Psalms 14

Psalms 14:1

Falsehood and Deceit

A second evil from which Job vigorously distances himself is falsehood and deceit (Job 31:5). He has never resorted to falsehood, for example by misrepresenting himself in order to exonerate himself from an accusation. Nor has he ever used deceit quickly, for example, in order to benefit from something. He has always been sincere and honest. Here does not follow a curse, but a challenge to God to weigh him with accurate scales (Job 31:6). Then the righteous God will see how the scales turn to the side of his sincerity.

The next “if” to testify of his innocence concerns the way he has gone (Job 31:7). He has not deviated from the right path. There has been nothing in his heart that has caused him to attach himself to anything sinful that his eyes have seen and that has led him to wrong deeds, so that sin now clings to his hands.

To this “if” he attaches a “let” followed by a curse that should strike him in case of guilt (Job 31:8). If a finger could be laid at him for any of these things, he wants to be punished for it. That punishment is the lack of blessing for which he has sown and worked. In addition, he must face the fact that another person benefits from it or that the result of his work is destroyed (cf. Deuteronomy 28:33a; Leviticus 26:16b).

Psalms 14:2

Falsehood and Deceit

A second evil from which Job vigorously distances himself is falsehood and deceit (Job 31:5). He has never resorted to falsehood, for example by misrepresenting himself in order to exonerate himself from an accusation. Nor has he ever used deceit quickly, for example, in order to benefit from something. He has always been sincere and honest. Here does not follow a curse, but a challenge to God to weigh him with accurate scales (Job 31:6). Then the righteous God will see how the scales turn to the side of his sincerity.

The next “if” to testify of his innocence concerns the way he has gone (Job 31:7). He has not deviated from the right path. There has been nothing in his heart that has caused him to attach himself to anything sinful that his eyes have seen and that has led him to wrong deeds, so that sin now clings to his hands.

To this “if” he attaches a “let” followed by a curse that should strike him in case of guilt (Job 31:8). If a finger could be laid at him for any of these things, he wants to be punished for it. That punishment is the lack of blessing for which he has sown and worked. In addition, he must face the fact that another person benefits from it or that the result of his work is destroyed (cf. Deuteronomy 28:33a; Leviticus 26:16b).

Psalms 14:3

Falsehood and Deceit

A second evil from which Job vigorously distances himself is falsehood and deceit (Job 31:5). He has never resorted to falsehood, for example by misrepresenting himself in order to exonerate himself from an accusation. Nor has he ever used deceit quickly, for example, in order to benefit from something. He has always been sincere and honest. Here does not follow a curse, but a challenge to God to weigh him with accurate scales (Job 31:6). Then the righteous God will see how the scales turn to the side of his sincerity.

The next “if” to testify of his innocence concerns the way he has gone (Job 31:7). He has not deviated from the right path. There has been nothing in his heart that has caused him to attach himself to anything sinful that his eyes have seen and that has led him to wrong deeds, so that sin now clings to his hands.

To this “if” he attaches a “let” followed by a curse that should strike him in case of guilt (Job 31:8). If a finger could be laid at him for any of these things, he wants to be punished for it. That punishment is the lack of blessing for which he has sown and worked. In addition, he must face the fact that another person benefits from it or that the result of his work is destroyed (cf. Deuteronomy 28:33a; Leviticus 26:16b).

Psalms 14:4

Adultery

The next statement of innocence, introduced by “if,” is about immorality. Job here affirms and defends his high esteem for the marriage commitment. It is the logical consequence of the covenant of Job 31:1, which he may have made when he was still unmarried. He swears that he is free from any attempt at, or search for, an opportunity for adultery (Job 31:9). To seek that opportunity, he had to lurk at his neighbor’s door. He would then wait for the husband to leave and then go to his wife. He kept away from this action with a purpose of heart.

