THIS PASSAGE DEALS WITH AN UNFAITHFUL WIFE AND A JEALOUS HUSBAND. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT BOTH UNFAITHFULNESS AND JEALOUSY ARE CONSIDERED SIN HERE.
§ THE TRIAL PERMITS GOD TO DECIDE THE WIFE'S INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
· THE OFFERING:
¨ NOTICE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE OFFERING IS "TO BRING INIQUITY TO REMEMBRANCE"(15)
Ø IN OTHER WORDS, AS A MARRIED COUPLE THEY WERE NOT TO KEEP ON FIGHTING ABOUT GUILT OR INNOCENCE AND NEVER ARRIVING AT THE TRUTH. THIS COUPLE WAS ALWAYS LIVING WITH SUSPICIONS AND ACCUSATIONS. GOD PROVIDED A WAY TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION.
§ 1/10 MEASURE OF BARLEY (AN OFFERING OF SACRIFICE)
§ NO OIL (A SYMBOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)
§ NO FRANKINCENSE (A SYMBOL OF A SWEET SMELL TO GOD TO COVER THE BAD SMELL OF DEATH)
¨ THE BITTER WATER:
Ø THE WOMAN, WHETHER INNOCENT OR GUILTY WAS TO DRINK THE BITTER WATER. IF SHE WAS GUILTY, SHE WOULD BECOME SICK AND DIE. IF SHE WAS INNOCENT, NO HARM WOULD COME TO HER.
· THE MEANING:
¨ THIS PASSAGE SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE TO GOD OF FAITHFULNESS AND TRUST BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
¨ THIS PASSAGE SHOWS US GOD'S MERCY TOWARD WOMEN WHO WERE CONSIDERED SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS GOD'S WAY OF PROTECTING AN INNOCENT WOMAN FROM A MAN'S UNJUSTIFIED WRATHFUL ANGER.
Ø REMEMBER THAT THE PUNISHMENT FOR A PERSON CAUGHT IN ADULTERY WAS STONING THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND UP INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT.
¨ THIS PASSAGE ALSO SHOWS GOD'S RELATIONSHIP TO ISRAEL. ISRAEL IS CONSIDERED BY GOD, FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING, TO BE GOD'S WIFE (ISA 54:4-6).
Ø HOWEVER, ISRAEL WAS NOT FAITHFUL TO GOD BUT ALWAYS FOLLOWED OTHER GODS AND IDOLS. THEREFORE, ISRAEL DEPICTS THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE, AND GOD DEPICTS THE JEALOUS HUSBAND.
§ WE SEE THIS DEMONSTRATED IN THE LIFE OF HOSEA, THE PROPHET, WHO WAS MARRIED TO A PROSTITUTE. GOD TOLD HOSEA THAT HIS LIFE WAS JUST LIKE ISRAEL'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. (HOS 4)
§ GOD TOLD ISRAEL IF SHE WAS NOT FAITHFUL TO GOD, THE NATION WOULD DRINK OF THE BITTERNESS OF GOD'S WRATH. (JER 2:19) ISRAEL HAS CONTINUED TO REAP BITTERNESS AND PERSECUTION DOWN THROUGH HISTORY BECAUSE SHE HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Source - Bible Study