Examples of Circumspect Behaviour
The sermon highlights the importance of living a holy and disciplined life, separate from worldly influences, as exemplified by the prophets and apostles.
Clement of Rome emphasizes the holy and separate lifestyles of the prophets and apostles, highlighting their dedication to serving God without the distractions of relationships with women. He points out how Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and other prophets lived in male-only communities, ministering before God and teaching the people to maintain order and holiness. The Scriptures testify to the well-ordered arrangements of the Israelites, marching without stumbling, with men and women separated even in their worship and praise of the Lord. Elisha, Gehazi, and the sons of the prophets also lived in a similar manner, dedicated to God without the presence of females.
Text
But see what it says also concerning those holy men, the prophets, and concerning the apostles of our Lord. Let us see whether any one of these holy men was constantly with maidens, or with young married women, or with such widows as the divine apostle declines to receive. Let us consider, in the fear of God, the manner of life of these holy men.
Lo! We find it written concerning Moses and Aaron, that they acted and lived in the company of men, who themselves also followed a course of conduct like theirs. And thus did Joshua also, the son of Nun. Woman was there none with them; but they by themselves used holily to minister before God, men with men. And not only so; but they taught the people, that, whenever the host moved, every tribe should move on apart, and the women with the women apart, and that they should go into the rear behind the host, and the men also apart by their tribes. And, according to the command of the Lord, so did they set out, like a wise people, that there might be no disorder on account of the women when the host moved.
With beautiful and well-ordered arrangements did they march without stumbling. For lo! The Scriptures bear testimony to my words: When the children of Israel had crossed over the Sea of Suth, Moses and the children of Israel sang the praises of the Lord, and said: We will praise theLord, because He is exceedingly to be praised. And, after that Moses had finished singing praises, then Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, took a timbrel in her hands, and all the women went out after her, and sang praises with her, women with women apart, and men with men apart. Then again, we find that Elisha and Gehazi and the sons of the prophets lived together in the fear of God, and that they had no females living with them. Micah too, and all the prophets likewise, we find to have lived in this manner in the fear of the Lord.
Sermon Outline
- The Holy Men of God
- Examples from Scripture
- The Testimony of Scripture
- The Prophets' Example
- Elisha, Gehazi, and the Sons of the Prophets
- Living in the Fear of God
- No Females Living with Them
Key Quotes
“But see what it says also concerning those holy men, the prophets, and concerning the apostles of our Lord.” — Clement of Rome
“For lo! The Scriptures bear testimony to my words:” — Clement of Rome
“We will praise the Lord, because He is exceedingly to be praised.” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- We should strive to live a holy and disciplined life, separate from worldly influences.
- We should prioritize order and discipline in our lives, as demonstrated by the children of Israel.
- We should live in the fear of God, as exemplified by the prophets and apostles.