This verse is often misinterpreted to suggest that getting married automatically brings someone into closer favor with God. However, while marriage is indeed a blessing and approved by God, divine favor is not dependent on marital status. Instead, God’s favor is primarily connected to a life of obedience and righteousness.
Genesis 4:7 (NKJV) shows this principle clearly when God tells Cain:“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
The Hebrew word translated as “favor” (ratzon) in various parts of Scripture often refers to God’s gracious approval of someone’s life or actions—especially when aligned with His will (cf. Psalm 5:12).
The verse states that the man who finds a wife finds “a good thing.” The Hebrew word for “good” (ṭôb) implies moral and beneficial goodness, which shows that marriage is a good design of God (see also Genesis 2:18).
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV):“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’”
This aligns with the creation account, where marriage is instituted by God as a covenantal union for companionship, support, and fruitfulness. However, marriage is not the sole path to God’s blessing or favor.
The apostle Paul makes it clear that singleness can provide a unique opportunity for undivided service to God.
1 Corinthians 7:32–33 (NKJV):“But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.”
This does not mean that married people cannot please God, but it acknowledges the practical realities and responsibilities that come with marriage.
Paul himself remained unmarried, as did Barnabas (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:5–6), and of course, Jesus Christ—the perfect Son of God—was unmarried. These examples show that intimacy with God is not dependent on marital status.
The latter part of Proverbs 18:22 says the man “obtains favor from the Lord.” This refers to the fact that when someone enters marriage rightly—within God’s design and purpose—it brings divine approval and blessing on that union. Marriage reflects God’s covenant love, and when it is pursued righteously, it aligns with His will.
Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV):“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
Therefore, entering into marriage in a godly manner is met with God’s favor—not because it earns righteousness, but because it honors God’s established order.
While marriage can be a source of divine favor, it’s important not to idolize it. God’s ultimate concern is one’s heart and obedience to His Word.
Micah 6:8 (NKJV):“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Whether married or single, what pleases God most is a life surrendered to His will.
Proverbs 18:22 should be understood as a celebration of marriage as a good gift from God and a relationship that, when entered into in righteousness, brings favor and blessing. But it should not be taken to mean that marriage is the only—or even the best—way to gain favor with God. Favor comes through faith, obedience, and a heart aligned with God’s purposes.
Marriage is honorable and blessed—but so is singleness when lived for the glory of God. Both are valuable callings in the Kingdom of God.
May the Lord grant you wisdom and grace in every season of your life.
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This verse highlights a principle that’s both practical and spiritual: wise people recognize and act within the right season. Failing to do so brings loss, not just to oneself but often to others who depend on them.
In an agricultural society like ancient Israel’s, summer was harvest time. Crops had matured, the rains had ceased, and farmers needed to work diligently to bring in the grain before it spoiled.
Anyone who failed to act during this crucial time caused not only personal loss but brought shame to the family. It wasn’t just laziness—it was negligence. Jesus referred to similar imagery in His parables (e.g., Matthew 13:24–30), showing that seasons of harvest are tied to responsibility and judgment.
This proverb is also deeply spiritual. The Bible often uses agricultural metaphors to describe God’s work in the world and in our lives. Theological themes of seasons, harvest, readiness, and responsibility appear frequently throughout Scripture.
Let’s explore two major applications of this proverb in the life of a believer:
Jesus taught that the world is a field, and people’s hearts are like soil. He declared that the harvest is now, not something we can put off:
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” — John 4:35 (NKJV)
Theologically, this affirms the urgency of evangelism and discipleship. The fields are ready—people are seeking truth, hope, and salvation. Jesus continues:
“And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” — John 4:36
Here, the reward is both present and eternal. God calls each of us into the labor of His harvest—even if others have sown before us. As Paul says:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NKJV)
Neglecting this call, especially when opportunities are abundant, is spiritual irresponsibility. As believers, we’re entrusted with the Great Commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” —
To ignore that mission is to “sleep during harvest”—the very behavior Proverbs calls shameful.
Scripture also teaches that life has seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Youth, in particular, is seen as a strategic season—a time of energy, vision, and capacity to serve God fully.
“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come…” — Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NKJV)
Delaying spiritual commitment is spiritually risky. Many say, “I’ll serve God later,” but the future is not guaranteed.
John addresses young people directly:
“…You are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” — 1 John 2:14 (NKJV)
Strength—physical, mental, and spiritual—should be used to serve God now, not later. Wasting youthful energy on pleasure and comfort without eternal purpose mirrors the laziness of a son who lets the harvest rot.
The Bible warns against spiritual procrastination. Hebrews reminds us:
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” — Hebrews 4:7 (NKJV)
Proverbs 10:5 calls us to recognize spiritual timing and act. Whether it’s:
This is the time.
