We are rolling into Numbers chapter five with our word for today. שָׂטהdeviate, fall into false paths, turn aside. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. Our word is used twice in the book of Proverbs. Both of these times our word is used in the sense to turn aside, to change orientation or direction, also in a figurative way especially in relation to leaving a set course or path. Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it; do not go on it; שְׂטֵ֖ה turn away from it and pass on. Proverbs 7:25 Let not your heart יֵ֣שְׂטְ turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. All the other 4 uses are in our chapter which are all used in the sense to commit adultery, conceived as going astray. Let’s look at them. Numbers 5:11-12, 15, 19-20, 29-30 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, If any man’s wife תִשְׂטֶ֣ה goes astray and breaks faith with him … then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her … Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, and if you have not שָׂטִ֛ית turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband’s authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse. But if you שָׂטִ֛ית have gone astray, though you are under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you … This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband’s authority, תִּשְׂטֶ֥ה goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. The fallen world around us makes light of sin in general especially this one. It is called an affair which makes it sound like something good. But the reality is that all sin, especially this one has destructive consequences. We will look at these with our word tomorrow. But for now let’s consider how God views this from these great passages. Proverbs 2:16-19 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. Matthew 5:27-30 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
