It is fair to say that most of our young people want to please God and would not intentionally violate His will. They don’t mind straightforward teaching, but they want evidence. They don’t want to believe something just because mom and dad do or because "that’s what the preacher says." they want to be shown from Scripture what is right and wrong. Once this done in a clear way, they are willing to do what God wants them to do. This article is given to such young people for careful consideration so each can "work out his own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

The Bible teaches that public swimming is wrong because: PUBLIC SWIMMING IS IMMODEST- "in like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel..." (I Timothy 2:9).

Nobody questions whether it is right or wrong to swim. The question is, "Is it right for a Christian to wear abbreviated swimwear in public?" The reason that public swimming is dangerous to young people is because of what people wear when they go. It is a sin to dress immodestly. Sin separates one from God’s favor now (Isaiah 59:1,2) and eventually will separate one from heaven (Revelation 21:27).

How can we determine what is modest? Adorn means to "garnish or trim...to put something on" Modest (kosmio) can apply to a salary, house, or anything moderate, appropriate, and humble. Here it means "well arranged...as in the orderly universe; decent, modest..." (Vine). English dictionaries define modest as "...behaving according to a standard of what is proper...especially not displaying one’s body..." (Webster) and "...decent or chaste; not calling attention to one’s body..." (Thorndike-Barnhart).

We can be immodest by wearing too much or too little. Wearing tuxedos to worship services, with diamonds and gold on each finger, would be immodest even if the whole body were covered. Modest apparel is clothing that does not draw attention to a person sexually. It de-emphasizes the sexual aspects of the body and thereby does not arouse evil desires.

How can we determine modesty? Is it just left up to the individual or to social norms? One helpful principle comes from the story of Adam and Eve after they sinned and realized the shame of their nakedness. They covered themselves with fig leaves (similar to swim attire), yet God was not satisfied. He clothed them in animal skins (Genesis 3:21). This word (ore) indicates a covering from the shoulder to the knee (Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies), and gives insight into how much of the body God wanted covered. Does your swimsuit cover that much?

—more next week (This series was written by Allen Webster, with slight adaptations by the editor.)

Psalm 16: Jesus Speaks Through David

According to 1 Peter 1:10-12, the "Spirit of Christ" inspired the writing of the Old Testament. Some of that writing dealt with the needs of the people at that time, some was for the future (that is, prophecies), and some included both elements.

Psalm 16 includes both elements. David began the psalm writing about events and issues in his life, but he ended it by predicting the resurrection of Christ!

This psalm has an interesting connection with the previous one. In Psalm 15, he had asked and answered the question, "Who may abide in thy tabernacle?" In this psalm, he describes the life of one who is actually walking with God in the fellowship that preserves the soul.

for in You I put my trust (v. 1)

The holy desire of the faithful is to be "preserved" by God. He has promised that if we put our trust in Him—which includes the faithful life of obedience—He will preserve us. To preserve something is to keep it safe, to keep it from rotting or spoiling, to keep it in a useful condition.

"They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight" (vv. 2,3).

In this section, David has a conversation with himself which shows that he is confident that the decisions he has made are wise. In verse 2, his choice to serve God and depend on Him is confirmed as wise, and it links his goodness to God. In verse 3, his choice to serve God has caused him to have a proper view of the faithful—he delights in them.

All too often Satan attacks our spiritually wise decisions by using ungodly people to mock us for loving God and enjoying the fellowship of those who love to do that which is right.

It is good to have these conversations "with our souls" so that we can confirm the soundness of the path we have chosen!

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance (vv. 4-6)

These verses describe the true contrast between the condition of sinners (v. 4) and saints (vv. 5,6). Those who follow "another"—anyone or anything other than God—will reap as they sow (multiplied sorrows). David makes a vow that he will not do anything to associate himself with a false god (v. 4). Then he describes the condition he is in because of his choice to do right (vv. 5,6; see Joshua 24:15). God is his portion, his maintainer, the source of pleasant things, and the giver of a good inheritance. No life can promise and deliver such blessings—except the life that follows the ways of Jehovah (Psalm 1).

counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons (v. 7)

The source of this blessing-filled life is the counsel of Jehovah, which teaches his heart and instructs him in the "night seasons." This does not mean that the counsel of the Lord is some "better-felt-than-told" revelation! The counsel of the Lord is the BIBLE! Let us meditate in it day and night! The Bible should be a part of every day and night!

Are you being counseled by God as often as David was?

I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (vv. 8-11)

This last section of Psalm 16 is the prophecy. It is quoted by Peter in Acts 2:25-28 and by Paul in Acts 13:35. In both places, the New Testament says that David was not talking about himself! Peter, in Acts 2, teaches that David was prophetically foreseeing the resurrection of Christ (about 1000 years away). Paul, in Acts 13, teaches the same thing about the Psalm and connects the psalm with the fact that the Person of Psalm 16 is Jesus Christ, through Whom sinners can receive the remission of sins.

We should also note that some writers (even in the churches of Christ) deny the authority and meaning of Psalm 16, in spite of the clear statements of TWO APOSTLES! In the Sweet Commentary on Psalms, the authors, Tony Ash and Clyde Miller, actually published such evil claims. With reference to verse 10, they say that no matter how Peter interpreted it in Acts 2, "the psalmist is not teaching resurrection here." If Psalm 16 is not teaching resurrection—there is no possibility that anyone could be right in saying that it DOES teach resurrection. But Peter, Paul, and the Holy Spirit claim that DAVID wrote Psalm 16 and that he WAS teaching resurrection ("he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ"; Acts 2:31). It is no wonder that the Lord's church is facing so much internal struggle, when we learn that such men as Tony Ash are not rejected by all (a few years ago, he spoke at Ohio Valley College, and affirmed the very errors that are being refuted in this article).

Let us not be robbed of the power and value of the prophets and passages in the Old Testament. David foresaw the resurrection of Christ and was motivated to faithful living; Peter preached from Psalm 16 and motivated about 3000 to be immersed that very day; Paul used Psalm 16 and many were led to want to hear more; and we should use Psalm 16 to look back on it, reconfirming our faith that our decision to be preserved by Jehovah is still the right thing to do!