Leviticus 18:16-20: a reflection

16“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness. 17“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness. 18“‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive. 19“‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. 20“‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.

Among God's laws for his people come clear commands guarding the faithfulness of marriage. You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, God says; and he forbids taking a wife's sister as a rival to her. These commands protect the exclusive, faithful bond of marriage, forbidding what would betray it, whether adultery with another's spouse or the introduction of a rival into one's own marriage. God guards the faithfulness of the marriage bond, setting his face against what would betray it. The exclusive, faithful union of marriage was to be protected, not violated by unfaithfulness or the intrusion of a rival.

Notice what these commands guard: the faithfulness of the marriage bond. God forbids adultery, the betrayal of the marriage covenant with another's spouse; and he forbids setting up a rival within one's own marriage. The marriage bond was to be exclusive and faithful, and God set his commands to protect it from betrayal. He cares that marriage be faithful, that the covenant not be violated, that the exclusive bond between husband and wife be honored and kept. The faithfulness of marriage matters to God; he guards it, forbidding what would betray or rival it. The exclusive, faithful union was to be protected as sacred, not broken by unfaithfulness.

That is worth taking to heart, for God cares about the faithfulness of marriage and calls us to guard it. We can treat the faithfulness of marriage lightly, tempted toward what would betray the bond, or allowing rivals to intrude on the exclusive union; but God's commands guard the faithfulness of marriage, forbidding what would betray it. The exclusive, faithful bond of marriage is sacred to God, and he calls us to keep it. Do not treat the faithfulness of marriage lightly, allowing what would betray the bond; guard it, as God's commands protect the exclusive, faithful union. Guard the faithfulness of marriage, keeping its bond exclusive and faithful and refusing what would betray it, as God's commands protect the marriage covenant from adultery and rivalry; for God cares that marriage be faithful and its bond honored, and he calls us to keep the exclusive union sacred rather than betraying it or allowing a rival to intrude.

Lord, among your laws for your people come clear commands guarding the faithfulness of marriage. You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, you say; and you forbid taking a wife's sister as a rival to her. These commands protect the exclusive, faithful bond of marriage, forbidding what would betray it. You guard the faithfulness of the marriage bond, setting your face against what would betray it. Show me what these commands guard: the faithfulness of the marriage bond. You forbid adultery, the betrayal of the marriage covenant; and you forbid setting up a rival within one's own marriage. The marriage bond was to be exclusive and faithful, and you set your commands to protect it from betrayal. You care that marriage be faithful, that the covenant not be violated, that the exclusive bond between husband and wife be honored and kept. The faithfulness of marriage matters to you. Take that to my heart, for you care about the faithfulness of marriage and call me to guard it. I can treat the faithfulness of marriage lightly, tempted toward what would betray the bond, or allowing rivals to intrude on the exclusive union; but your commands guard the faithfulness of marriage. The exclusive, faithful bond of marriage is sacred to you. Keep me from treating the faithfulness of marriage lightly, allowing what would betray the bond; help me guard it, Lord, keeping its bond exclusive and faithful and refusing what would betray it, as your commands protect the marriage covenant from adultery and rivalry.