destroyed himself he just destroyed himself and he might not even know it yet but the father sees it the father sees how this is going to end now that's a story so the young man is both a fool and a victim he's both a fool and a victim believing her believing this woman believing this person who was seducing him is both dumb and it's death she tears him to pieces and he lets her do it she tears him to pieces and he lets her do it she prays on his very life chapter 6 says so what kind of

[23:11] I want you to think about this what kind of animal lets a predator just eat on him this young man did that what kind of dumb animal lets a lion just eat on him that's the image so imagine a lion ripping out the guts of a gazelle and just eating the intestines and the liver and the stomach and the blood and the group it's supposed to be gruesome feeding on his insides who's to blame who's to blame both of them both of them but the point of the story is this that whatever you do don't do what he did that's the point of the story whatever you do don't do what he did don't be fooled don't be seduced don't be duped by by her she or he doesn't love you doesn't care about you not really and the end is pain the end is sorrow the end is agony so don't do that now I want you to think with me for a minute when did this fool lose everything when did he when did he go on a road begin on a road that he could never turn back from was it the moment of that decision that pregnant moment when he hadn't yet gone with her was it that moment when it all hung in the balance was it when he started believing her and listening to her was it when he was at the wrong time and in the wrong place well if he would have been wise if he would have had a heart of wisdom or for wisdom then he wouldn't have been there in the first place he would have seen through her and so if he was accidentally there he would have been able to see through her and when she's talking red lights would have been going off all over the place on the dashboard and he would have been bailing to get out of there but he had no heart for wisdom and so when the quiet moment listen he had no heart for wisdom and so when that quiet moment of decision came it was inevitable everything about this man was now pushing him to death everything about this man was now pushing him to death and so when did he start on this road that he couldn't come back from now right now the moment you and I are in the moment we're in this moment when he was given a chance to take seriously the warnings when he was shown the consequences when the father was speaking but he didn't think it was that important to listen to when he didn't think he was really in danger that will help happen to other people that wouldn't happen to me I would never do that so the moment you and I are in that's that's when this is being decided that's when you're moving in the direction of finally you can't return see the son needed to take to heart what we're going to look at now which is proverbs chapter 6 20 through 35

[27:11] he needed to take wisdom he needed to take his father's warning on board he needed to listen to his parents he needed to listen to people that cared about him he needed to listen to people who were older and wiser than he was he needed to take to heart what we are now going to see look at in proverbs chapter 6 so proverbs chapter 6 20 what did that young man need to do and what do we need to do 6 20 he needed to keep he needed to protect that's the word guard or treasure your father's command it is singular he is talking specifically and especially now about this command to stay away to keep away to watch out for the adulterous that's what he needed to do he needed to take on board that command so bind them your mother's teaching your father's word bind those things upon your heart forever then if he would have done that he would not have been empty hearted when that moment came he would have had something there he would have had some determination he would have had some conviction he would have had some truth he would have said this reminds me of a situation

[28:29] I heard about and he would have had some resources would have been empty hearted truth would have been there and truth would have saved him and so do you do you want to avoid this fate if you're not at least somewhat afraid that this could happen to you then you're not nearly taking it as seriously as Proverbs takes it three times four times now in the book of Proverbs in the first seven chapters here we have words and warnings about adultery that is a huge emphasis for this topic obviously our heavenly father says this is this is one of those foundational things what you do with your sex life how you're faithful to your husband or your wife or your future husband or wife is of extreme importance for the quality of your life for the wisdom of how you live your life so do you want to avoid his fate bind these commands on your heart what that means is wrap your heart in it put it there tie it around your heart your hands your fingers so it's constantly there we're talking about memorization so something that young people really should do is

[29:52] I don't know if you have to memorize it word for word but it should be you should be! fluent in chapter 6 20 through chapter 7 all the rest of that you should be fluent in chapter 5 of Proverbs where it's talking about these things so you memorize it and it's in your heart through memorization it's in your heart through love in chapter 7 in verse 4 he says you need to call wisdom your sister that that's an affectionate old Hebrew word idea for for your wife it was an affectionate term that a man used for his wife you see that all the time in the book of Solomon my sister my spouse it was a term of endearment it was a term of this used to not be a part of my family but now it's a part of me it's part of my family I brought him or her close so love wisdom cherish!

[31:02] in your heart that's what he is saying and then chapter six verse 22 so when you walk or when you walk with her she will guide you the only way to become wise the only way to be protected from this kind of person is to be walking daily and hour by hour with lady wisdom to need her to want her because if you walk with her it says she will protect you again you see you guard her you keep her you treasure her and she will do the same for you and she'll keep you from falling into the clutches of this ruin that we've been reading about for a lamp verse 23 these commands are a lamp this teaching is a light and the questions of discipline are the way to life the fool in chapter seven ruins himself he walks straight into danger because he has no light to see it he's walking in the dark he thinks he's on a safe path but he is walking right into the clutches into the jaws of a monster and he does see it he will see it on the other side it will be patently obvious we have that expression that hindsight is 20 20 wisdom doesn't work like that wisdom says

[32:27] I want to see ahead I want to see the dangers and how do I get that light the commands the teaching the corrections of wisdom that's how you see what's in front of you you see!

