“’Only acknowledge your guilt—you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’ declares the Lord’” (Jeremiah 3:13).
In chapter 3, Jeremiah is addressing the spiritual adultery of Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom). His description of their actions is very vivid. “Is there any place where you have not been ravished? By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness” (Jeremiah 3:2). They had rebelled against the Lord and had not acknowledged their guilt.
Adultery can be described as “that which should be given to your spouse is given to someone or something else.” Applying this to one’s covenant relationship with God this would read, “what belongs to God is given to someone or something else.” Adultery can only be committed in a marriage relationship. Likewise, spiritual adultery can only be committed by those who have entered into a new covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
It is natural for the unregenerate to live according to their sinful nature. It is, however, unnatural for those who have been born again to live according to their old sinful nature. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).
The marriage covenant between a man and a woman illustrates our relationship with God. Jesus is the groom and the Church is the bride of Christ. God informs us that a believer whose affections and loyalty are divided between Jesus and the world is considered an adulterer. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Spiritual adultery is very obvious in the words of Jeremiah concerning Israel and Judah. How does spiritual adultery take place today?
SPIRITUAL ADULTERY TAKES PLACE WHEN YOU KNOWINGLY DISOBEY THE WILL OF GOD! It is one thing when a believer falls into sin and then immediately repents. Spiritual adultery occurs when a believer chooses to willfully sin. It is knowingly intentional. When this happens we are at the doorstep of deception as we believe we are still in close fellowship with God when in reality we are not. We see this very thing in Judah’s response. God says, “Have you not just called to me: ‘My Father, my friend from my youth, will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?’ This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can” (Jeremiah 3:4-5).
Adultery in a marriage is heart-breaking and maybe even, relationship-ending. Spiritual adultery is exponentially greater in its consequences. It is nothing to fool around with. Judah did not acknowledge their guilt. They did not repent. We must learn from their mistakes. Has spiritual adultery crept into your life? Are there areas in your life where you knowingly disobey the will of God? The good news is God is always ready for reconciliation as He indicated to Judah and to us, “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding” (Jeremiah 3:22).
Do not delay! Do it today!