God has appointed you to live and serve in this generation. Don’t wait until the season passes. Be the wise son who gathers when it’s time. If you’re already late, God’s grace can redeem time—but it starts with obedience now.
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” — Ephesians 5:16 (NKJV)
Be diligent, be faithful, and be fruitful.
May the Lord bless you as you serve in season.
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The Hivites were one of the seven Canaanite nations that God commanded Israel to completely remove from the Promised Land because of their deep moral corruption and idolatry.
📖 Joshua 3:10 (ESV)“Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.”
These nations were not removed because Israel was more righteous — rather, they were judged because of their persistent sin and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:4–6).
The Hivites were spread across several regions in ancient Canaan:
📖 Judges 3:3 (ESV)“These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath.”
This places part of the Hivite population in the northernmost region of the land — bordering modern-day Lebanon and Syria.
📖 Joshua 11:3 (ESV)“To the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.”
This group lived closer to Israel’s central territory, which explains their significant interaction with the Israelites during Joshua’s conquest.
One of the most striking stories about the Hivites is found in Joshua 9, where a Hivite city — Gibeon — deceived Israel into making a peace treaty.
Pretending to come from a distant land, they wore old clothes and carried moldy bread to convince Joshua that they were not Canaanites — though they were.
📖 Joshua 9:3–6, 14–15 (ESV)“But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning…”“So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them…”
This deception led to a binding covenant, which Israel could not break — even though God had commanded them not to make covenants with the people of the land (Exodus 23:32–33; Deuteronomy 7:2). As a result, the Gibeonites were spared but made permanent servants (Joshua 9:27).
Theological Insight: This incident highlights the importance of seeking God’s guidance in every decision. Failure to inquire of the Lord led to a compromise, even by well-meaning leaders like Joshua.
God’s command to destroy these nations was not arbitrary or cruel — it was righteous judgment on cultures filled with unrepentant evil.
📖 Deuteronomy 18:9–12 (ESV)“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations… whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD.”
Child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21)
Temple prostitution (Deuteronomy 23:17)
Occult practices — divination, sorcery, necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:10–11)
Extreme violence and injustice (Psalm 106:34–39)
📖 Leviticus 18:24–25 (ESV)“Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean… and the land vomited out its inhabitants.”
Theological Point: God is not only a covenant-keeping God but also a holy Judge. He delays judgment to allow for repentance (2 Peter 3:9), but when a nation hardens its heart, justice eventually comes.
Ironically, the very sins that led to the Hivites’ judgment later became Israel’s downfall.
📖 2 Chronicles 36:14–17 (ESV)“All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful… The LORD… sent persistently to them by his messengers… but they kept mocking… Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans…”
This principle is echoed in:📖 Romans 2:11 (ESV)“For God shows no partiality.”
Many Christians today fear the devil more than they fear sin. But in Scripture, the greatest danger to mankind is disobedience to God, not the devil himself.
Adam and Eve were not cast out of Eden by Satan, but by God — because of sin.
Sin shortened the human lifespan (Genesis 6:3).
Sin continues to separate us from God’s presence (Isaiah 59:2).
Theological Insight: The devil uses sin as a weapon. When sin is present, Satan has legal ground to operate. But when a believer walks in holiness, the devil is disarmed.
📖 James 4:7 (ESV)“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Deliverance from sin and its power does not come through rituals or objects, but through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His gospel.
📖 Acts 2:38 (ESV)“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
These three steps form the foundation for Christian victory:
Repentance – turning away from sin
Baptism in Jesus’ name – for forgiveness of sins
The Holy Spirit – to empower the believer to live holy
When someone walks in this truth, sin loses its power, and the devil has no authority.
📖 Romans 6:14 (ESV)“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
What removed Adam from Eden? Sin.What removed the Canaanite nations? Sin.What removed Israel from their land? Sin.What disconnects us from God today? Sin.
But there is victory in Christ. And it starts with repentance, continues through obedience, and is sustained by the Holy Spirit.
📖 1 John 3:8 (ESV)“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
If you’ve been struggling, don’t seek oil, salt, or rituals. Go to Jesus. His Word is enough. His Spirit is enough.
In slide format for teaching
Prudence is the noun form of the verb “to be cautious” or “to act carefully.”
It simply means carefulness or discernment.
For example:
In the Bible, the word appears in several passages, such as:
Daniel 2:13–15 (NIV) So the decree was issued that the wise men were to be put to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and prudence. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
Daniel 2:13–15 (NIV)
So the decree was issued that the wise men were to be put to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and prudence. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
Proverbs 1:1–4 (NIV) The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.
Proverbs 1:1–4 (NIV)
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.