[32:40] the! And so young people when your parents are warning you and rebuking you and saying watch out for that what they are trying to do is say there is a hole in the ground you are going to fall into it and hurt yourself don't do that so we need light all of us need light light to see the predator when they're stalking the fences not when they're already eating us out what could have saved you what can save you well taking to heart what he's about to tell you look at the father's commands verse 25 don't lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes so don't don't get caught by our looks and then also don't let her catch you with her eyes and

[33:51] I think what this is talking about is her attention on you her eye contact looking at you and what the father is saying is don't even get started on this road not in your heart because out of the heart life comes not with the eyes not even with eye contact that is inappropriate that is exciting because our hearts are deceitful and it's and our hearts are slippery and this whole situation is slippery and what other people if they had a view of our heart if they saw what was going on if they saw us doing it the things that we excuse and say oh it's not a big deal it's not really mean anything it's okay if other people saw that the things that we belittle they would be screaming at the rafters what are you doing knock it off so we think we're safer we think we are better than what we are and the father is saying don't even go there don't even begin because all of a sudden you're enslaved you're captivated and those are words that are talking about chains that you can't get away from the situation if you read stories or warnings about adulterous situations they will tell you about the addictive nature the enslaving nature of that people want to get out and in their better moments so to speak they are trying to get out but there is something about the whole thing that draws them back in and they can't escape it and so the father says don't even go there not in your heart not with your eyes why because he's saying there is a penalty to this and that's what he's going to look at the penalty now the father is not using a moral argument he's not saying don't do it because it's wrong now certainly the seventh commandment is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path it's clearly at least somewhat of an idea in this passage that this is wrong this is against

[36:20] God's law but that is not the primary argument the argument is not moral he's not saying don't do this because it's wrong his argument is a pragmatic one a practical one those rebukes are the way to life they will keep you from the grave they will keep you from destroying yourself now why why does the wise man why doesn't he use a moral argument an ethical argument because the tendency for us is when given rules we like to become lawyers we all start to nitpick about how far I can go well is this wrong is this wrong is this a line I can't cross is this a line I can't cross well technically technically we start to talk but that's not his argument his argument is something like this he takes you to the

[37:23] Grand Canyon that's what we've just seen he takes you to the Grand Canyon and he says if you aren't careful you will fall in and then somehow safely he has this look over the edge and over the edge there's dead bodies all down there there's limbs there's blood there's guts it's everywhere and he's saying they weren't careful they weren't careful he doesn't say don't go within eight feet why doesn't he say don't go within eight feet because someone would say well isn't six feet okay I'm not going to fall in if I'm six feet away and what about five feet I'm not going to fall in if five feet he says there are dead bodies there are limbs there are ruined today I had a conversation with a man up there who's who's telling me about the reverberations from 20 years ago of things that have happened that's what he's saying the father is saying don't even go that way it's not a matter about eight feet six feet four feet or whatever he's saying if you're messing with it if you're even thinking about going in that way if you're thinking about going to the edge you're already a fool you've already missed the point why even mess with it so are you wise enough to not kill yourself it's not right or wrong that's not the point it's are you wise enough do you have enough here in your heart maybe this is where you need enough that is wrong and this is right that is dangerous

[39:20] I'm not going there do you have enough here in your heart enough wisdom enough clarity enough insight enough enough humility to say you know what I know I can't trust myself do you have enough here to not fall off the edge because look at the penalty it's severe this is the rest of chapter six she turns you into a loaf of bread what do you do with a loaf of bread you eat it she prays on your very life she'll ruin you like a family ruins a loaf of bread hotly baked fresh out of the oven you know people picking on it people cutting it people eating it devouring it that's what she's going to do to a fish a bigger fish and one of those lampreys those parasitic fish just attached and eating and devouring and he's saying you're going to be the fish you're going to be the one getting devoured you'll be ruined well don't believe me find someone who's done it find people that have experienced it and see if it's all good if it's happy if that's the best life now no they're hollowed out gutted regretful the penalty is severe and it's inevitable this should be frightening we all like to think that we can do something and escape but this is inevitable he's saying you're walking around with fire in your lap what kind of fool who in their right mind would pick up a campfire would pick up the hot coals and start carrying them around in their clothes if you saw parents if you saw one of your kids doing that you probably slap them upside the head right you'd probably yell at them you'd do something that is so foolish like you cannot scoop fire into your lap and not get burned so who in their right mind would do that it's inevitable you're going to burn yourself and if they started coming up with excuses like what excuse could possibly justify putting a campfire in your clothes and carrying it around or he says it's like walking on hot coals and your feet will get scorched and this is not a little like hot see hot see my feet are a little warm it's the idea of scarred have you ever seen a burn victim

[42:06] I want you to think of a picture of someone who's been severely burned that will be you it's inevitable you will be caught you will be!

