Building Hedges against Adultery

During the Allied invasion of France in 1944, a lot of fighting was done in areas bordered by hedgerows. Hedgerows were mounds of earth situated along roads and between fields. These mounds, which measured between 4 and 8 feet high and as much as 10 feet thick, were heavily planted with trees and shrubs. During the war, the dense growth made them tough barriers for armies to get through. In addition, areas surrounded by hedgerows could be easily defended by very few troops.

In the Bible, the word “hedge” is used as a picture of protection. For instance, in Job 1, Satan complains that God has put a hedge around Job and everything he has. With this protection in place, Satan is unable to attack Job. The seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” is God’s way of putting a protective hedge around marriage. This hedge is a strong barrier that is meant to keep the union safe and to keep temptation out.

I don’t have to tell you about the damage that adultery can do; physically, emotionally, and relationally, adultery can wreak havoc in your life. But the greatest damage it does is to your relationship with God. After all, the cry of David in Psa 51 was, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (Psa 51:4).

Of course, adultery is not the unpardonable sin, and it can be forgiven (see 1 John 1:9). But you can prevent adultery by putting a hedge around your married relationship.

Secure your mind. You need to put a hedge around your mind. That’s where the battle is fought and where it is either won or lost. Job offered good advice when he said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl” (Job 31:1 niv).

Block out temptation. Build a hedge against temptation. This is more than just avoiding the magazines, movies, and tv channels that cause you to stumble (not to mention the internet). It also means severing any emotional attachments that threaten your marriage. Maintain appropriate distances in relationships. Flee from temptations.

Recognize your weaknesses. Christians often fall into immorality through overconfidence. They leave themselves wide open to an emotional hook—and then a physical hook. Paul cautioned, “Let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12; nasv, nkjv).

Protect your marriage. Build a hedge of affection around your marriage. Marriages don’t collapse overnight; they suffer a slow leak. Find ways to help your partner grow and feel satisfied. Try writing a letter telling him or her how you felt the day you got married. Maybe renew your vows in a public ceremony. Commit to meeting each other’s needs—emotional, spiritual, and sexual (Paul is very candid about the latter in 1 Cor 7:3–5).

God put a hedge of protection around marriage so that our lives would be full, blessed, and satisfied. We should cultivate and tend that hedge through our thoughts and actions.

Skip Heitzig