Day 28 – God Created for His Own Glory; Lust Hides It
Immature men lust beneath twilight’s shade, thinking sin’s price will never be paid.
Job 1:6-12,
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
In the beginning of the book of Job, Satan told God that Job only worships Him for His gifts. He claimed that Job only feared God because He protected him and blessed his work and possessions. He even said if God took his blessings away, Job would curse Him to His face. Satan not only slandered Job, but he also demeaned God, by implying that He is only worthy of worship for what He gives not for what and who He is.
Proverbs 7:1-5 –
My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
Solomon tells us that the way to keep from the forbidden woman is to embrace wisdom as your sister and intimate friend. We should view the temptress as an enemy even though she comes with honeyed words of seduction.
Proverbs 7:6-27 –
6 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 11 She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. 13 She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, 14 “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; 15 so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; 20 he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.”
21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. 22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. 24 And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, 26 for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
Solomon says that he’s witnessed many young men sneakily travel to the forbidden woman’s house, under the cover of night, thinking their sin will go unseen and they’ll escape harm. She masquerades as virtuous, boasting of her sacrifices and paid vows. Yet, she seeks to seduce by decorating her bed with expensive linen and fragrances, and she presents the affair in the best possible light, calling it “love” and “delight.” But it’s all lies, meant to ensnare the weak and foolish; her bed is an open grave. No one visits her and escapes unscathed. She’s buried many strong men, but no wise men.
Application
When you lust, you use yourself and someone else in a way that is contrary to God’s design. Not only does this speak ill of you and the other person, it speaks ill of God. You’ve found a better use for God’s creation than He intended. Instead of enjoying the beauty of God’s design, you’ve convinced yourself that it’s lovelier when twisted, defying God and hiding His glory.
When you lust, you reject wisdom and embrace foolishness, thinking yourself the exception to the millions of murdered men that have gone before you. Lust lulls you to sleep with delusion, and brings you into a drunken stupor, thinking yourself wise when you’re immature. On your tombstone, perhaps they’ll put, “Here lies ______, the only man to ever survive the adulterous woman.” You stand in a grave but dig deeper still.
Wisdom calls you to life and holiness. Will you reject lust and the forbidden woman today, or dig deeper into her grave?
Marching Orders: Thinking God’s Thoughts After Him
Receive, believe, and live the truths you’ve read. Memorize and meditate on these truths today:
Memorize and Meditate on One Sentence to Shape Your Affections:
When I use God’s creation in a way that twists His design, I dishonor His glory, claiming my wisdom surpasses His.
Memorize and Meditate on a Short Poem to Shape Your Affections:
Satan mocked Job’s worship, not in part,
Said God’s blessings alone won his heart.
He sneered, “Job’s faith is all for naught,
Strip your gifts, he’ll curse You; he’s bought.”
Not just Job, but God he dared to scorn,
“God’s worthy only when His gifts adorn.”
Solomon taught, cling to wisdom’s hand,
A sister to guide through treacherous land.
For the temptress seduces with honeyed lies,
With “love” and “delight” where every fool dies.
Immature men lust beneath twilight’s shade,
Thinking sin’s price will never be paid.
Lust twists God’s design, in Satan’s guile,
Saying, “I’ll use God’s creation to self-defile.”
It scorns God’s plan, claiming wiser ways,
Spurning His gifts, mocking Him who saves.
Yet wisdom cries, “Flee the temptress, desire what’s right,
Seek life through Christ, or dig your grave tonight.”
Listen to This Song Often to Shape Your Affections:
Add this song to your playlist, “God, Be Merciful to Me (Psalm 51)”
On YouTube,
By Indelible Grace (Written by Scottish Psalter)
1. God, be merciful to me;
On Thy grace I rest my plea
Plenteous in compassion Thou,
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me, make me pure within;
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.
2. My transgressions I confess;
Grief and guilt my soul oppress.
I have sinned against Thy grace,
And provoked Thee to Thy face.
I confess Thy judgement just;
Speechless, I Thy mercy trust.
3. I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art,
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
Make me pure, Thy grace bestow,
Wash me whiter than the snow.
4. Broken, humbled to the dust
By Thy wrath and judgment just,
Let my contrite heart rejoice,
And in gladness hear Thy voice;
From my sins O hide Thy face,
Blot them out in boundless grace.
5. Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true.
Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation's joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.
6. Sinners then shall learn from me,
And return, O God, to Thee
Savior all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.