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passion and shame

Deuteronomy 22:28-30 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 22:28 If a man encounters a young woman, a virgin who is not engaged, takes hold of her and rapes her, and they are discovered,
Deuteronomy 22:29 the man who raped her is to give the young woman’s father fifty silver shekels, and she will become his wife because he humiliated her. He cannot divorce her as long as he lives.
Deuteronomy 22:30 “A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not violate his father’s marriage bed.

passion and shame

Both of these prohibitions deal with sexual passion out of control. The covenant community recognized the place for sexual passion, but also understood the need for all human desires to be controlled a regard for others. A young woman violated, or a widow or divorcée violated incestuously — would bring shame upon the community. Aside from the obvious vulgar and violent act of rape itself, there would be an honor crime involved in these cases.

Lord, instill in us a discipline which respects the rights of others, and keeps our own passions under control.