The Temptress

Today's commentary is especially difficult to write because it applies to me, you, and even to preachers. Righteous men and women seem to be attacked more intensely than the unrighteous in the manner presented today. 

The news is full of married politicians who have been unfaithful. Before this decade, it was kept under wraps but even presidents were philanderers. What once was disgraceful is now socially acceptable. Indeed, this sin has become institutionalized and marginalized.

The males have always been looked upon as the most wrong, and oftentimes the females the victims. The feminist movement has sought to give women the same sexual independence as men. That is not really a new thing; it has merely come out into the open. 

Radical feminists credit a legendary "screech owl" named Lilith as the first sexually independent woman. Lilith was created out or misinterpretation of Genesis chapter one and this passage in Isaiah:

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. (Isa 34:14; underlined for emphasis).

The Hebrew word from which "screech owl" is transliterated is "liyliyth"; pronounced lee-leeth' (Lilith) and is known as the "night monster" (Blue Letter Bible). Early writers of the Kabala sect of Judaism identified Lilith as Adam's first wife, believing that the first two chapters of Genesis are two creations. 

The first woman was Lilith, an independent woman, created not from Adam, but independently (Gen 1:27) in contrast to their notion of the second creation where Eve was taken from Adam's side (not rib, by the way) (Gen 2:21). (Note: There is no evidence for the two-creation theory and the account in Genesis chapter one is a summary of the account in Genesis chapter two which God was wont to do throughout the Books of the Law.)

 Screech owls are animals of prey and eat about anything - some prey as large as skunks. They are known to often eat their young, and deplinish their own species. Lilith is demonic and appears in the Book of Zohar 1:5a as "the woman of whoredom" and is Satan's counterpart. Proud feminists use Lilith as a mentor. 

Abortion is endorsed by most feminists, and Lillith is their goddess, not replacing Margaret Sanger, but preceding her! Feminism claims to be about equal opportunity but propagates sexual freedom to act the part of "women of whoredom" which seems to be paramount to the radicals. Eating of their young (aka abortion) is merely collateral damage as the night owls screech!

Lilith, then, is a temptress. Since Adam and Eve covered their genitalia with an apron of fig leaves, many believe the partaking of forbidden fruit was sexual in nature. King David even said that he was "shapen in iniquity" (Psalm 51:5). It may be that rather than focusing on reproduction as God told them to do, the alternate activity may have been pleasuring their libidos. That is merely a hypothesis, albeit based on scripture, but everyone is well aware that sexual pleasuring has always been problematic for both men and women! 

Lust takes many righteous men to the ground. The bait for lust is immodest and provocative women, for the men; and flirtatious men, for the women.

In the story of Joseph, son of Jacob, Potiphar's wife was the temptress according to the following:

Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. (Gen 39:7)

Satan goes after pure people with that tactic. The nature of men is that they are more prone to lust than are women. Ladies, don't blame the men entirely; thanks to Adam they cannot help their temptations, but of course, can their actions! 

Behavior is a reaction to temptation. It is classical conditioning; in the lexicon of psychology - when a potent stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus. The potent stimuli are aggressive behaviors, let's say of the female, and the neutral stimulus is their femininity. Men react to women merely because they are biologically different. When the sexual instinct becomes pronounced, lust ensues. That is measured by some type of "salivation." Oftentimes men express their charms and respond to the flattery by flirtation. All the species have types of flirtation. Those of the female gender in the animal kingdom all flirt with the male species and vice-versa. 

Because Joseph was male, and likely a handsome one, Potiphar's wife commenced the flirtation process. She was more brazen than most, eyeing him provocatively, and actually saying, "Lie with me." Assuming that Potiphar's wife was beautiful, how many men could have the self-control to suppress their lust in favor of righteousness? Not many but Joseph did because he was a truly righteous man!

 King David was tempted by visualization. A clothed woman is tempting, but a naked woman is tantalizing. Never think that Bathsheba was an innocent bather merely being hygienic. Because of God's punishment by the loss of her child, Bathsheba was surely as guilty as David. She was likely a temptress, but merely more subtil than Potiphar's wife! 

Subtilty is the method of Satan (Gen 3:1). That process is to tempt without being caught, or appearing to be innocent. Temptresses do it that way. Whores say, "Come lie with me." Nice women prey on men less obviously; Bathsheba, for instance, seemed to be merely bathing. How naïve can we be? However, David wasn't quite as naïve. He was certain that the role-playing was for his entertainment and perhaps hers.

Probably, Bathsheba was merely flirting. That's what those seeking validation do. They want to be desired; the motive seems not to be for coitus but lust. Bathsheba may have only wanted to imagine that the king desired her. Perhaps she was a faithful wife who merely wanted some excitement in her life as her husband was away at war. It can only be imagined what kindled her fire to exhibit her wares! 

Whores usually pursue wealthy men or those who will spend time with them. The everyday women usually don't care about money; they may admire men for their social status, personalities, body builds, talents, or even things like popularity. Some women may pursue men to demonstrate to other women that they are more desirable. Women flirt to "prove" to themselves that not only do their husbands desire them, but other men do as well.

Of course, what I write applies equally to male tempters as well, but this discourse uses women temptresses as the example. It is imperative that Christians realize that they can be both tempters and the tempted; they are not immune from the wiles of the Devil, but are easier targets because Satan is well aware of the libido of mankind. Of course, God generated the libido to enable reproduction, but Satan misused, as usual, what was once "very good."

The world is full of temptresses and tempters. Lilith still haunts the night. Faithful men still hear and respond to her screech, echoing forth in the darkness of night. Satan can't lay a hand on faithful Christians (Job 1:12), but as a demon, Lilith can. She can lie with the men, and the male "Liliths" can encourage righteous women to lie with them. At the present, a huge problem within the church is sexual sins - fornication and even adultery. Think not? "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Mat 5:28). That also applies to women. 

Preachers don't preach on this subject often, and teachers neglect it as well. Because no one is exempt from temptation, and most Christians want to seem perfect, people fear addressing what is a huge problem. Lust does not mean that someone does not love their spouse, but they are weak in the flesh. Satan knows that, and uses it against Christians. Have you Christians noticed; when you are studying the Word, you are less prone to lust? 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (Jas 4:7-8)

Most Christians fear being exposed as carriers of original sin. They want to be perceived as perfect because perfection is what God desires. By admitting they are human, with human desires, exposes their weaknesses. Sexual temptation is mankind's "kryptonite," and as Superman found out, it's safer not to be exposed to the element which can kill the spirit, if not the flesh!

What can be done in practice? Of course, study the Word of God, but also remove yourselves from temptation. The Lord's Prayer is yours; you are to pray, "Deliver me from temptation." Then what do Christians do? Enter into temptation! Yes, everyone is influenced by what they watch, enjoy, and dwell on. Entertainment is readily available and sexuality infused into all types of movies and television programs. 

How people dress and present themselves are also manners of temptation. Never dress the part of the temptress or tempter. Cease acting, if you do, as if you need attention. Flattery promotes you and provides a flamingo-like spread of your beautiful wings. It's not worth it, for eventually you'll be the "bird" in some demon's oven!