Psalms 7– Theme: A request for justice against those who make slanderous comments. God is the perfect judge and will punish those who persecute the innocent. instead of striking back, ask God to take your case, bring justice, and restore your reputation.
Prov.7:25-27
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. many strong men have been slain by her –
Neh.13:26> Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.
Focus Points: Nehemiah used the example of Solomon’s mistakes to teach his people. If one of the greatest kings of Israel fell because of the influence of unbelievers others could too. Nehemiah saw the principle in Solomon’s example. Your gifts and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses. Although Solomon was a great king, his marriages to foreign women brought tragedy to the whole kingdom. A tendency to sin must be recognized and dealt with swiftly; otherwise, it may overpower you and bring you down. One of the strongest reasons for reading the Bible is to learn from the mistakes of God’s people.
Her house is the way to hell, –
Prov.2:18> Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
I Cor.6:9,10> Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Focus point: I will just say, in a permissive society it is easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some immoral behaviors (greed, drunkenness, etc.) while remaining outraged at others (homosexuality, thievery). We must not participate in sin or condone it in any way, nor may we be selective about what we condemn or excuse. Staying away from more “acceptable” forms of sin is difficult, but it is ho harder for us than it was for the Corinthians. God expects his followers in any age to have high standards.
Heb.13:4> Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Focus point:
Real love for others produces tangible actions: (1) kindness to strangers (2) empathy for those who are in prison and those who have been mistreated (3) respect for your marriage vows and (4)contentment with what you have. Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity, and contentment.
Rev.22:15> Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Focus point:
The emphasis is that nothing evil and no sinner will be in God’s presence to corrupt or harm any of the unfaithful.