Joshua 22:24 (NIV) “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?’”
Joshua 22:24 (NIV)
“No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?’”
A Call to Prudence in Christian Life
As believers, we are also called to live with prudence in this world.
Although we live in the world, we should not be yoked together with it in ungodly ways. Those who lack prudence often get entangled in worldly pleasures, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things—eventually becoming unfruitful.
Shalom.
Question:
We often hear people say, “We bless the Name of the Lord” or “We bless God.” But is it really possible for a human being to bless God or His Name? Or is it only God who can bless people and bless their names?
Answer:
Yes, God can bless a person’s name — and at the same time, we can also bless the Name of the Lord. The confusion usually comes from how we understand the word “blessing.”
The word blessing means “to add value, honor, or privilege to something or someone that did not have it before.” That value or honor can come in the form of a gift, a position, or a title.
When a person gives another a gift, we often say “he blessed that person.” Likewise, when someone is given honor or a special opportunity, we can say “he was blessed.”
In the same way, God can bless us with opportunities, honor, or gifts. But we, too, can bless God by giving Him honor, praise, or offering Him something of value. This act of giving God honor is what the Bible calls “blessing the Lord.”
The greatest gift we can give God — the blessing we can offer Him — is our very lives, together with the praise of our lips.
Perhaps you’re asking: “Where in Scripture do we see people blessing the Lord?”
2 Chronicles 20:25–26 “So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.”
2 Chronicles 20:25–26
“So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.”
Do you see? Verse 26 says they “praised the Lord” — and how did they bless Him? Through praise.
2 Chronicles 20:18–19 “Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”
2 Chronicles 20:18–19
“Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”
The same truth is confirmed again in the Psalms:
Psalm 63:3–4 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
Psalm 63:3–4
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
So, when we worship in spirit and in truth, our praises actually bless the Name of the Lord.
Psalm 96:1–2 “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.”
Psalm 96:1–2
“Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.”
Job also understood this:
Job 1:21 “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:21
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
But remember this important truth: even if you or I do not bless the Lord’s Name with our words or with our lives, we take nothing away from Him. He is already being worshiped by multitudes of angels in heaven. The loss is only ours. God will always remain God — worthy of worship and glory — even without us!
2 Timothy 2:12–13 “If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
2 Timothy 2:12–13
“If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.”
The Lord bless us.
Maranatha!
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Question: What did the Apostle Paul mean when he said, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”?
Answer: Let’s go back to the verse itself:
1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
1 Corinthians 4:20
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
When Paul says that the kingdom of God is not a matter of “talk,” he does not mean the Word of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is built upon the Word of God as its foundation, and without it, there is no Kingdom of God—only the kingdom of darkness.
What Paul is emphasizing is that the Kingdom of God does not consist of empty words without the power of God, but in words that are backed by His power. In other words, signs and wonders accompany the message of the Kingdom.
Paul further explains this by the revelation of the Spirit in:
1 Thessalonians 1:5 “Because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.”
1 Thessalonians 1:5
“Because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.”
In the same way, we must also preach the gospel not with empty words or persuasive speech aimed at attracting people, but with evidence and demonstration of the Spirit. This means that signs and wonders should follow us. And the first miracle is when people genuinely repent of their sins and turn away from them.
Paul also confirms this in:
1 Corinthians 2:4 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”
1 Corinthians 2:4
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”
May the Lord help us.
The holy angels in heaven, who give glory to God day and night, are excellent teachers of praise and our heavenly choir. They have been placed before us to teach us how to worship and sing to God at heavenly standards. They may not instruct us on how to preach, but when it comes to praise, they have lessons for us.
Lesson One: They Cover Themselves
The angels of praise (the Seraphim and Cherubim) use much of their wings to cover themselves from head to foot when standing before God to give Him glory.
Isaiah 6:1-2 (NIV) “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.”
Isaiah 6:1-2 (NIV)
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.”
This shows that before presenting praise to the Creator of heaven and earth, the first requirement is modesty.
But today, many stand before God in worship and praise with exposed chests, bare backs, uncovered thighs, and even immodestly exposed bodies and women with uncovered heads.
The question is: Who taught them this? Who taught them to worship and praise half-naked? Was it the holy angels of God? The clear answer is no they were taught by Satan. And the one receiving that kind of praise is not the God of heaven but the devil of this world and of the pit.
Lesson Two: They Preach Holiness
The angels of praise in heaven the Seraphim and Cherubim are heard calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy.”
Notice this: they were not declaring to God that He is holy (as if He needed to be informed). No! They were proclaiming to one another, reminding themselves and others that the Lord is holy, and therefore everyone must remain in holiness because God is holy and cannot dwell in impurity.
