The seventh commandment

Leviticus 19.29

“Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity.”

Prostitution was closely linked to idolatry in pagan practice. It was often the case that pagan centers of worship included male and female prostitutes, whose services, it would seem, were designed to “enhance” the “worship” experience and to enrich the coffers of the pagan priests. Perhaps in pagan cultures a man who offered his daughter as a cult prostitute would be considered to be doing a good thing for the community – at least, the men might think so. But in Israel it was not to be so.

Transgression done in the name of religion soon spreads transgression and depravity throughout the culture. When, in the 19^th century, scholars of religion elevated rationalist and evolutionist principles above the plain reading of the text of Scripture as the key to right interpretation, they not only compromised true religion and undermined the authority of Scripture, but they also hastened the widespread adoption of such principles as normative in all aspects of life. Revelation was thus “gobbled up” (Schaeffer) by reason, and we are still living with the depraved after-effects of this situation.

This series of In the Gates we present a detailed explanation of the Law of God, beginning with the Ten Commandments, and working through the statutes and rules that accompany each commandment. For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the practice of ethics, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store.