Genesis 24 - God's Will and Your Spouse

Genesis 24:14 - now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’—may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”

Message: God's Will and Your Spouse

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying: It is not a mystery in my life that I make things more complicated than they should be. And perhaps many of us do this. When I was first trying to figure out what I would do with my life, I was waiting for a lightning bolt or writing on the wall. As I think about the journey, I took, it was often based upon reason and choosing what I thought was the best decision at the time. There was constantly some level of wondering as to whether I had made the right decision. When I think also of Pamela and marrying her. I do believe I received a lightning bolt in that I had a dream about her and it was clear in that dream that she was the one I would marry. I think up to that point, I wasn't really thinking much about her, so maybe I needed that wake-up call. But for the most part, simply knowing that she was a Christian and a friend of the Lear's was good enough for me. It was really in our courtship that I began to know better the soft heart she had for the Word of God and studying it. 

This study today mentions that the lightning bolt experiences, even the one mentioned here in Genesis 24, but these sort of occurrences should not be what we are waiting to happen before we marry. Instead, it mentions general principles:

1. Is the potential spouse a believer (2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?) - For me, I know this was #1 on my list. I had dated a gal after high school that wasn't a believer and that was a problem in the relationship. Even dating someone of a different denomination for me was an issue with the next person I dated. Her faith was there, but she did not bridge that faith to living her life as much. 
2. Are these individuals that one can submit to, if a woman, or love deeply and lead, if a man (Ephesians 5:22-33)? I think in the love department, this comes down to being attractive to a person. Maybe at first I wasn't and then grew into this. But I could tell that she was sensitive to a man being a leader. 
3. Is the potential spouse not a relative to whom God would prohibit marriage (Leviticus 18)? This one did not seem like a concern ever. 
4. For a woman, is the potential husband a hard worker who will provide (I Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.)? For the man, is the potential wife prudent (Proverbs 19:14 - House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.)? - Pamela had dreams, was fun to speak with, and had a good upbringing. I could see this and she read God's word and was careful about its application in her life. 
5. Do you enjoy one another's company (Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.)? - I think this is part of attraction and spending time together. This was also something I immediately enjoyed with Pamela. I always think of sitting at Furr's Cafeteria and listening to her talk. 

So these are basics that come about after initial attraction I think, at least for me. And another reminder to me that God has set up parameters for our lives without decreeing specifics. 

Summary: We are to be guided by wisdom and the principles of Scripture in both choosing a vocation and a spouse.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your guidance and helping me through all these years discern my future work and my wife. You work through my wife continually and she is the best partner for me. I seriously don't understand why you are so good to me, but I am so thankful. Please guide my children to make decisions that honor you. 

Psalm 27:4 - The Beauty of Worship

Psalm 27:4 - One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. 

Message: The Beauty of Worship

Time: Psalms, a collection of lyrical poems, with multiple authors. David wrote 73 Psalms, though for 50 or so the author is unknown. Psalms means songs of praise. The writings span 1,000 years. They encourage us to praise God, illuminate the greatness of God, affirm His faithfulness in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His word. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

Wow, that is a great verse. That could be a life verse for me, to dwell with the Lord, in His house, to behold His beauty and meditate in His temple, on His words. And this is my plea to God, make me this my priority in life. Psalm 27. What a great Psalm. Verse 11 says "Teach me Thy Way, O Lord." 

As I continue to study and look at worship, according to Tabletalk this lesson is based upon sermons given by RC Sproul about "Recovering the Beauty of the Arts." Today's passage mentions "To behold the beauty of the Lord." But how do we see the beauty of the Lord when the Bible tells us that God is invisible (Hebrews 11:27 - 'Him who is unseen;' John 1:18 - 'No one has seen God at any time;' Colossians 1:15 - 'Jesus is the image of the invisible God;' I Timothy 6:16 - 'No man has seen or can see;' Note: I could not find verses from the Old Testament about God being invisible, but there are verses that say we can't see God like Exodus 33:20 - "No one can see God and live.")? 

The Old Testament speaks much about God's temple or his tabernacle. It seems to give the idea that our churches can be places that we build and craft with ornaments and decorations in order to see beauty and see the beauty of the Lord. Exodus 28 speaks of the priests attire. Exodus 31 talks of the tabernacle and its furnishings. One of my favorite verses in Romans 1 says in verse 20, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes...have been clearly seen through what has been made." The creation that we can see allows us to see God that we cannot see. 

