The Priest would make a mixture of “bitter water,” combining holy water (probably from the Laver) and dirt from the floor of the Tabernacle in an earthen vessel. He would bring the woman before the Lord, uncover her head, put the offering of barley meal in her hand, and charge her by an oath that if she was innocent, nothing negative would happen to her, but if she was guilty, she would be cursed. She would respond by saying, “Amen, amen,” acknowledging the validity of the oath and accepting the inevitable consequences of the curse. He would write the curses in a book and erase them with the bitter water. After he had waved the offering before the Lord and offered part of it on the Altar, he would give her the bitter water to drink.<\/div>\n
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If she was innocent, everything would remain normal in regard to her child-bearing abilities and she would be cleared of all suspicion. If she was guilty, she would be struck with a serious disease process that would make her infertile (probably a serious cancer or something similar) or, if she was carrying an illegitimate child she would have a miscarriage and be infertile and cursed among the people. Divorce following this trial is not mentioned but we can assume that it was part of the retribution.<\/div>\n
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This Law of Jealousies was invoked when a wife was suspected of unfaithfulness. Naturally, she would deny it, but this was a situation that could not be trifled with. It was her husband’s right to know the truth and her obligation to let it be known. Since there were no witnesses to testify regarding her guilt or innocence, God Himself testified as a witness, the True Witness. Drinking the bitter water revealed her true character.<\/div>\n
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Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Psalm 139:23, 24<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Bitter Cup<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
There have been many times when God has given His people a bitter cup to drink, not in the sense of proving their guilt, but to reveal their true character – are they submissive and cooperative with a positive attitude or are they bitter and rebellious. The Bible tells us over and over how the saints have gone through difficulties that showed what they were really like.<\/div>\n
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Those things which seem to the Christian most grievous to be borne often prove his greatest blessing. Reproach and falsehood have ever followed those who were faithful in the discharge of duty. A righteous character, though blackened in reputation by slander and falsehood, will preserve the purity of its virtue and excellence. Trampled in the mire, or exalted to heaven, the Christian’s life should be the same, and the proud consciousness of innocence is its own reward. The persecution of enemies tests the foundation upon which the reputation really rests. Sooner or later it is revealed to the world whether or not the evil reports were true, or were the poisoned shafts of malice and revenge. Constancy in serving God is the only safe manner of settling such questions. Jesus would have his people use great care to give the enemies of his cause no ground to condemn their holy faith. No wrong action should cast a stigma upon its purity. When all arguments fail, the slanderers frequently open their galling fire upon the besieged servants of God; but their lying tongues eventually bring curses upon themselves. God will finally vindicate the right, honor the guiltless, and hide them in the secret of his pavilion from the strife of tongues.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Spirit of Prophecy<\/u>, Vol. 2, p. 212, 213<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Character is revealed by a crisis. . . . Character is revealed by circumstances. Emergencies bring out the true metal of character. Some sudden and unlooked-for calamity, bereavement, or crisis, some unexpected sickness or anguish, something that brings the soul face to face with death, will bring out the true inwardness of the character. It will be made manifest whether or not there is any real faith in the promises of the word of God. It will be made manifest whether or not the soul is sustained by grace, whether there is oil in the vessel with the lamp. . . . Testing times come to all. How do we conduct ourselves under the test and proving of God?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Review and Herald, September 17, 1895<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Job was accused by Satan of being a selfish hypocrite, so God allowed him to put Job through a severe test that clearly revealed his true character.<\/div>\n
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After losing all he had–<\/div>\n
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Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Job 1:20-22<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
After losing his health–<\/div>\n
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Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Job 2:9, 10<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Job 13:15<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Joseph had to endure the bitterness of hatred, slavery, and prison. Then he was pushed to the other extreme of high honor and great power.<\/div>\n
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From the dungeon Joseph was exalted to be ruler over all the land of Egypt. It was a position of high honor, yet it was beset with difficulty and peril. One cannot stand upon a lofty height without danger. As the tempest leaves unharmed the lowly flower of the valley, while it uproots the stately tree upon the mountaintop, so those who have maintained their integrity in humble life may be dragged down to the pit by the temptations that assail worldly success and honor. But Joseph’s character bore the test alike of adversity and prosperity. The same fidelity to God was manifest when he stood in the palace of the Pharaohs as when in a prisoner’s cell.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Patriarchs and Prophets<\/u>, p. 222<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
When the request was brought to Jesus for James and John to have places of honor in His kingdom, He reminded them that there was a bitter cup to drink first.<\/div>\n
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Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Matthew 20:20-23<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Jesus bears tenderly with them, not rebuking their selfishness in seeking preference above their brethren. He reads their hearts, He knows the depth of their attachment to Him. Their love is not a mere human affection; though defiled by the earthliness of its human channel, it is an outflowing from the fountain of His own redeeming love. He will not rebuke, but deepen and purify. He said, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They recall His mysterious words, pointing to trial and suffering, yet answer confidently, “We are able.” They would count it highest honor to prove their loyalty by sharing all that is to befall their Lord.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
“Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with,” He said; before Him a cross instead of a throne, two malefactors His companions at His right hand and His left. John and James were to share with their Master in suffering; the one, first of the brethren to perish with the sword; the other, longest of all to endure toil, and reproach, and persecution.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Desire of Ages<\/u>, p. 548, 549<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The majority of God’s people throughout history have had cups of varying bitterness to drink. It seems to be part of the standard procedure of character development. We also, in this modern time, will have to drink the bitter cup to reveal what we really are deep down inside.<\/div>\n
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Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01 Peter 4:1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Trial of Our Faith<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In this time of trial we need to be encouraged and comforted by one another. The temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before, for he knows that his time is short and that very soon every case will be decided, either for life or for death. It is no time now to sink down beneath discouragement and trial; we must bear up under all our afflictions and trust wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. The Lord has shown me that His grace is sufficient for all our trials; and although they are greater than ever before, yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation and through His grace come off victorious.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. We must have on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment for a conflict with the powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. Oh, that all could see these things in their true light and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the power of His might.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. But those who receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified. It is no small thing to be a Christian and to be owned and approved of God.<\/em> . . .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Early Writings<\/u>, p. 46, 47<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
What will happen when a bitter cup is handed to you?<\/strong><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither … <\/p>\n
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