Rejoice

"Boys, in my life I've only had sexual relations with one woman, my wife. Later this year, we'll be married 53 years."

Obviously, the speaker wasn't William Jefferson Clinton.

Instead, it was a man leading a morning group of men who study the Big Book of Myths and Fables, as an area blog commenter enjoys calling the Christian Bible. And, in case you're wondering, I attend this group.

He continued: "I was recently counseling a younger man in our Church who wanted to know how far he could go without crossing the line in his marriage. Unfortunately, he was calling me from the parking lot of a strip-club."

The context of this was the study of the reign of King David in the book of Samuel. David, of course, instead of being with his army, had been relaxing on his palace roof, and instead of looking toward the tabernacle and seeking God's will, he engaged some peeping-tomery on Bathsheba, and sent a messenger to find out who she was. He was told that she was the wife of Uriah.

Warning light.

Our speaker continued: "God gives you the first look for free. You can see a pretty woman walk by, and you can say or think "That's a pretty woman", but if you're married, or she is, that's the end of it.  If you continue to pursue or make plans or fantasize or whatever, you've crossed the line, brother."

King David, we know, who already had several wives and concubines, dismissed the fact that Bathsheba was married, and had her brought to his palace, whereupon they got jiggy with it, and she became pregnant. To conceal his/their sin, he arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle, and some other men were killed also. The child died soon after birth, and David's reign began its decline.

"Guys, Proverbs 5:18 says "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth". My wife's body, in the past few years, has been beaten by illnesses and scarred by a double mastectomy. But I rejoice in the wife of my youth."

You could've heard a pin drop.  For me, part of the poignancy was that my own parents celebrated their 52nd anniversary a couple of weeks ago.

I've known the man for about three years. Long enough to know that his oration that morning was not boastful or self-aggrandizing - within the subject matter, it was a reminder of the responsibility that Christ followers have, and a testimony that, despite popular culture and the temptations we're faced with, we have options and are not to enslave ourselves to the sinful desires.

It's doubtful that the speaker and Todd the Blogger have ever met, but certainly they would agree that while we may not see the beauty or sometimes the reason behind what we're called to do, and the events that happen in our lives, God is weaving the 'Threads' of a beautiful tapestry.

h/t: KG, RTB