I love to go walking in creation. The streets of my neighborhood are nice because I can see plants and trees planted and look up at the sky but when I go hiking everything that I see is his creation. And in this there is such beauty. And in the process I am often moved to worship. Right now, I look out my window and see the clouds rolling by with the sun coming over the mountain and it creates a beautiful picture of creation giving me wonderful colors in the sky. I see this and in way I am seeing the beauty of the Lord. 

Not all churches I think are beautiful. Some are ordinary or in a shopping mall. And simply being there together with others helps us experience God's presence. But many of our churches are beautiful places with high ceilings and stained glass radiating the light from outside and furniture that is distinct. In all of these places there is the beauty of the Lord. In all that is pleasing to our eye, there is beauty of the Lord. And therefore, there is beauty of worship. 

Summary: The beauty of the Lord is seeing what God has made in His creation but also in His temple and specified in people's attire. All of these colors help us to worship God. 

Promise: Pursue beauty and excellence in worship. Use our talents and spiritual gifts to create beauty. 

Prayer: Thank you for beauty God, for the beauty of creation which includes what you have planted and have provided with mountains, streams, rivers, water, trees, plants, flowers and what we can put in place in our churches through paintings and paint and furniture and then also in each other. I thank you for the wonder of my wife and her smile and her features. In all of these things I praise you God and I worship You. 

 

Song of Solomon 8:13-14 - The Only Love That Can Fully Satisfy

Song of Solomon 8:13-14

He
13 O you who dwell in the gardens,
with companions listening for your voice;
let me hear it.
She
14 Make haste, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spices. looking through the lattice.

Message: The Only Love That Can Fully Satisfy

Time: Solomon wrote the book during his reign as king of Israel, meaning he composed it sometime between 971 and 931 BC.

What the Lord is Saying: 

According to my Bible, these two verses are the voices of the man (v. 13) and the woman (v. 14). These are the last 2 verses of the book. They seem to echo a sentiment that has been present throughout the book, the longing of each person to be with the other person.

He Speaks (v. 13)
The bridegroom calls upon the (Shulammite) woman to let his friends, who have come to congratulate him on his bride's safe return, listen to him. She seems to reside in the garden, perhaps a special spot for her. Like Solomon, I notice a simple delight in hearing the voice of my bride, my wife. Many voices of my day can make me impatient and I tire sometimes with people, but with my wife I never tire. I always look forward to her speaking. Often I feel like I am saying these words of Solomon, "let me hear it." It is possible the bride here is singing a song which she sang early on in their courtship. In essence, real love lasts.

She Speaks (v. 14)
In answer to his request, she sings. And her words point back to him and draw him in once again. His desire for her is met. He asks her to possibly sing or speak something from the past, a song that represented the foundation of their relationship. This verse echoes back to chapter 2, verse 9 when se says My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. Gazelle is used multiple times in this book. She uses gazelle to describe the dancing around or the way he leaps in her heart. He uses gazelle several times when talking of intimacy, namely her breasts, to speak of the delicate nature of them, it would seem. Delicate seems to speak of their smaller proportion. Bigger breasts are not appealing or attractive. The stag and gazelle also point to the speed at which he is coming for her.

On the mountains of spices paints a picture of ascending to a high place. Standing on the mountain results in a feeling that you are top of it all. And the spices augment this with a sweet aroma. Paul remarked that man is to love his wife and here the bride is experiencing the result of that great love. Once again, she is being set apart and is distinct from all others. How it hurts a woman to be compared to. My wife told me early on in our marriage that the thing that saddens her the most is my wandering eye. She dislikes seeing men peer at other women with their wife right next to them. It should not be done at all, but then it is done in her presence. This should motivate me. And yet I find myself digressing from this in moments of anger or resentment. And yet how childish this is. It's like I'm looking elsewhere having a temper tantrum of sorts. My love and devotion needs to be more mature. My wife envelopes everything I desire and there should be no reason ever to look elsewhere. So, let this verse be a reminder of the continual need to pursue my wife. 

Promise: It is true that God's love for us is the only that fully satisfies, and yet in this picture of marriage here is an encouragement to pursue one another. Obviously, as I age, that changes. We don't move around as fast and neither is in as good of shape. The times of intimacy are less, but they are still valuable. What I realize is my need to savor all that I have, even if what I have is different in these times. And in return, I see more and more the fullness of my relationship in Christ, who never changes. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to trust in You alone and I want to thank you for the gift of my wife. Her words are what I look forward to hearing each day. Her presence is what I value. Help me to center always on her and her alone. Keep me pure Lord and my eyes focused loving my wife and her alone. Forgive me for me not keeping vow, but today I begin again. Thank you for her faithfulness and the sweet gift that she is. 