Who today can say the same as Job with regard to the temptation to look at pornographic sites on the Internet? We can apply the expression “I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway” to this very topic. Visiting pornographic sites is such a ‘lurking’, something that happens very sneakily. If someone reads this and has to admit to his shame that he is such a ‘lurker’, let him confess this sin immediately and make a radical break with it in his heart. He who continues to have difficulty or in whom temptation has already become addiction, let him seek help.

To Job there was only one wife to whom he could give his undivided attention and devotion, and that was the wife of his youth. He swears that if he were unfaithful to her, he would bear the shame (Job 31:10). That shame is that his wife would be abused by another. That was a great humiliation for her, as it was for him. It would bring shame upon him in two ways. He would experience the rule ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.

It is not a question for Job how he should call such behavior. There is no discussion possible. Unfaithfulness in marriage is “a lustful crime” (Job 31:11). There is never any justification for adultery, never is there even one good word to be said for it. It is absolutely reprehensible. It is also “a crime” that deserves punishment, without any mitigating circumstances. Therefore, whoever commits this sin must be brought to a tribunal. The fact that this no longer happens in the Netherlands, for example, does not take away anything from the seriousness and gravity of this sin.

As mentioned before, God will judge that sin (Hebrews 13:4). It is a sin that deserves the judgment of the fire of hell (Job 31:12). Through this sin, a devastating and consuming fire is already kindled in relationships on earth. Unfaithfulness in marriage ruins and destroys the lives of every person involved – in spirit, soul, and body. Everything that life produces is affected by it and characterized by this destruction. Whoever is unfaithful in this is not reliable in any other area.

Psalms 14:5

Adultery

The next statement of innocence, introduced by “if,” is about immorality. Job here affirms and defends his high esteem for the marriage commitment. It is the logical consequence of the covenant of Job 31:1, which he may have made when he was still unmarried. He swears that he is free from any attempt at, or search for, an opportunity for adultery (Job 31:9). To seek that opportunity, he had to lurk at his neighbor’s door. He would then wait for the husband to leave and then go to his wife. He kept away from this action with a purpose of heart.

Who today can say the same as Job with regard to the temptation to look at pornographic sites on the Internet? We can apply the expression “I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway” to this very topic. Visiting pornographic sites is such a ‘lurking’, something that happens very sneakily. If someone reads this and has to admit to his shame that he is such a ‘lurker’, let him confess this sin immediately and make a radical break with it in his heart. He who continues to have difficulty or in whom temptation has already become addiction, let him seek help.

To Job there was only one wife to whom he could give his undivided attention and devotion, and that was the wife of his youth. He swears that if he were unfaithful to her, he would bear the shame (Job 31:10). That shame is that his wife would be abused by another. That was a great humiliation for her, as it was for him. It would bring shame upon him in two ways. He would experience the rule ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.

It is not a question for Job how he should call such behavior. There is no discussion possible. Unfaithfulness in marriage is “a lustful crime” (Job 31:11). There is never any justification for adultery, never is there even one good word to be said for it. It is absolutely reprehensible. It is also “a crime” that deserves punishment, without any mitigating circumstances. Therefore, whoever commits this sin must be brought to a tribunal. The fact that this no longer happens in the Netherlands, for example, does not take away anything from the seriousness and gravity of this sin.

As mentioned before, God will judge that sin (Hebrews 13:4). It is a sin that deserves the judgment of the fire of hell (Job 31:12). Through this sin, a devastating and consuming fire is already kindled in relationships on earth. Unfaithfulness in marriage ruins and destroys the lives of every person involved – in spirit, soul, and body. Everything that life produces is affected by it and characterized by this destruction. Whoever is unfaithful in this is not reliable in any other area.

Psalms 14:6

Adultery

The next statement of innocence, introduced by “if,” is about immorality. Job here affirms and defends his high esteem for the marriage commitment. It is the logical consequence of the covenant of Job 31:1, which he may have made when he was still unmarried. He swears that he is free from any attempt at, or search for, an opportunity for adultery (Job 31:9). To seek that opportunity, he had to lurk at his neighbor’s door. He would then wait for the husband to leave and then go to his wife. He kept away from this action with a purpose of heart.

