A Covenant With My Eyes

[Yitzchak]

Recommended Reading.........A Covenant With My Eyes by Bob Sorge.

A Christian book that runs counter to the culture in a good way. I recommend this book especially if you are a man who struggles with lust. It also makes a good gift for those of us who have sons.

My personal write up and recommendation......

This subject of sexual lust is one that the enemy is aggressive about now more than ever. So many Christian books are written from a defensive posture trying to just hang in there and not sin too badly. This book comes at it from a proactive standpoint and it borrows that theme from the Scripture.

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

I believe that this book and it's theme speaks to men in a language that men understand. It takes one of the passions of a man's heart and turns it in a productive direction. I believe this is what is needed. Simply trying to resist temptation and always being on the defensive trying to suppress our urges is like being on a diet forever. God made us full of passion and he wants us to live fully alive. The answer is found in re-directing our passions with God's help. Not in simply trying to gut it out without messing up too badly. God knows what makes us tick.

The author's personal testimony from the first chapter of the book...

It was December of 2006. In the course of my daily Bible reading, I came to Job 31:1 ' I have made a covenant with my eyes; why should I look upon a young woman ? ' Total consecration to Jesus has always been my passionate pursuit, so I used this verse to prayerfully offer Myself to Him.
" Yes , Lord. Yes. I'm saying yes to You once more. I'm signing up for this all over again. My eyes are Yours. My heart is Yours. I'm fiercely resolved to walk in purity before You. I want to see You. Give me this verse."
I took several minutes to pray repeatedly in this manner when the Holy Spirit interrupted and gently whispered to my heart. " you know you've never actually done it. "
I was nailed.

The testimony continues. This book is the outcome of that heart connection with the Lord that the author had.

Chapter titles..

1. " You've Never Actually Done It "
2. The Strength Of Covenant
3. The Eye Gate
4. A Weapon For Our Times
5. One all-Inclusive Vow
6. Saved From Great Transgression
7. Gas Pedal , Brake Pedal
8. Is It Still Biblical To Make Vows ?
9. What is a Biblical Vow ?
10. Coming Under The Terror Of The Lord
11. Why Men Need To Make A Covenant With Their Eyes
12. Why Women Need To Make A Covenant With their Eyes
13. Practical Advice
14. Writing Your Covenant
15. A Whole Hearted End Time Generation

It is both encouraging and refreshing to hear a fresh and timely word for our generation on this subject. In this time of compromise , this book resonates with strength and conviction that comes from time spent with Jesus. Jesus is not saying throw in the towel and give up. He is not saying retreat and compromise his standards and calling for your life as a Christian man. He is saying that you can do it. You can stand pure and victorious in this generation.



For a free online preview , check out this link....It only gives you the first several chapters. For the whole book , you will need to order a copy. The author , Bob Sorge is a well known Christian author who has written several books. His book ' Unrelenting prayer ' is another book that I have read and highly recommend.






A Covenant with My Eyes - Bob Sorge - Google Books

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I've heard Mike Bickle teach on this very verse and subject, I don't remember if he mentioned this book but I will check it out sometime. I enjoyed the teaching on it and this seems interesting, thanks!

 

[dayhiker]

From my study of the Hebrew word for maid is that its means virgin. Strong's #o1330.

Culturally I've read that most women were married shortly after they went thru puberty as they were considered a woman at that time.

So it seems to me that Job is saying in our words today is that he would look at a pre teen girl with sexual desire which we think of a pedifile.

So does anyone know why this verse is being used to teach that we shouldn't look at a woman today?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Well I would certainly imagine that looking at a main/virgin or however you want to "Hebrew" the word it means exactly as implied here and presumably in this book. Men would marry young virgin girls back in that day, so certainly even if that is what Job meant (and I don't see how either translation affects the verse) it could literally mean he was not going to look at another woman in a lustful way. I don't think people are using the verse to say we shouldn't look at women, only that as Job made a covenant with his eyes not to look at other desirable women we too should make a covenant with our eyes to keep them to ourselves. Looking at other women lustfully opens all sorts of doors that are incredibly difficult to shut. IMHO

 

[Yitzchak]

I've heard Mike Bickle teach on this very verse and subject, I don't remember if he mentioned this book but I will check it out sometime. I enjoyed the teaching on it and this seems interesting, thanks!

Bob Sorge is affiliated with IHOP. But he has his own ministry , as well. He has spent a lot of time at IHOP.

I think God uses Bickles back round in sports. He is surrounding by all of these gifted people and sometimes Bickle seems like a coach putting it all together. One of Bickl's strengths is delegating , but more than that , he motivates and acts like a good coach and then steps back and allows others to run with the vision.

Anyway , on my reading list , when I get the time is Sorge's commentary on the book of Job. It is titled Pain, perplexity and promotion , a prophetic interpretation. I took a quick glance at it but have not purchased it yet. From the introduction.

The book of Job is for today. It is a prophetic picture foretelling God's dealings in His people in the end times.
This book is not written in order to give you greater insight into a book of the Bible. It is written to enable you to understand the nature and purpose of the fire that is touching your life in these last days.

Man , can I ever relate to that...God in these last days is calling out a people who love God for who He is and not for the stuff that God gives them.

 

[Svt4Him]

From my study of the Hebrew word for maid is that its means virgin. Strong's #o1330.

Culturally I've read that most women were married shortly after they went thru puberty as they were considered a woman at that time.

So it seems to me that Job is saying in our words today is that he would look at a pre teen girl with sexual desire which we think of a pedifile.

So does anyone know why this verse is being used to teach that we shouldn't look at a woman today?

Because it's not the same as being a pedophile. That was sin and punishable by death, so Job wouldn't need to say he wouldn't do that if it was culturally unacceptable. And how else is that word used in the Bible?

 

[Yitzchak]

From my study of the Hebrew word for maid is that its means virgin. Strong's #o1330.

Culturally I've read that most women were married shortly after they went thru puberty as they were considered a woman at that time.

So it seems to me that Job is saying in our words today is that he would look at a pre teen girl with sexual desire which we think of a pedifile.

So does anyone know why this verse is being used to teach that we shouldn't look at a woman today?

Because the context of the word usage in the Bible is not speaking of a child. It was speaking of a young woman who was eligible for marriage.

The Hebrew word is usually translated as virgin. I would say in today's terms , it would mean a woman who has made herself available for a relationship of a romantic or sexual nature.



One could speculate that women in that situation back in Job's time , would try to make themselves attractive to catch the attention of potential suitors. The first thought that comes to my mind is the television show the Bachelor. There are 27 women competing for the attention of this man. The culture may be different , but I think it is a similar dynamic. Young women on the hunt for a man. From what I have seen of the show , the women work themselves into a mindset thinking about all the romance and their dreams of a husband , marriage , babies and all that. They are wired for male attention.

I would even go so far as to say that in today's terms , a virgin would include women on the internet that seduce through porn. Of course , these women are no longer virgins in the sense of never having had sex. But they are making themselves available for men to show sexual interest. They are putting themselves out there in that way.

But either way , whether one accepts my speculations as relevant or not , the issue was not pedophilia. The issue was lusting after a young woman.

A few of the other Bible translations render the verse this way.

(CEV) I promised myself never to stare with desire at a young woman.

(ERV) "I made an agreement with my eyes not to look at a young woman in a way that would make me want her.

(GNB) I have made a solemn promise never to look with lust at a woman.