Proverbs 31:28-31 - The Wife Who is to be Praised

Proverbs 31:28-31

²⁸ Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹ “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

 
Message: The Wife Who is to be Praised

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: After hearing of the hard-working wife and mother in the previous verses, the wife and mother is now praised by her children and her fear of the Lord is commended.

Her children rise up for they have been her biggest witnesses for the acts in which she has done. I notice this about my kids as they are very cognizant of Pamela and her moods and her actions. They see it all. And these children's response is and bless her. They remark of how excellent her behavior and person-hood is to them. She has been wise and has exhibited godly education towards them.

And her husband, and he praises her with the following words: Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. The husband loves his wife and esteems her. He sees her as the best ever. Paul mentions the importance of a husband loving his wife and that is what this man exhibits. The husband should always feel like he has the greatest prize in his wife. I hear this remark often from men and that is a good thing. Often it is heard from young men who are playing a sport and they will often mention there mom that sacrificed for them and did so much so that they could have opportunities. Everyone had a great mom. This is how it should be. This means the mom is doing her job. And the husband to shows that he has no reason to go elsewhere for any companionship or have any sort of desire for another woman.

It is tragic to see that women are not judged for their works, but too often for their looks. Lord, help me to be a different sort of man. Help me to praise my wife for who she is on the inside. The problem with us Americans is we want it all, but our chief aim should be a wife that cares for her family and children and as the previous verses mentioned, looks out for the interests of others and is giving to other people as well.

On this note the following verse mentions that charm is deceitful and beauty is vain. How said that we put such a value on charm and beauty in society. I think it is often because we are so tied into TV, Movies, and the media, and the constant exhibiting of these type of women. They are held up as the ideal ones because we all want to be like them. Yet, it is amazing because there personal lives are often very rocky. There are exceptions, definitely, but we often don't even care about their private life as long as their showmanship is in order. How awful of us to put that much stock in these type of people. The Bible is clear that this is not how we should view women, but instead a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 

The virtuous woman is the key woman. Here it is, the 2nd last verse of the book speaking that the key is the fear of the Lord. And the book started in Proverbs 1:7 with - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. What is the key ingredient in all of life? It is those that fear the Lord. Ecclesiastes ends with The conclusion, when all has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Every person has the same ideal - to fear God. The problem is we can't see this and this is not as apparent to the momentary glances that we get on the screens of the lives we stare at. Yet, Solomon makes it clear, this is the key. 

Any praise, beyond the fear of the Lord of her, should be made my others. Give her the product of her hands,and let her works praise her in the gates. Her walk equals her talk. Her walk exhibits who she is, a woman that fears the Lord. It's funny, but recently, I saw this picture of my mom in my dorm room at college. At the time she was probably about 42 and I noticed how beautiful my mom was and is. But, I've always known how amazing my mom is and she has always been a woman that fears the Lord and for all of my life this is what stands out about her, almost to the point that I don't see her beauty because her fear of the Lord was so loud in her life that this is what defined her always. She spends time praying, seeking the Lord, and has a great desire to teach other women as well. Her voice has always been lovely and singing in church, praising God, stood out in her life. This is how we should see women in our lives. We should see the fear of the Lord first.

Promise: God is honored through praises which come to his people for graces which he has imparted and which by their very nature exalt him. -- John Piper. Let us who are husbands cherish and praise our godly wives that we might honor God. -- Tabletalk.

Prayer: Thank you God for my mom and for my wife. Thank you for the way in which they carefully desire to praise You with their lives. Help me to better encourage them and be thankful for them.

Proverbs 31:13-27 - The Wise and Industrious Wife

Proverbs 31:13-27

¹³ She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.
¹⁴ She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
²⁶ She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Message: The Wise and Industrious Wife

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: I just read these verses and this is an amazing woman. I wonder if this is a woman that packed together from several different wives because this wife seems like she has everything going for her. Granted, this is at a time when each day was about survival and not simply about getting to the end of the day to relax and take it easy.

In this passage, she looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight. My reading of this is she is always thinking of ways to help those in  her family, providing them clothing, and what they need and she is efficient working with her hands. She can be creative. My mom was always up in the morning each day, first to spend time in the Word, as I would come up the stairs to her reading her Bible and then she spent the morning making sure we had what we needed for breakfast. She got us off to a good start. My mom and my wife did a lot of sewing early on in their marriages. Even to this day, my wife is thinking about the family and thinking about what they need, like getting the oil diffuser the other day to maybe help Megan and Derek.