Who today can say the same as Job with regard to the temptation to look at pornographic sites on the Internet? We can apply the expression “I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway” to this very topic. Visiting pornographic sites is such a ‘lurking’, something that happens very sneakily. If someone reads this and has to admit to his shame that he is such a ‘lurker’, let him confess this sin immediately and make a radical break with it in his heart. He who continues to have difficulty or in whom temptation has already become addiction, let him seek help.

To Job there was only one wife to whom he could give his undivided attention and devotion, and that was the wife of his youth. He swears that if he were unfaithful to her, he would bear the shame (Job 31:10). That shame is that his wife would be abused by another. That was a great humiliation for her, as it was for him. It would bring shame upon him in two ways. He would experience the rule ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.

It is not a question for Job how he should call such behavior. There is no discussion possible. Unfaithfulness in marriage is “a lustful crime” (Job 31:11). There is never any justification for adultery, never is there even one good word to be said for it. It is absolutely reprehensible. It is also “a crime” that deserves punishment, without any mitigating circumstances. Therefore, whoever commits this sin must be brought to a tribunal. The fact that this no longer happens in the Netherlands, for example, does not take away anything from the seriousness and gravity of this sin.

As mentioned before, God will judge that sin (Hebrews 13:4). It is a sin that deserves the judgment of the fire of hell (Job 31:12). Through this sin, a devastating and consuming fire is already kindled in relationships on earth. Unfaithfulness in marriage ruins and destroys the lives of every person involved – in spirit, soul, and body. Everything that life produces is affected by it and characterized by this destruction. Whoever is unfaithful in this is not reliable in any other area.

Psalms 14:7

Adultery

The next statement of innocence, introduced by “if,” is about immorality. Job here affirms and defends his high esteem for the marriage commitment. It is the logical consequence of the covenant of Job 31:1, which he may have made when he was still unmarried. He swears that he is free from any attempt at, or search for, an opportunity for adultery (Job 31:9). To seek that opportunity, he had to lurk at his neighbor’s door. He would then wait for the husband to leave and then go to his wife. He kept away from this action with a purpose of heart.

Who today can say the same as Job with regard to the temptation to look at pornographic sites on the Internet? We can apply the expression “I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway” to this very topic. Visiting pornographic sites is such a ‘lurking’, something that happens very sneakily. If someone reads this and has to admit to his shame that he is such a ‘lurker’, let him confess this sin immediately and make a radical break with it in his heart. He who continues to have difficulty or in whom temptation has already become addiction, let him seek help.

To Job there was only one wife to whom he could give his undivided attention and devotion, and that was the wife of his youth. He swears that if he were unfaithful to her, he would bear the shame (Job 31:10). That shame is that his wife would be abused by another. That was a great humiliation for her, as it was for him. It would bring shame upon him in two ways. He would experience the rule ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.

It is not a question for Job how he should call such behavior. There is no discussion possible. Unfaithfulness in marriage is “a lustful crime” (Job 31:11). There is never any justification for adultery, never is there even one good word to be said for it. It is absolutely reprehensible. It is also “a crime” that deserves punishment, without any mitigating circumstances. Therefore, whoever commits this sin must be brought to a tribunal. The fact that this no longer happens in the Netherlands, for example, does not take away anything from the seriousness and gravity of this sin.

As mentioned before, God will judge that sin (Hebrews 13:4). It is a sin that deserves the judgment of the fire of hell (Job 31:12). Through this sin, a devastating and consuming fire is already kindled in relationships on earth. Unfaithfulness in marriage ruins and destroys the lives of every person involved – in spirit, soul, and body. Everything that life produces is affected by it and characterized by this destruction. Whoever is unfaithful in this is not reliable in any other area.