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Things that Matter
Purity Matters
Genesis 2; Proverbs 5, 6, 7

Genesis 2:18-22 (Monday)
"The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man." (NIV)
1) Important note: In all creation, this is the only instance where God spoke of His creation being, "...not good." Why? Does this statement in any way suggest that our God isn't enough to satisfy the heart of man? Explain your reason.
2) Did Adam realize he was alone? What brought him to this realization? Why do you think God let Adam ponder this truth for a while?
3) Did Adam have any part in making woman. Why not?
4) The first surgery ever performed by none other than our Lord God Almighty!
5) Why didn't God just make Eve out of the dust of the earth as He did so with Adam? I like the way my NIV Bible commentary states this: "God forms men and women for various tasks, but all these lead to the same goal--honoring God. Man gives life to woman; woman gives life to the world. Each role carries exclusive privileges; there is no room for thinking that one sex is superior to the other.
6) The word here for "helper" is "ezer", which translated means, "one who can provide what is lacking in another." What are some immediate things you can think of that a man would not be able to do by himself? Be nice!
7) The word helper, or "ezer" comes from the primitive root word "azaq", which translated means to "fence about, surround, protect or aid". Can you think of some ways that a wife, man's helper, would be such to her husband?
8) Does this word "helper" imply in any way that a woman is inferior to a man?
9) God brought woman to Adam! If someone is being introduced to you, how are they usually presented? Right! Face to face! Equal on every level, yet each is a completely distinct individual.
10) When God presented Adam and Eve in much this same way, they complimented one another and became completely blended--one flesh! Quite often that is exactly the case in many marriages—one partner is strong in the area(s) where the other is weak? Good plan! Maybe, this is why opposites attract!

Genesis 2:23-25 (Tuesday)
"The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called `woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." (NIV)
1) Why is it important for a man (yes, this is addressed only to the man) to break ties with his family and be joined wholly to his wife?
2) Here's that expression again, "one flesh." Exactly what do you think that means? (Yes, God instituted the grace gift of marriage and sex!)
3) Okay, we can't go around naked today, but what allowed this freedom for Adam and Eve?
4) In the intimacy of this first marriage, instituted by God Himself, there was no shame. Why?
5) Do you feel that there can be shame today in intimacy? How about inside the sanctity of marriage? Explain.
6) Take time to read The Song of Solomon. This book of the Old Testament speaks with great intimacy of the joys of marital union. Read particularly, chapter 4:11-16 and 5:1. Who enters and encourages these young loves in this most intimate of intimate relationship?
7) If God is in the marital bed, why is purity so important?

Proverbs 5:1-6 (Wednesday)
"My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not." (NIV)
1) Adultery. Please know, that I am not speaking condemnation here (Thank God Almighty, Christ has paid for everything, even this one!) but there is only one God-given reason for divorce--infidelity (Matthew 19:9)! Why? What is it about stepping outside of your marital vows that can utterly destroy the marriage relationship?
2) How can obtaining wisdom, listening to God's Word and preserving knowledge keep one from falling into the seductive trap of adultery?
3) Scripture clearly tells us that sexual sins are the only sins we commit against our own bodies and selves (1 Corinthians 6:15-20!) Why?
4) How can impurity affect others connected to an impure relationship?
5) How does impurity reflect upon our Christian witness to a lost world?
6) Who first practiced seduction (Genesis 3)? How was this adultery?
7) Today's world offers all types of spiritual, emotional and physical seductions. Name some of the ways we are daily encouraged to turn away from spiritual purity and our God?
8) Did you realize that impurity can lead to more and even worse impurity (Ephesians 4:19!)
10) We've spoken mostly about sexual impurity. Now, you don't have to commit adultery to become ensnared by sin. How does any sin ensnare us?
11) There are other areas of purity we should concern ourselves with. Among them are:
a) Our fear of the Lord and the keeping of His commandments (Psalms 19:11; Psalms 119:9-11!) b) Pure hands and pure hearts (Psalms 24:4; Matthew 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:5!) Who gives us a pure heart (Psalms 51:10?)
c) Pure consciences (Titus 1:15; Hebrews 10:22!)
d) Pure thoughts (Proverbs 15:26; Philippians 4:8!)
e) Pure conduct (Proverbs 20:11!)
f) Pure speech (Proverbs 22:11!)
g) Pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3!)
h) Pure motives (1 Thessalonians 2:3!)
i) Pure lives (1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Timothy 5:22!)
j) Pure religion (James 1:27!)
k) Pure wisdom (James 3:17!)

Proverbs 7:7-14 (Thursday)
"I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows." (NIV)
1) Take a ride (if you dare) down certain areas of of anytown USA late at night and you'll see this type of woman, and/or man (and God help us, children) these days!
2) We have mentioned this in a previous lesson, but it bares repeating! There are only two ways that God tells us to fight temptation—flee! Or, stand firm, with your full battle armor on (Ephesians 6:11-18!) Which should this simple young man have chosen?
3) Just a personal observation--ever notice how sin screams at you, but God's voice is most often heard in the silences?
4) Sin does have a way of taken hold and it can be very brazen. Do all adulterers or sin appear this way? Why or why not?
5) Oh, my goodness! This woman has all the pretense of being "religious," all the while trying to lead this man astray! Of what use are offerings and vows when sin is crouching at the door? Do you think sexual impurity goes on in the church today? more so than in the world? Why or why not? One word—run!

Proverbs 5:15-23 (Friday)
"Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife? For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly." (NIV)
1) In other words,--take a dip only from your own pond, men and women of God! We are given the best reason why right here! What is it?
2) Do you think women are less immune to sexual impurity? Why?
3) Scripture mainly cautions the male (most of the proverbs written by Solomon were directed to his son) in these situations. However, it appears that women are more often unfairly singled out as the perpetrator, much like the adulteress thrown before Jesus' feet (John 8:3-11.) What happened to the man if she was caught in the act? Why weren't they ready to stone him along with her? Not male bashing--just thinking out loud!
4) In regard to sexual purity, do you think we teach a double standard to our own sons? Oh, you know most do! "Good going, son!" What kind of message are we sending? (Fathers, reading Proverbs with your sons!)
5) We can add other soul saving attribute to the list for avoiding any type of impurity—Discipline! What are some disciplines we need to practice in order to maintain sexual purity?
6) Sexual immorality is all around us. How does this lack of spiritual discipline result in death--physically or spiritually speaking?
7) Okay, this is not giving you guys any excuse, but what can we, as spiritually mature women do to help our men be satisfied in our bosoms--even unto our old age?
8) How can and should godly women help men not fall into the trap of seduction—physically or mentally?