It is a biblical constant to get goods and services at the best price. Here in verse 14 is the woman and She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. She will go to great lengths to acquire food and other items needed for her family in order to get them at the best price. Sometimes it is not always advantageous to do this but there is no problem in taking our time to find a good deal, a deal the marketplace is willing to provide. 

Once again, what I remember about my Mom is rising before anyone else and first having time with God and then preparing food for T and I as we headed out the door for the school day. She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. 

She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is prudent about buying things and also looks at a field that will provide what she needs for her and her family. She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong which refers to the strength she goes about in doing her work each day. She senses that her gain is good; which means that she understand profit and fruit from her labor and can feel satisfied as well about a job well done. 

She is not idle as her lamp does not go out at night. She is a hard worker. We are supposed to work 6 days and rest the seventh, not work half days and rest half days. We are not to be idle, but workers. Thus She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. She is a good example to others of hard work. She jumps right in and doesn't leave work to her servants, but she works hard herself. 

She is attentive to the needs of those less fortunate to her. I am reminded of a little excerpt I saw the other day about black mothers and the remark that they never turned anyone away from a meal. She is always ready to feed anyone. She doesn't work simply to horde and keep things for herself but She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. 

She is ready for any oncoming obstacles. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She is prepared. She dresses her self appropriately, given the situation and her house is proper as well and may even include items she has made herself. She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her glory is her husband and him being well known in society, in his profession. She does not get in the way of his authority, nor his success in the community. She upholds it and supports it and allows him to shine.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. And because of the abundance with which she hands and the good worker she is. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen. She sells that which she makes. 

She is not disquieted by any fear of what may happen, knowing in whom she trusts, and having done her duty to the utmost of her ability.  Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She has peace about her because she has not been idle, she has worked hard, she has modeled good behavior and she looks optimistically toward the future. She is not dependent on others. She has worked hard. She is not waiting for a handout before she can do something. She has confidence in herself. And because of this she guides her family in wisdom. She is a woman of experience and she passes on this experience to her children and those in her household. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Her language to those around her is animated and regulated by love.

As it is mentioned before, it remains a part of her, she is not idle. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. She is the anchor, so as to say of the house. 

Promise: The Goldy woman exemplified here is equally an example of a Godly person, namely one that is not idle, but is actively working and figuring out how to do things correctly.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for my wife and the servant that she is and the hard worker that she is. She works hard in the home and outside of it. She is careful in the work that she does, always to the best of her ability and only churns out quality. I hurriedly get things done but when my wife's hand is upon it, it is done with great value. Protect her and guide her and keep her strong. Teach us continually as a family to be hard workers during the work and then rest well on our Sabbath, Sunday.

Proverbs 31:10-12 - The Excellent Wife

Proverbs 31:10-12
10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

Message: The Excellent Wife

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: Well, I fortunately have an excellent wife. She is not someone I found but instead someone that God provided for me. She gets more wonderful every day. And yes, her worth is far above any jewel. It is far above anything.

I do trust her. But sometimes my feelings get in the way, but feelings are not facts. Overall, I do trust her, but I do get nervous sometimes and I start believing my feelings more than the facts. It is often the same way in my relationship with God. I focus not on His word, but at times on what I'm feeling.

Pamela does me good and not evil. She has always been careful to be the best toward me. This doesn't mean I always get what I want. Who does? And no one should. But, she is amazing as to how sensitive she is to me. She recognizes me as the leader of the home, but she also has her own will, and often a strong one at that. We are definitely co-heirs and work together well.

Promise: The excellent wife embodies the Lord’s wisdom in fulfilling her divinely appointed role and in bringing great blessing to her family and community.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of Pamela. Thank you for your handiwork in making her the way you have and then bringing her into my life. You knew exactly what I needed. And thank you for molding her into your image and the joy it is just having her by my side everyday. Help me to be a better husband and to continually love her, treating her as more important than myself. Train me to resist the temptation to ever look around for anyone else. The world is constantly throwing distractions my way, but help me to train myself always to making her the only woman in my life.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 - The Gift of Life with Family

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

Message: The Gift of Life with Family

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C

What the Lord is Saying:

Any verse that reminds me to enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life is a great verse. I am so grateful God has given me a wife, children, a brother, parents that love me, and good friends. God gave Adam a helper. He knew he should not be alone and I am sure that first visit by Eve was a startling one and remained very satisfying.

