Pro 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,
Pro 6:24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
Pro 6:25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,
Pro 6:26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
Pro 7:10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
Pro 9:13 The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
Pro 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
Proverbs is very clear about what we should and shouldn't do. After reading through just this part (Proverbs will take a few posts to get through) I can clearly see that we are not to dress immorally. What does that mean though? I would lead it to mean from the verses above, anything you would wear that would be worn in order to flaunt what should be saved for your husband. The short, tight and revealing have no place in a Christians life. It is not to say our clothes should become our idol and we should have people stare at us because we only have long gray woollen dresses. Our clothes either way can become an idol something that makes us use it to make others look at us and not at Christ. Yet there is a way to dress in a way where we are covered and appropriate. It is our freedom to dress as we want, but as a Christian our freedom is in Christ and here he is commanding us to not cause men to stray from their purity or their wives. If you got it Praise God!! His intention wasn't for you to flaunt it! It also talks about a loud woman who shows no discretion. How important is it for us to be women! God tells us that we who show no discretion and feel the right to be loud and crass are as beautiful as....a gold ring in a pigs snout..covered in slime, snot and slop.........OUCH!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Short, but good from Exodus
Exd 35:26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.
Exd 35:29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.
This short bit showed me something of huge significance. Note both said who were willing. God doesn't force us into doing anything, he looks to use those who are willing. Women who really want God to use them must be willing. They must not refuse to follow God even if it doesn't follow her life plan or her understanding. We must be willing to serve God!
Exd 35:29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.
This short bit showed me something of huge significance. Note both said who were willing. God doesn't force us into doing anything, he looks to use those who are willing. Women who really want God to use them must be willing. They must not refuse to follow God even if it doesn't follow her life plan or her understanding. We must be willing to serve God!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Numbers
Num 30:1 Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: "This is what the Lord commands:
Num 30:2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.
Num 30:3 "When a young woman still living in her father's house makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge
Num 30:4 and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.
Num 30:5 But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.
Num 30:6 "If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself
Num 30:7 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
Num 30:8 But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.
Num 30:9 "Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.
Num 30:10 "If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath
Num 30:11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
Num 30:12 But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her.
Num 30:13 Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.
Num 30:14 But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them.
Num 30:15 If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he is responsible for her guilt."
Num 30:16 These are the regulations the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living in his house.
First I know that we are not bound by the law of the Old Testament. However I think its important to examine what God told Moses about women. It gives a fuller sense of who God made us. The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament and since he is never changing, I believe that the principles of the Old Testament still apply not in a damning law way, but as a guide for righteous living. Its like trying to figure out the present situations without looking at the past to learn from. It is clear in these passages, that God never intended women living with their parents OR married women to be independent. When I think about it, it makes sense when you are trying to create a union. If we look at marriage as a picture of God and the church (which is its intention) We can't both be independent, someone has to lead. Its easy to say God is leading my life, because most people wouldn't say I am leading God's life (although we may try sometimes!) So how fitting in a marriage that God would say women can make a vow (note it doesn't say she has no right to) but her husband or father can nullify it. Keep in mind God's intention for men is to love their wives in the same way Christ loves the church. So in that situation, this is not a controlling or domineering man forcing his wife into creepy submission. Its a loving union where because the husband is so in love and devoted to his wife, it makes sense that she would have no problem accepting his authority because she would entirely trust in his love for her and would know that he always had her best intentions at heart. I find it interesting that widows and divorced women must stand by their own vows. I would think this person would need to be very careful of decisions or promises they make because there is no real accountability and you will be fully responsible alone for the vows you make. However like I said before it no where says, women are lesser and cannot make vows, it just ensures the unity of a household.
Num 30:2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.
Num 30:3 "When a young woman still living in her father's house makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge
Num 30:4 and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.
Num 30:5 But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.
Num 30:6 "If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself
Num 30:7 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
Num 30:8 But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.
