Do you feel lucky? The Seventh Commandment is brought to you by the Hebrew Letter Zayin and the Number Seven! What can we learn about this instruction?
ZAYIN (7th Commandment) “Do not commit adultery.” 
ZAYIN is a sword, a divider or a plow. It is also the number SEVEN which means perfection or completeness. [Just as the first week of creation was completed in seven days]
If we look at the big picture, there are several things being said in this simple statement.
We are not to have adulterous affairs when we are married, and we are not to participate in sexual activity outside of marriage.
SEVEN IS PERFECTION OR COMPLETENESS
Why is Seven important? Once you begin to study the connections between numbers and concepts it fairly leaps off the page.
Just as we celebrate Shabbat on the 7th day, and just as we count 7 weeks of 7s (Shavuot) and just as 70 bulls were sacrificed at the Fall Feasts to atone for the nations, and 70 weeks mark the length of Yeshua’s ministry, seven is everywhere you look! Seven branches on the Menorah, Seven Days for Unleavened Bread and Sukkot, 7 pairs of clean animals on Noah’s Ark! It makes you think that 7 is important to the Father, doesn’t it?
WHY A DIVIDER?
It is hard to think of anything that causes more hurt, division or broken families than unfaithfulness. It is also hard to imagine a subject that, when ignored, has led to more ruined lives, disease and lost souls, than sex without marriage. That is probably why the Bible has much to say about proper behavior in these matters. But, just as traditional marriage is for our benefit, it is also to be a model for the believer’s relationship as the bride of Yeshua.
We’ve all heard the following verses at wedding ceremonies:
Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore, what God has joined together, man must never separate.”
It is pretty obvious how this commandment relates to marriage, but how does it work in our relationship with our Father? Mark 10:8 says that the two become one. Isn’t that what we wish for in our relationship with our Father?
MARRIAGE IS A TYPE AND SHADOW
Earthly marriage is a type and shadow of our marriage supper with the Lamb.
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. 8 She has been given the privilege of wearing fine linen, dazzling and pure.” (The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.) 9 Then the angel told me, “Write this: ‘How blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!'” He also told me, “These are the true words of God.”
TWO BECOME ONE
Marriage makes two people one, and we would all like to be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, that implies completeness (oneness). Seven symbolizes completeness.
So why are we here at the Seventh commandment that is talking about division instead of oneness?
Don’t we all want a relationship that is complete with an abiding love? Where there is no room for adultery?
John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
CONNECTIONS
In a very powerful way, we can connect this 7th commandment with the 4th commandment, the 3rd commandment, and the 2nd commandment!
WHY IS THE 4TH COMMANDMENT CONNECTED TO ADULTERY?
If we observe a day not commanded by YHVH instead of remaining faithful to His Holy Day, the Sabbath, isn’t that practicing adultery? Isn’t this placing a day not of His choosing in place, or in front of, Him? He made Sabbath special! Isn’t it akin to adultery to consider it unimportant?
In familiar terms: wouldn’t it be wise to remember our anniversary? I’m sure He will not forget.
WHAT ABOUT THE 3RD COMMANDMENT?
If we bring idols (man-made laws and doctrine) into His house, that is adultery as well! When we celebrate man-made festivals that have pagan roots and try to ‘sanitize’ them and ‘dedicate’ them to YHVH, we are following our own desires. We have, in essence, said to the Father, “I don’t care what you asked me to do (the Feasts of YHVH), I am going to follow my own ideas and take it for granted that you will approve!”
I submit that no matter how sincerely we try to place lipstick on the pig that is Christmas or Easter (both rooted in pagan practices and the occult) that it is still an abomination to the Father. Especially since He gave us His instructions on How He wanted to be Loved, Honored and Obeyed!
It would be the same as celebrating your wedding anniversary on the date you married your first spouse and expecting your new wife to agree to that! He established His ‘anniversary’ dates in Leviticus 23. It has never changed by His decree.
WHAT ABOUT THE 2nd COMMANDMENT?
Remember how the Second Commandment warns not to ‘take His Name in vain?’ It is the same as accepting the name of your husband when you marry. From that time on, everything you say and do is a reflection on the ‘name’ and reputation of your spouse! To sully that name is really akin to committing adultery!
If we dismiss our behavior as if it had no consequence, we have taken our husband’s name in vain. We have become un-faithful to our vow to honor our spouse! If we are unfaithful in word or deed we have fallen into adultery. We expect fidelity to our word in marriage, don’t we?
The same is true of our Father! Insincerity in our promise to follow him is taking His Name in vain.
It is impossible to be unfaithful when you are ONE with your spouse! However, if you have a divided heart (divided loyalties) it is easy to be unfaithful.
Put another way: if we are going to Take His Name as our own, then we cannot bring in anything, or anyone, that would cause division in that relationship.
PAUL TOLD OF A MYSTERY
Paul instructs us that there is a parallel between a husband and wife and Yeshua and the Church.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
If marriage is a parallel to being one with our Messiah, then anything that divides that relationship is adultery. How many times is adultery the cause of divorce? Yeshua spoke on this:
Mar 10:2 Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”
And when he was pressed later by his disciples he said:
Mar 10:11 So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
The reason why Yeshua laid down His life on our behalf is more than just to pay our death penalty. That would be quite enough! But, we serve an awesome and loving Father that wants to be reconciled to his children. He also wants to be reconciled with his bride!
I THOUGHT DIVORCE WAS FOREVER!
Yeshua satisfied the Law of the Adulterous Bride too. Why? So that He may return and re-marry the wife (Israel) that he divorced for her unfaithfulness. How could that happen? Are you curious?
I hope this has piqued your interest to look into this subject for yourself. It is the other half of the mystery that Paul spoke about. Hint: After divorce, the Torah prohibits re-marriage unless the husband dies.
Matt 7:7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you.”
ZAYIN
The symbol of Zayin as a sword is also worthy of consideration. Ephesians gives us a list of attributes we must put on as the armor of God. This includes a sword!
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Knowing a little about the sword of the spirit should make sense in the context of the seventh commandment. The Word is the Sword. It will divide us from our relationship with our Creator if we do not heed what it says.
YESHUA IS THE WORD AND THE WORD IS A SWORD!
A sword of division!
Yeshua said:
Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
When we return to John 1:1 and understand that our Messiah Is the Word, we can ponder the profound message given here:
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
But, here is the great part! Being One with the Word gives us the power of His Hand to Do His Will (see YOD/10th Commandment)…a weapon against evil!
HOW DO WE BECOME FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS?
The following is a ‘love-letter’ from our Savior to His disciples. This explains how to be one with Him and to be faithful followers:
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
I’M NOT KIDDING! THIS IS A LOVE LETTER! READ THE REST:
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
And He did lay down his life for us! Why? Perhaps we did not hear the cry of His Heart:
Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!
LAST THOUGHT
I have a friend that said, ‘When you divorce the Torah from the ‘New Testament’ it always produces lawlessness.’ Are you beginning to connect the dots? Anything we do that is contrary to His Law is adultery.
Isn’t it time we learn to be faithful to the one who loved us enough to die in our place?
