"Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?" (Prov. 6:27, 28)

The questions posed in this proverb are designed to remind us that certain actions produce painful consequences. The subject under consideration is illicit sex (fornication).

Sexual Immorality

Some Americans are pleased with the outcome of the "sexual revolution" of the twentieth century. Sex has become the center of attention in movies, advertising, magazine articles and pictures, some newspaper columns, and certain styles of dress. Sex education courses, without moral guidelines, have been added to the public schools. Numerous TV programs give emphasis to sex. Nothing is too intimate for open discussion and public portrayal.

To God-fearing people who value morals, the so-called "sexual revolution"of the twentieth century. Sex has become the center of attention in movies, advertising, magazine articles and pictures, some newspaper columns, and certain styles of dress. Sex education courses, without moral guidelines, have been added to the public schools. Numerous TV programs give emphasis to sex. Nothing is too intimate for open discussion and public portrayal.

To God-fearing people who value morals, the so-called "sexual revolution" is a sad chapter in our nation's history. Homosexuality, adultery, and prostitution have gained respectability in modern thought. God's laws are violated, disregarded, and defied. The champions of sexual freedom are enslaving millions of victims in sensuality and wickedness.

It has become common for unwed couples to live together. Extramarital relations, wife-swapping, and other adulterous practices are considered normal. Some who have been there testify that university dormitories are often like brothels. High class "call girls" entertain business men away from home. The yellow pages list "dating services" and "massage parlors" for the convenience of "customers." And some of the well-organized prostitution setups will gladly accept a credit card!

Sexual immorality is the product being pushed by the sexual revolution; people by the millions are buying.

It Takes Two To Tango

The author of the proverb now being studied "is unwilling to leave the impression that immorality is all due to the tempting wiles of the woman, as is all too often implied in gossip concerning the break-up of a home or a baby born out of wedlock, and in newspaper reports concerning police raids on houses of prostitution. While the adulteress plays her part, the adulterer is a more than willing partner to it when he allows his passions to take control of his body and to becloud his mind so that he thinks that laws of decency and morality no longer apply to him, so he will 'get away with it'" (George Kufeldt).

Painful Consequences

Fire in one's bosom will burn his clothes; walking on hot coals will burn his feet. A burn leaves a scar after the wound is healed. Illicit sex destroys character and leaves a scar in the heart. The consequences of sexual immorality are inescapable.

Imagine, if you can, a man walking over to a fireplace and removing hot coals and placing them inside the shirt he is wearing! This illustrates the dreadful consequences of adultery.

Hophni and Phinehas, sons of Eli the priest, "lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" (1 Sam. 2:22). Their immoral conduct brought severe judgment. A man of God prophesied that "in one day they shall die both of them" (1 Sam. 2:34). In the battle when the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines, both Hophni and Phinehas were slain (1 Sam. 4:11,17). They took fire in their bosom and were burned. They disgraced the priesthood and the whole nation of Israel.

David committed adultery with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 11). In his attempt to conceal his guilt, David had Uriah slain. Although he repented and God put away his sin that he should not be put to death (2 Sam. 12:13), the fire that David had taken in his bosom left ugly scars. God decreed, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife." The child that David fathered in adultery died. David acknowledged, "My sin is ever before me" (Psa. 51:3).

Amnon, a son of David, fell in love with Tamar, his half-sister. He tried to persuade her to commit fornication with him, but she refused. He forced her against her will (2 Sam. 13:1-4). He took fire in his bosom and was burned. After taking away her virginity, "Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. " Absalom, Tamar's brother, ordered his servants to kill Amnon (2 Sam. 13:28,29).

Satan loads temptations to make it attractive and exciting. Beware! Once sin is committed, its ugliness is shocking and sickening.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 9, p. 267
May 1, 1986