And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. (Genesis 34:2)

Some chapters of the Word of God offer hope and victory, and others show the ugliness of sin. Let us not despise the Lord for showing us what sin has done in the human heart. Instead, let us rejoice that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

Genesis 34 tells of a young girl who found tragedy. Going to visit the women of the land, she caught the eye of a heathen prince, who took her and wrought “folly.” The Bible does not say that the two had an affair or an encounter. The Bible says that Shechem defiled Dinah.

·        “and defiled her" (v. 2)

·        "he had defiled Dinah his daughter" (v. 5)

·        "because he had wrought folly in Israel" (v. 7)

·        "in lying with Jacob's daughter" (v. 7)

·        "which thing ought not to be done" (v. 7)

·        "because he had defiled Dinah their sister" (v. 13)

·        "because they had defiled their sister" (v. 27)

·        "Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?" (v. 31)

Let us treat this passage as Scripture does. Dinah was defiled.

Never once do we read that Shechem came to Jacob and said, “I have sinned against your daughter,” nor do we see where he repented before God. He defiled Jacob’s daughter, but what was his response? He and his father came looking for her hand in marriage. They made it sound like a good deal by stating that the tribes could intermingle, trade, and become wealthier! When Shechem should have spoken of repentance, he spoke of romance and money. He proclaimed his feelings for the young woman, but his feelings did not overrule God’s verdict.

Dinah’s defilement reveals that the world’s values are not God’s values.

God’s righteousness and the world’s morality are not the same. The world says, “Love is love,” yet God speaks of sodomy as an abomination. Others shout, “my body, my choice,” but the Lord says, “Thou shalt not kill.” A man might justify sex outside of marriage by telling a girl, “I love you; it’s okay.” The Word of God says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” The world says, “As long as you’re 21, it’s okay,” but the Bible tells us, “Wine is a mocker.” States may legalize marijuana and other drugs, but a soberminded Christian cannot indulge in such behavior.

Others proudly proclaim, “I’m a good person!” Yet, the Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There are those who foolishly believe, “I have my own way to Heaven,” but Jesus said, “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

The world’s values are not God’s values, and believers in Christ are called to live a holy life, not just a life that a sinful culture might call good.

Without Jesus Christ, we are all lost and headed for Hell, which is the just penalty of our sins. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus is God’s only begotten Son, who paid for our sins (He is sinless) on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead! By faith in Him, sinners have everlasting life.

Believers in Christ are commanded to live holy lives. Do not take your values from the world. They may call it good. They may say it’s acceptable, but the Christian asks God what is acceptable!

Our own feelings are not the standard for what is right and wrong.

Our own conscience is not the standard for what is right and wrong.

The Word of God, applied by the Holy Spirit, is our line of truth.

Shechem may have called it “love,” but God called it “defilement.” Those two are not the same.

The world’s values are not God’s values.

Thank you to Pastor Lewey for writing todays devotional.