I trust you all have your Bibles opened to Psalm 45:10-11, eagerly awaiting
the next set of instructions the Lord has for a bride...
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also
thine own people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire
thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
Hearken, consider and incline...three words used to get our total and
undivided attention. What is the advice that the bride is to listen to,
what is it she should stop and think about, what is it she should be willing
to accept that the psalm writer is about to say directly to this woman
who is about to embark upon married life? We find that she is told to
forget her own people, and her father's house.... In other words, the
bride must break off all her prior relationships, all other bonds or alliances
that have formed and separate herself forever from all that she has known
since birth, clinging only to her husband, the king. Does it mean she
should never speak to others or never spend time with them? No, of course
not! But she must readily understand that her primary focus and heart's
desire is to be toward her husband. Hence, she must now put all of her
efforts into building a close relationship with him - above all else -
and love him with singleness of heart and mind. Her newly acquired husband
is not to be added to the bottom of her personal list of special people
and activities or personal goals, for the king deserves more than leftovers!
He is to be placed at the TOP of his wife's list, as most important to
her...
Proverbs 31:11
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have
no need of spoil.
Where do you have your husband placed today on your list of priorities,
dear lady?? How much effort are you putting into building an intimate
relationship with him? It is wise counsel that this young woman is being
given, and we would all do well to take heed to its constructive encouragement!
Many husbands today are tended to and loved only if there is nothing else
the wife is busy with such as children, or grandchildren, a part-time
job, activities with "the girls", decorating pursuits, Sunday school projects
and church responsibilities, home school commitments, the computer etc.
Only when the wife has accomplished all that she has wanted to do first
or all that she considers top priority and has enough energy, thought,
or even time left to spend on or with her husband is the king remembered,
let alone reverenced. Yet these women are traumatized when their spouse
ends up in an adulterous affair! Let's be honest ladies, sometimes the
attitude we take toward our husbands is this - "He can wait; who does
he think he is anyway, a king or something??" In fact, we're guilty often
times of behaving as if our husbands were a "royal pain" rather than a
king! And God says it is foolish of us....
Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down
with her hands.
Now to some of you this may sound a bit ridiculous, but as you spiritualize
this piece of advice the young bride is given, you can understand the
wisdom behind it. Ladies, if we sincerely desire to build into our homes
spiritual blessings and a solid foundation, we must hearken to the Word
of God! We must forget our carnal and sinful attachments and selfish pursuits.
Likewise, we must cut off those old habits and bad attitudes; those old
influences that hold power over us and inflict present injury upon our
husbands. Christ must be our LORD as well as our Savior; all idols must
be thrown away, that we may give Him our WHOLE heart.... Is anything hindering
you from growing closer to the Lord today, from His having all of your
affections? What have you placed before the King of kings that is preventing
you from having a more intimate, growing relationship with Him? God greatly
desires a close relationship with His people just as a groom hungers after
a more intimate relationship with his bride and her fullest attentions
- which she should be willing to give him! As we remember what verse 11
says, we'll see this truth pointed out....
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship
thou him.
Take sober inventory today... Are you treating your husband and the Lord
reverently, or have you neglected both of them? Trains up your young girls
Mom, show them how to keep first things first. The world isn't going to
show them how to be devoted to their husbands or how to worship the Lord,
as God would have them to - YOU must do it! There is nothing more influential
than a live example… Would your daughters say that you treat your husband,
their father, like a king? Would you have a peace about your daughters
treating their husbands the very same way you treat yours?? What habits,
what attitudes toward marriage, men, and the Lord are they picking up
from you? Would your daughters say that your relationship with the Lord
has dwindled or remained strong and sacred over the years? Would you have
a peace about your daughters treating the Lord the very same way you treat
Him?? If not, are you willing to make the necessary changes so that your
life might be an example of right priorities? You see ladies, when we
cleave to Christ, we experience grace, joy and open lines of communication
in prayer. When we strictly cleave to our husbands, we enjoy those same
benefits as well! Holding our marriage in high regard doesn't happen by
accident, it happens on purpose. What in life has your fullest attentions
today?? Where do your deepest affections lie? Are you willing to put first
things first if you haven't been?
Rev. 2:4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy
first love.
Jeremiah 3:20
Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye
dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
Maybe you don't have daughters to teach, but you are still not excused
from the responsibility of being a model wife, for the Bible says in Titus
2:4 that the older women are to teach the younger women how to LOVE their
husbands, how to treat them like a king. Someone is still learning something
from you! The question is WHAT are they learning?? Hopefully it is what
our young bride was told to incline her ear toward today. If as a wedded
woman you cleave to loyalties outside of your marriage, it will be hazardous
to you treating your husband like a king! There are some things you must
be willing to leave behind…
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