My wife is my reward. Don't take Pamela for granted Chris (I am saying this to myself). Thank you Lord for this simple reminder. Help me Lord to continue to accept her, value her, lead her, praise her, and enjoy her. 

Promise: Enjoy the loved ones God has given me, in this life. They are precious gifts from God and He is kind and generous, granting us many blessings through those relationships.

Psalm 45:10-17 - The King's Glorious Bride

Psalm 45:10-17
Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house; then the King will desire your beauty. Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him. The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; the rich among the people will seek your favor. The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King in embroidered work; the virgins, her companions who follow her, will be brought to You. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; they will enter into the King’s palace. In place of your fathers will be your sons; you shall make them princes in all the earth. I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever.

Message: The King's Glorious Bride

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

To Cleave, One must Leave
This is an interesting passage, that I am growing to understand more and more. Verse 10 begins with, "Listen, O daughter." This could be the father of the bride speaking to his daughter, specifically addressing the daughters soon to be marriage and how she is to prepare and conduct herself as she begins that new life. "Incline your ear" which means these words are very important; listen carefully. We often walk through life with a big helping of junk food, primarily enjoying what brings immediate satisfaction, but this is a reminder to stop and prepare. Think seriously about the relationship and the union that you are embarking on here with your mate. "Forget your people and your father's house." Do not pine after that which you have left. When two become one, they leave father and mother and are united together. They begin a new life. Their focus is to be on each other. The daughter is told to not hold onto the past and her past surroundings and life. It can be normal because that past is comfortable and familiar. But, a daughter is now to focus on her husband and become familiar and comfortable in his presence. Often, the best thing 2 people can do that are married is not to live in the same town as their parents or nearby, but to begin to make a home for themselves that is unique.

Respecting the husband
"Then the King will desire your beauty" or then your husband will desire you. I wonder; wives often can't understand why their husbands are not more present with them, but are they present with their husband or are they living some place else? So, in response to leaving your current world, the King will desire you. The Bible is full of references of the new life we have in Christ. We are born again; killing the old man; a new creature, the old is gone. In the same way, a daughter leaves her world, forgetting her old home, and devotes herself to her new husband. She secures his affection.

"He is your Lord, bow down to Him" means that the wife is to show proper respect to Him.  These are words and actions that we normally use to describe our relationship with God or Jesus, but more intentionally here, they refer to the wife and her new allegiance to her husband. The tone of these words should spark in us not simply a leader/pupil mindset but more the union that should occur between husband and wife. The husband is to understand his role. This is tough because our culture has wandered so far from this type of wife/husband relationship.

Tyre was a city of great extent and splendor, and extensive commerce. It abounded in luxury and wickedness. There are no signs of the city today. This verse says Tyre will come with a gift; the rich among the people will seek your favor. I think the idea is our desire in life is for the good things, luxury, splendor, abundance. And the Psalmist is explaining that the result of having a proper respect toward your husband will bring great merit and outcomes to your life. Jesus said, "I did not come to be served, but to serve." Again, we must train ourselves according to God and His word; this is the best way, not societies way of every person for themselves. I was driving down the road yesterday and just looking at cars and reminding myself of the passenger seat that is present in every car. We are not meant to be alone, but to have someone with us.

Presenting the bride
Every marriage ceremony is the same: the father escorts the daughter down the aisle with the looking utterly beautiful, presenting herself, not to everyone, but to her future husband the best that she knows how. There is preparation; there is time spent getting ready. And it is always the same, the bride walks down the aisle ("Here comes the bride"). As this verse says, The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. I remember this in my own life. I was indeed starstruck like never before. It was indeed glorious. With Pamela that moment represented her well, as soft and gentle. It is easily the greatest gift that I have ever been given. And yes, it should remind me of the way I am to present myself before Christ. He is to receive my best.

But it is more than just a father and a bride, it is the bride's companions. We call it the wedding party, but what happens is amazing in our weddings. The men are all up front and then the wife's companions walk down the aisle one by one. She will be led to the King in embroidered work; the virgins, her companions who follow her, will be brought to You. Yet, here, it speaks of them following the bride. But, it is still the same idea. But they come in the same beautiful way, presenting themselves with glory and splendor.

Let's celebrate
The wedding is often an entire day of activity, but it can also be a celebration over several days. Obviously, some culture mark it with longer celebrations, but it is an event of joy and gladness and rejoicing. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; they will enter into the King’s palace. The honeymoon is meant to consummate the marriage.  Maybe in those times there was an immediate entrance to the new husband's home and palace.

