Some
years later Judah's wife died. After the time of mourning was over, Judah and
his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to supervise the
shearing of his sheep. Genesis 38:12
Hirah had been
Judah’s friend for a long time. It was Hirah that Judah was visiting when he
met the Canaanite young lady, Shua, who became his wife and bore him three
sons. Hirah may have seemed like a good friend to Judah—going along to
supervise the sheep shearing. This friend didn’t hold Judah accountable when Judah
encountered a woman he thought was a prostitute. Hirah even did as Judah asked
and took a sheep to the “temple prostitute” to get back Judah’s pledge. But
there was no prostitute—she was widow of Judah’s son. Because Tamar became pregnant
with Judah’s twin sons, Judah could have been accused of adultery…and shamed by
his community. But he wasn’t. Another wrinkle is created in the Tribe of
Judah—the ancestry line of Jesus.
Friends should be
supportive. Hirah was…but…and there is always a but involved in a sinful act…he
was not encouraging Judah in a positive way. Men and women should be both be
held accountable for purity. Tamar wasn’t a prostitute…but Judah could not be
considered a friend to her. Their family history was not very good. Judah’s two older sons had been evil and
disrespectful and so the Lord had taken their lives. Now the youngest son was
old enough to be given to Tamar to fulfill his obligation to create an heir for
his brother—but Judah was not willing to give him up for fear that the Lord
would take his life also. No friendship involved in those relationships.
 |
| Seek purity. Look for what is true, honorable, right, pure and lovely. |
What do we learn
about friendship from this story? Friends, like Hirah, although they’ve been
longtime friends don’t always lead a friend into a positive relationship and
encourage accountability. We need to do what we know is right and good—and that
doesn’t involve prostitution or unaccountable pledges that friends can’t
deliver. Do what is right.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one
final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and
pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and
worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8
Was Judah
thinking about the honorable, right, pure and admirable thing to do as he was
going to shear those sheep? Or was he just thinking about the lovely…the lovely
Tamar who he thought was a prostitute? Think about things that are excellent and
worthy of praise. The lovely, good and pure thoughts lead to lovely, good
and pure actions that are acceptable to the Lord.
Prayer
~ Lord, help me to focus on…things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Bring
into my life friends that I can count on to hold me accountable…and that I can
hold accountable. May our lives bring You glory and honor…as we seek and serve
You.
Daily
Bible Reading: John 5
© 2018 photo and
text by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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