Is there any such thing in the Bible as an “adultery test”? And, if so, what would an Old Testament law about jealousy and possible adultery have to do with us?

Actually, the Bible has a great deal to say about adultery and other forms of sexual immorality. We’re told to not even have an appearance of evil (Eph. 5.3) and Proverbs 31.11 says to us wives, “The heart of her husband safely trusts her …” But the same principles apply to men, as well as, women. Read more about the adultery test in today’s reading.

And when we’re tempted to think adultery has nothing to do with us, we should remember that all of us should be in the business of protecting our marriages from any and every attack of the enemy. What precautions can we take to do that? Are there “freedoms” we should be willing to forsake for the good of our marriages?

Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day.” This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the daily posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.

Today’s Readings:

Numbers 5 & 6
Psalm 30.8-12
Proverbs 11.1-3
Mark 8.22-38

The Adultery Test

Numbers 5 & 6:

Bitter Water

Numbers 5 contains a passage that is difficult to understand and, at first glance, seems highly slanted against women, but it’s important to study it in light of God’s sovereignty and in light of other Scripture.

Numbers 5.11-31 describe a ceremony to be performed when a man suspected, but couldn’t prove, his wife had committed adultery. The husband was to bring his wife before the priest along with an offering. The priest would have her stand before the Lord, an important point in all of this. He would ask her under oath whether she had been with another man. She was to drink “bitter water” to which dust from the floor of the tabernacle and scrapings from the oath to which she had sworn had been added.

If she was guilty the water would make her extremely sick, but if not, it would have no effect. She would be declared clean, set free, and able to bear children.

Remember the Sovereignty of God

First, we must remember the purpose of these laws was to maintain purity in the camp. God had determined to dwell with the Israelites and He could not dwell with hidden sin.

Remember, also, that the Sovereign God of the universe oversaw the outcome. He was in control and He knew the guilt or innocence. The same law that condemned a guilty woman also vindicated an innocent one so she didn’t have to live under suspicion.

Matthew Henry in his commentary on the Bible said that even under the law, the husband had to have some cause for his jealousy, probably witnesses to the fact that the wife had been alone with another man, even though there was no proof they had sexual relations. So this was not a willy-nilly kind of thing.

Adultery is a sin that by its very nature is secretive, and yet, even when not revealed extremely damaging to the one-flesh relationship. But it’s first and foremost a sin against a holy God!

And while it’s true that God doesn’t choose to reveal this sin, in the same way, today, He does still reveal sin. I always encourage anyone, man or woman, who suspects their spouse of unfaithfulness to pray and ask God to show them anything they need to know. He is just as able to reveal it today as He was under the law. And I have seen Him do it many times.

A Slippery Slope

The Bible has a great deal to say about adultery and other forms of sexual immorality. We’re told to not even have an appearance of evil (Eph. 5.3) and Proverbs 31.11 says to us wives, “The heart of her husband safely trusts her …”

While we have freedom in Christ, married men and women have no business having close friendships with people of the opposite sex. Too often people confide in co-workers, go out to lunch alone, or spend time “just talking.” As a biblical counselor, much of the adultery I deal with, especially among Christians, starts with friendship—not with overt sexual advances.

It usually goes something like this. A woman is having trouble in her marriage and begins talking to a male friend. It may seem innocent enough at first with things like, “I just don’t understand my husband. You’re a man. Help me understand.”

Or it may be the other way around. He may say something similar to her about his wife. Pretty soon they’re spending more time talking, and then having lunch—”just to help make their marriages better.”

They will get defensive if confronted and, often, refuse to give up the friendship even when asked to by their spouses. Often it seems loyalty to each other and defending their right to spend time together is greater than loyalty to their spouses. Once there is an emotional attachment, it can easily lead to physical adultery. But even the emotional attachment is unfaithfulness. They are giving the affection due to their spouses to another person.

Incidentally, I believe the same holds true for social media. If you’re married, avoid messaging, chatting, and developing online relationships that would be inappropriate in person.

All passwords for phones, computers, and accounts should be shared with your spouse. A one-flesh relationship is more than just physical. It’s a shared bond that includes accountability and trust, as well.

Fences that Protect Your Marriage

We need to treasure our spouses, our marriages, and our families, to say nothing of our testimonies and our relationships with God, enough to put up fences in our lives and iron bars on the windows of our hearts. Too often we value “our freedom” or “our rights” more than those things which are most important to God. While there is great “freedom in Christ” and there is not a specific verse that says, “Thou shalt not have a friend of the opposite sex,” Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable” (1 Cor. 6.12).

We need to be willing to set up barriers to protect our marriages and the time to set them is well in advance of any problems. If you’re married, why not sit down with your spouse and decide together to make that commitment before God?

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 30.8-12:

Despair, Discouragement & Depression

David and the other psalmists were so real. They poured out their hearts so we could see their very human emotions. This Psalm lets us see David’s progression from despair, discouragement, and depression to trust in God. The Psalms are a great place to go when you’re struggling with your own emotions. You might even consider writing your own psalm, using this one as a guide.

Proverbs 11.1-3:

The Danger of Pride

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom (v. 2).

Pride causes us to see ourselves as right even when we’re not and keeps us from being teachable.

Mark 8.22-38:

Take Up Your Electric Chair

This is a great passage about what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. Jesus uses the phrase “take up your cross.”

Today the cross is a religious symbol or, sadly, a fashion statement for ungodly people, but at the time this was written it was a symbol of a horrible death. It would be like saying today, “take up your electric chair …” Be willing to die for the cause of Christ.

And He was not just referring to physical death. We must be willing to die to our own selfish wants and desires. Luke, in his parallel passage, adds the word “daily.”

It’s a daily battle to lay down what we want in favor of what is pleasing to God by loving others as we love ourselves (Matt. 22.37-4), “preferring others as more important than ourselves,” (Phil. 2.3-4); being kind, compassionate and forgiving instead of angry and bitter (Eph. 4.31-32); and by submitting to one another as unto the Lord (Eph. 5.21-33).

By the way, this passage has great application to what we talked about above in regard to our marriages.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about the fact that we have only two real choices in the decisions and actions we take, the seriousness of complaining, the fact that hell is real and time is short, and how the sins of our parents and grandparents affect us.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss them. 

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.