[42:27] burned the penalty is severe it's inevitable there's no way to turn it aside there's no way to dilute it there's no way to make it go away there's no way to make it better that's what he's talking about next is it's not like being a thief you steal if you're hungry we're going to get to the end of the book Lord willing someday and the wise man whose name escapes me at this moment he says make me neither rich nor poor if I'm poor I might steal well here's this person he's hungry and he steals and people get that people understand that and if that's you you're going to have to pay pay seven times which is just to say you might have to pay everything you own but you can pay it back you can end everyone's anger you can make it right you can make it okay if you've stolen something but you can't make adultery right you can't undo it you can't fix it you can't turn back the time you can't make it all better he's saying the penalty will go on and on the husband the wife the offended party will not ever be totally satisfied will never be satisfied there'll be no mercy adultery attacks a man and his home and his marriage and his honor and his dignity and his manhood and if you steal you take his money but if you commit adultery you violate everything about that man you violate everything and the betrayed man will not stop at anything will stop at nothing to destroy you no matter how much he hurts you he is not going to be happy he wants more he wants you to experience more pain he only wants you to suffer more and he'll do anything and everything he can to make that happen jealousy is a terrible and I don't even mean that in a sinful way it's a terrible powerful emotion burns the very fire of

[44:47] God God himself is jealous and when his jealousy is aroused the consequences! consequences are painful and that's what you're putting yourself in front of and the disgrace will not be wiped out I just talked about that conversation I had this afternoon everyone who hears about it will never forget it there's no like somehow bringing honor out of it and you can't take it back you can't undo it and so he's saying don't even go that way don't even get close don't let your heart incline to her don't let your eyes get trapped with her eyes don't let her flatter you with her words and again young ladies if you need to switch all the pronouns please switch all the pronouns he's saying this is severe this is dangerous don't even go near it now all of that is heavy but that's really what we need to have in our heart that's what we have to carry around so that we are not empty hearted without heart and if we don't then some dad will be sitting around his kitchen table and be using us as an example and he'll say listen to how this fool destroyed himself listen to how this fool destroyed herself and he'll say our name!

[47:00] and if you're getting cut to the heart or if you feel convicted I do want to remind you and remember remember the gospel God did not choose us because we are holy or were holy he chose us to be holy and Jesus died for us because we are sinners not because we were perfect but we are sinners and we needed cleansing your sin in this area no more than your sin in any other area is precisely what qualifies you to claim Jesus death for you to say I need a savior I need blood to wash this away and to say that his death is enough his violent death under the jealous anger and wrath of God was for us because we deserved this kind of shameful violent disgrace that this adulterer deserved and so you deserved everything that we've been talking about and so

[48:14] Jesus went to the cross to take that for you and Jesus has risen for you there's a living savior for you and so if we are all sexual fools to one degree or other and sinners then there's only one place for all of us to go and that's for the savior of sinners and that's to the savior who loved us despite our sin we need to come to Jesus and he's the perfect one to come to remember that scene where they found the woman that was caught in adultery they dragged her they drug her to Jesus I don't think she could have been dragged to a happier better place than to him if any one of you is without sin let him be the first to throw a stone at her and one by one they they left woman where are they has no one condemned you no one sir then neither do

[49:29] I condemn you go now and leave your life of sin that that's the perfect picture of grace there's forgiveness in a new direction I forgive you but now leave your life of sin and that's where God meets us that's where Christ meets us now as we come to faith by faith to Jesus we find forgiveness but we also find that word now go and leave your life of sin forgiveness is not a justification to keep sinning it is a reason to say I am going a new direction now well may God help us to do that let's pray our Lord Jesus we do thank you that when we come to you we find one who can wash away our sin and who can give us grace to live a new life just as you forgave that woman and then set her on a path of new life so we come to you and we would ask you to forgive us for our sin in this area the lust in our own hearts the way that we've thought or acted in ways that were dangerous and wicked thank you that you do forgive us and

[51:11] I thank you that you teach us wisdom and I trust that you've taught us that wisdom tonight to take all of this seriously and to take it on board and I do pray Holy Spirit come and put your truth in our hearts and write it upon our hearts so that we would not be like this young man with nothing in there no fear no trust no love no conviction just blowing in the wind and helpless before such danger pray that no one here would be like that I pray that you would write wisdom upon all of our hearts I pray this in Jesus name Amen unto Thank you.