"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

(1) David had a beautiful daughter named Tamar, who was the sister of Absalom. She was also the half sister of Amnon, who fell in love with her. (2) But Tamar was a virgin, and Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick.

(14) But Amnon would not listen to what she said. He was stronger than she was, so he overpowered her and raped her. (15) Then Amnon hated her even more than he had loved her before. So he told her, "Get up and get out!"

Contemporary English Version copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.

The strong desire to be unfaithful to one's clearly stated and understood responsibilities is a drive we have to deal with and overcome. We must learn that there is a living principle that God activated and still enforces in His creation. When this drive controls a person, retribution will automatically follow. Thus, the person is considered faithless. Any time a thing—in this case, sex—becomes an end in itself, it creates an idol, which will provoke a response from God. In addition, as this illustration shows, it also ceases to give the satisfying pleasure God intends. Like a drug, the individual constantly needs more to achieve the satisfaction he desires.

Solomon shows clearly in Ecclesiastes 1:8 that human nature cannot be satisfied: "All things are full of labor; man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." This is not the way God made us; it is the way we have become as a result of Satan broadcasting his spirit and us following its promptings. We have become perverted in our tastes, and our tastes have to be converted in order to enjoy the benefits God intends.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
The Seventh Commandment



 

Topics:

Craving, Perverted

Desire

Desire as a Bridgehead to Sin

Idolatry

Loyalty

Lust

Perversion

Perverted Taste

Responsibility

Satan's Broadcast

Seventh Commandment

Sexual Immorality

Steadfastness

Taste, Perverted

The Seventh Commandment




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