Today I read Deuteronomy 22, where the Israelites are taught miscellaneous laws and laws about sexual conduct. Today I considered that we take marriage and sexual relationships too lightly.
Lost Items
Israelites were instructed to return each other’s things and help each other (Deuteronomy 22:1-4). When an Israelite relative’s animal runs loose or a person loses their clothing you are to return it to the person it belongs to or hold it for them if you do not know who it belongs to. If you see an animal in distress, help the relative’s animal.
Sexual Conduct
Israelites were instructed on sex in and outside of marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13-30). If an Israelite man lies about his wife saying she was not a virgin after he sleeps with her, the family can bring the matter to the elders to get money compensation and he can’t divorce her. If the Israelite wasn’t a virgin, they can stone her. When a man has sex with a willing married woman, both the man and woman are to die. If a man forces a married or betrothed woman, the man is to die. If a man sleeps with a virgin, he is to pay the parents compensation and he loses the right to divorce her. Men cannot sleep with their father’s wife.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Long ago when a man slept with a virgin, he had to marry her. Sex and marriage used to be hand in hand. They knew that sex created soul ties. So, people did not sleep around like they do now. Back then if two people were married and one committed adultery, they would kill both adulterers. Now people just file for divorce. Before modern times what you did sexually could get you killed, and now people act like it doesn’t matter.
Do you believe we should treat sex seriously like they tell us to in the Bible?