Isaiah 6:3 (NIV) “And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)
“And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
This is the unending song of the angels in heaven day and night:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!
And this must also be the song of the saints on earth. Not because God needs the information
He is already holy and will remain so forever but because we need to remind ourselves that God is holy, and therefore we must continually pursue holiness. This is the kind of praise that pleases God!
Not singing while living double lives. Not worshiping while committing adultery, idolatry, or other sins.
For the Word of God says:
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Songs or sermons that do not proclaim holiness are nothing but the devil’s slogans, which bring satanic rewards. You don’t have to be a witch to belong to Satan; simply singing for him is enough to make you his. Preaching and praising while living in sin makes you the devil’s servant.
If you have the gift of singing, stop treating it like entertainment or a career brand. The work of God is not a label or brand—it is a ministry. Do not model yourself after worldly artists branded by Satan to carry out his will. Instead, pray for them to be saved rather than imitate them.
If you choose to sing to the Holy One above
Wear proper clothing!
Preach holiness!
Live in holiness!
May the Lord help us!
Answer: Let’s go back to the Scripture…
John 12:3–5 “Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’”
John 12:3–5
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’”
“Nard” comes from a small plant known scientifically as Nardostachys. This plant produces small pink flowers (see picture above) and tiny black fruits. From these, an essential oil nard oil is extracted. It was used in making natural medicines and very costly perfumes, more expensive than most others.
Perfume made from nard was considered extremely precious in biblical times, and it still remains expensive today because of the difficulty in sourcing the plant.
Nardostachys grows in the Himalayan mountain ranges, particularly in Nepal, parts of India, and China. It grows at elevations between 3,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level (5,000 meters is close to the height of Mount Kilimanjaro). Because it grows only in such high and limited areas, it is very rare, which explains why nard ointment was so valuable.
From this, we understand that the ointment Mary used to anoint the Lord had been imported from far away (outside Israel) and was extremely costly. The value three hundred denarii was roughly equivalent to about six million Tanzanian shillings today.
Other passages that mention nard include Song of Solomon 1:12 and Song of Solomon 4:13–14.
To learn more about what we can gain from the woman breaking her alabaster jar and pouring it on the Lord’s head, see here: “She broke the jar and poured it on His head.”
May the Lord bless you.
Answer: Let us go back to the text.
Song of Songs 2:9 “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.”
Song of Songs 2:9
“My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.”
The word lattice refers to a large window in an upper story. These were different from the small, ordinary windows in ground level houses.
An example of such a window is the one from which King Ahaziah fell and was injured:
2 Kings 1:2 “Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, ‘Go and consult Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.’”
2 Kings 1:2
“Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, ‘Go and consult Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.’”
Another example is the window through which Queen Jezebel looked out before being thrown down by the eunuchs:
2 Kings 9:30–33 “Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, ‘Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?’ He looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. ‘Throw her down!’ Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.”
2 Kings 9:30–33
“Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.
As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, ‘Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?’
He looked up at the window and called out, ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
‘Throw her down!’ Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.”
You may also compare this with the word “shubaka” as used in Proverbs 7:6.
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Galatians 5:19–21
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
In the New Testament, the Greek word translated as “impurity” is akatharsia, which literally means “uncleanness” or “filthiness.” It refers to moral corruption, especially of a sexual nature. It goes beyond physical actions and includes impure thoughts, desires, and attitudes (see Matthew 5:28).
While all sin separates us from God (Romans 3:23), Scripture makes it clear that certain behaviors are especially defiling, described as “perversion” or “abomination” due to their deeply corrupt nature.
To better understand what kinds of behaviors qualify as this deep impurity, we can look at the Old Testament, where God provides clear examples:
“Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.”
“If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.”
These verses deal with bestiality and incest, which God labels not just as sin but as “perversion” (Hebrew: tebel – meaning confusion or corruption of divine order). These acts violate both moral law and natural order, and thus are called “impurity” of the highest level.
Paul’s warning in Galatians is clear: “Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). This is not just about individual acts, but about a lifestyle of unrepentant sin.
Jesus came to cleanse us from all impurity (1 John 1:9), but continued willful sin—especially of this severe kind—shows a heart that is not submitted to God (Hebrews 10:26-27). Impurity affects both our relationship with God and our eternal destiny.
The good news of the Gospel is that no sin is beyond God’s forgiveness. Paul himself reminds the church in Corinth:
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.“
Impurity, as mentioned in Galatians 5:19, includes all forms of moral and sexual corruption, especially those that pervert God’s design for human relationships. These sins not only defile the body but also grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). However, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, anyone can be cleansed, forgiven, and restored.
May the Lord help us to pursue purity of heart, mind, and body, and to walk by the Spirit rather than the flesh..