7 Ten Commandments 1

Happy Sunday. In 1631, a printing of the King James Version of the Bible was called the Wicked Bible. It was recalled and destroyed. Why, you ask? Well, there was a problem: the word "not" was left out of Exodus 20:14.

Word "not" is pretty important, and "Thou shalt not commit adultery," that 1631 printing said, "Thou shalt commit adultery." Today many in our world prefer the wrong version. The phrase "consenting adults" is used to condone all sorts of wicked behavior.

Today we're going to look at a friend of mine named David and see what we can learn from his mistakes. His story is found in Second Samuel chapter 11. I'll read just the first three verses. It's likely you know the whole story, but it begins by saying, "In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Job with his officers and all Israel with him. They ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

"It happened late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, 'This is Bathsheba, daughter of Helium, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.'"

We're not sure why David the king isn't with his troops. Maybe he was used to life in the palace and he didn't want to rough it any longer. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he thought he was too important for the risk of war.

David has changed. Remember when we first met David in scripture? It was at another battle. A giant named Goliath was defying the entire army of Israel.

I want to read to you from First Samuel 17:26: "David said to the men who stood by him, 'What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?'" These are the first recorded words of David in the Bible. We like him immediately. He was so connected to God.

David saw the world with spiritual eyes in those early days, and now, some 30 years or so later, David is breaking two commandments: murder and adultery. When David saw Bathsheba from the rooftop, he had to get close to the edge to see her. There's a great lesson here: don't get close to the edge. Look away, change the channel, don't email, delete the friend request. Be careful.

When I began in the ministry, I was fortunate that my father was a pastor and was a great resource for me. I was hired as a minister of youth at First Baptist Church of Aberdeen, Mississippi. I was 20, 21 years old. I asked my dad if he had any advice, and Dad said, "If you take a girl home in your car, have a boy in the car with you."

I remember thinking at the time that his advice was lacking. I wanted more, I thought, but I took it to heart. I followed it, and I'm glad I did. What Dad was saying was, don't get too close to the edge. A lot of ministries have failed because people didn't get good advice.

Jesus was talking about the edge when he said this in Matthew 5:27 and 28. Jesus said, "You've heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery,' but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with ju lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus makes it clear that we have to be very careful. Adultery is not the unpardonable sin; however, it will take you further than you want to go, it'll keep you longer than you want to stay, and it'll cost you more than you want to pay. Sin does that.

Too many families have been destroyed or injured by this sin. Don't get too close to the edge. To turn this command to the positive, it's very easy. Instead of "Thou shalt not commit adultery," how about "Husbands, love your wives; wives, love your husbands"? That's the cure for adultery.

Irma Bomback said, "If the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence, you likely aren't taking care of your own grass." I think that's true. If you're married, please do your best to put your partner above yourself. I love couples that still have date nights long after they've been married. I love my friend who, after decades of marriage, always referred to his wife as his bride.

Praying together is something that you definitely should do. Go to church together. Turn off the TV and spend some time enjoying silence together.

I know this is bad theology, but it has worked for me. I've convinced myself that my wife is perfect. Now, I know that Jesus is the only one who was perfect, but years ago I decided in my mind that Genie is perfect. What that means in practice is that I'll let go of little things that used to bother me.

Do you want to know one of those little things? Well, when we were first married and broke, we would buy one tube of toothpaste and share it. I would squeeze the tube at the end, like a civilized individual should. My dear bride would squeeze it in the middle, as if she were raised by wolves. It bothered me for some reason.

Now, I know it's ridiculous, but married couples have split over ridiculous matters for centuries. The cure was to buy two tubes. However, another cure for me would have been to change my attitude and to think about it and to have been glad that I have a wife, that she takes care of herself, that she has teeth to brush, and that she can smile. Our attitudes are so powerful.

If you're married, love your spouse. If you've crossed this line, know that forgiveness is there and restoration is possible. Jesus forgave the woman who was caught in the act of adultery in John chapter 8. Remember how he told the group that was ready to stone her, "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone"? Jesus forgave the woman, and he told her to go and sin no more.

A little food for thought before I go: what is adultery? Is it only sexual sin? Can I be unfaithful to my wife if I'm married to my work or to a hobby? We need to love our spouses as God intended. May God bless us as we stay away from the edge.

Let's pray. Lord, thank you for the gift of marriage, and, Father, let us do our best to live up to your standards as husbands and his wives. I thank you for the wife you have blessed me with, and I thank you, Father, that I have seen you restore marriages when people have decided to honor you first, and then everything falls into place. Father, help us to stay away from that edge and to be obedient to what you've told us to do. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. God bless you.