The King's Distinction
As the focus of this Psalm is on the King and What he is receiving, here it points out that rather than his fame or celebrity or distinction being derived from his position, wealth, or performance, instead what will set him apart will be his sons (or his children). This should focus us on what is most important -- our children. In place of your fathers will be your sons; you shall make them princes in all the earth.

And then here more specifically, I see that the wife is speaking and saying that her actions will cause the King to be remembered. I think this is important. The wife has a lot to do with the greatness of the husband. I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever. But, this also could be talking about the man presenting the one that is over all, the Messiah because the people will give thanks forever and ever.  I think it could go either way.

Promise: It is all about the presentation.

Proverbs 5:15-20 - Standing Firm Against Adultery

Proverbs 5:15-20
¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you.
¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ As a loving hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.
²⁰ For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

Message: Rejoice in your wife

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

In the previous 14 verses of Proverbs 5, Solomon gives clear warnings to his pupil regarding committing adultery. Between the two warnings are the points that (1) it is not how it may appear, and (2) it will yield a hard life both today and for eternity. 

Solomon continues the conversation here in these verses, but here talks about how we are to live, with this adultery in mind. It is true there can be application to other idolatrous passions in our lives but it is clear that this is talking about adultery and cheating on our wife, or the woman that God has given us. And it really goes without saying that marriage is sacred and these are passions that are not meant to be stirred prior to marriage and so adultery is viewed even as a warning that is presented in Song of Solomon as "do not arouse or awaken love before its proper time."

Only enjoy your wife
Verses 15-17 are the clear direction from Solomon that, the pupil, or son, is to keep in mind that his relationship with his wife and more specifically, the sensual relationship with his wife, is for his eyes only and to only be enjoyed by him and he is not to seek out anyone else for this enjoyment. It is not a sin to notice beauty or a beautiful person but to seek out after that person for further gazing and interest is a sin. Society knows that sex and beauty pulls people in and so this temptation is present in our world all the more. 

I've heard verse 15 mentioned several times and it is a verse I have loved reading in the Bible. It speaks clearly and reminds me that God is very concerned about my relationship with my wife and the importance of that relationship. Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well.

Adam Clarke (1760 or 1762 - 1832) was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar. He wrote on this passage: Be satisfied with thy own wife; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband; and not tempt him by inattention or unkindness to seek elsewhere what he has a right to expect, but cannot find, at home. These are tough words especially to the wife to not tempt the husband to seek out attention and kindness from other sources.

Verse 16 says, Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Your springs or fountains are the lawful husband and wife relationship. The streams are their offspring. Children can be dispersed abroad when they are grown up and carrying on with other lawful relationships.

Not roving passions 
My passions are to be for my wife and my wife alone. They are not to be for anyone else. Again, this is hard as the world presents itself too many temptations. But, this is not their problem, but really my problem. My satisfaction is to only come from my wife and I am to be satisfied with her. Let them be yours alone. My passion is not for anyone else. If a person goes into a relationship with other women and their is offspring then it becomes unclear who's offspring is what. The harlot has many partners, so how can you be sure what is yours; and not for strangers with you.

Know (only) your wife
There is clearly an intimate union present between a husband and wife. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful wife; the Spirit of God is in her and she submits to me and satisfies me completely. This testifies more clearly to me God's graces. My wife is to be mine completely and it pains me to think of days when I have had the idea that she is not sufficient. At times, early in my life, non-married life, I trained my mind to think that I could engage in mind harlotry. Oh how this is contrary to God's perfect plan. I am to be patient and wait for the wife of my youth. When she came she was everything I could have dreamed of and more. 

The hind and does were prized and petted upon for their beauty and affectionate dispositions. They are not rough and tough creatures, but delicate and graceful and so they should be treated as such. The husband is to treat his wife with dignity and not simply an object for his desire. There is a union present there that is firm. Her bosom or breasts are to charm him and satisfy him, not for all days, but at all times. It is possible that sickness and illness may come to the wife. The important thing here is the body of the wife is for the husband and meant to be his charm. I often have thought of a mainstream song by Backstreet Boys which says she is my safest place to hind. The wife is my refuge and my safe place. I am to be exhilarated always with her love.  

It is clear that it makes no sense to be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner. Why should we seek after something that isn't kin to us and made for me? It makes no sense. 

Promise: Rejoice in the wife of my wife. She is everything that I need.