Num 30:9 "Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.
Num 30:10 "If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath
Num 30:11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
Num 30:12 But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her.
Num 30:13 Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.
Num 30:14 But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them.
Num 30:15 If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he is responsible for her guilt."
Num 30:16 These are the regulations the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living in his house.
First I know that we are not bound by the law of the Old Testament. However I think its important to examine what God told Moses about women. It gives a fuller sense of who God made us. The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament and since he is never changing, I believe that the principles of the Old Testament still apply not in a damning law way, but as a guide for righteous living. Its like trying to figure out the present situations without looking at the past to learn from. It is clear in these passages, that God never intended women living with their parents OR married women to be independent. When I think about it, it makes sense when you are trying to create a union. If we look at marriage as a picture of God and the church (which is its intention) We can't both be independent, someone has to lead. Its easy to say God is leading my life, because most people wouldn't say I am leading God's life (although we may try sometimes!) So how fitting in a marriage that God would say women can make a vow (note it doesn't say she has no right to) but her husband or father can nullify it. Keep in mind God's intention for men is to love their wives in the same way Christ loves the church. So in that situation, this is not a controlling or domineering man forcing his wife into creepy submission. Its a loving union where because the husband is so in love and devoted to his wife, it makes sense that she would have no problem accepting his authority because she would entirely trust in his love for her and would know that he always had her best intentions at heart. I find it interesting that widows and divorced women must stand by their own vows. I would think this person would need to be very careful of decisions or promises they make because there is no real accountability and you will be fully responsible alone for the vows you make. However like I said before it no where says, women are lesser and cannot make vows, it just ensures the unity of a household.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Interesting place for a passage.....
Deu 22:3 Do the same if you find your brother's donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Do not ignore it.
Deu 22:4 If you see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet.
Deu 22:5 A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.
Deu 22:6 If you come across a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young.
Deu 22:7 You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life.
As I was reading through these passages, I found it interesting the placing and phrasing of the above scripture. One thing I have wondered about is why some Christian woman feel as though they should wear dresses and skirts. As I was reading this I found clothing to be an interesting topic to come up where it was. It made me think back to Genesis....
Gen 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
God was the original one who created clothes for men and women. Perhaps he wanted men and women to look differently, as he made us different. Definitely something for me to ponder!
Deu 22:4 If you see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet.
Deu 22:5 A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.
Deu 22:6 If you come across a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young.
Deu 22:7 You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life.
As I was reading through these passages, I found it interesting the placing and phrasing of the above scripture. One thing I have wondered about is why some Christian woman feel as though they should wear dresses and skirts. As I was reading this I found clothing to be an interesting topic to come up where it was. It made me think back to Genesis....
Gen 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
God was the original one who created clothes for men and women. Perhaps he wanted men and women to look differently, as he made us different. Definitely something for me to ponder!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Hopping back to Genesis
Gen 2:23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, [fn]' for she was taken out of man."
Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Looking at this reference of wife made me stop and think. When we marry our spouse we actually become one flesh. What does that mean to me? It means that I should take as good care of my husband as I do myself. I don't know how many times I hear people say, I need to do this for myself (fill in the blank, going somewhere, buying something....) So many marriages miss the point. They are not 2 people coexisting and sharing times, you have united under God to be one flesh, nothing done should be done by either party without consideration of their spouse. As much as we think I "need" to do this for me we should think how its going to affect our other half. We all have the choice to remain single, but we choose to unite our lives to this other person. Things like husband or wife bashing, gossiping or complaining about our husbands or wives is not only dishonoring, its tearing at our own flesh. God has united us as one, most of us stood before God and ASKED him to unite us!
Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Looking at this reference of wife made me stop and think. When we marry our spouse we actually become one flesh. What does that mean to me? It means that I should take as good care of my husband as I do myself. I don't know how many times I hear people say, I need to do this for myself (fill in the blank, going somewhere, buying something....) So many marriages miss the point. They are not 2 people coexisting and sharing times, you have united under God to be one flesh, nothing done should be done by either party without consideration of their spouse. As much as we think I "need" to do this for me we should think how its going to affect our other half. We all have the choice to remain single, but we choose to unite our lives to this other person. Things like husband or wife bashing, gossiping or complaining about our husbands or wives is not only dishonoring, its tearing at our own flesh. God has united us as one, most of us stood before God and ASKED him to unite us!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Exodous
Exd 21:10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.
Exd 21:22 "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows.
These verses stood out to me as again pointing out that there is a distinction made between men and women. Granted we are not under the law of the Old Testament, it is easy to gloss over parts. Here it shows that God was concerned with the well being of women. While it may seem at first that it shows women are under mens authority and therefore are of lesser value, if looked at in a different light, men were told they must care for women in a more delicate way then men. If we were all the same then it wouldn't have been needed to distinguish different laws regarding women. Women had different roles assigned from God, yet never that I have found is it lesser.
Exd 21:22 "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows.
These verses stood out to me as again pointing out that there is a distinction made between men and women. Granted we are not under the law of the Old Testament, it is easy to gloss over parts. Here it shows that God was concerned with the well being of women. While it may seem at first that it shows women are under mens authority and therefore are of lesser value, if looked at in a different light, men were told they must care for women in a more delicate way then men. If we were all the same then it wouldn't have been needed to distinguish different laws regarding women. Women had different roles assigned from God, yet never that I have found is it lesser.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The tricky serpant
Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
Gen 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
Gen 3:4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Gen 3:12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Gen 3:13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Gen 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
So much in this encounter in the garden. First and foremost it stands out to me that God allowed Satan into the garden. Nothing happens outside God's authority. Secondly the woman was seeking knowledge. Aren't we all still like that. Its hard for me to accept things as absolute truth without checking around, or wondering what the future will bring. Its a lack of faith in the total authority of scripture. I also see that the man trusted the woman and didn't trust God. He failed to be the spiritual leader. He didn't stop Eve or bring her before the Lord, he took her word for it. Yet the most interesting line about women I find is the last part. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you. Meaning previously her desire was for God and through that desire and Adams desire for God, God naturally ruled over both of them.
Gen 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
Gen 3:4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Gen 3:12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Gen 3:13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Gen 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
So much in this encounter in the garden. First and foremost it stands out to me that God allowed Satan into the garden. Nothing happens outside God's authority. Secondly the woman was seeking knowledge. Aren't we all still like that. Its hard for me to accept things as absolute truth without checking around, or wondering what the future will bring. Its a lack of faith in the total authority of scripture. I also see that the man trusted the woman and didn't trust God. He failed to be the spiritual leader. He didn't stop Eve or bring her before the Lord, he took her word for it. Yet the most interesting line about women I find is the last part. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you. Meaning previously her desire was for God and through that desire and Adams desire for God, God naturally ruled over both of them.
Monday, June 1, 2009
In the beginning...........
Woman is mentioned right away in Genesis.....
Gen 2:22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Gen 2:23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
So first right away I see God made woman purposefully and he made her different then man. Man was made from dust and breathed into life. Woman was taken not from dust but from man's rib and apparently life came from him, as no mention of God breathing life into her. I don't think anything is coincidental or inconsequential in the Bible. God could have made another man, as then Adam wouldn't be lonely, he would have a pal to hang out with. Yet he purposely choose to make a woman. He created us different physically and emotionally. Also note that Adam names woman. God does not tell him what to call her and he notes that she was taken out of man. If it was unimportant then he wouldn't have called attention to it.
Gen 2:22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Gen 2:23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
So first right away I see God made woman purposefully and he made her different then man. Man was made from dust and breathed into life. Woman was taken not from dust but from man's rib and apparently life came from him, as no mention of God breathing life into her. I don't think anything is coincidental or inconsequential in the Bible. God could have made another man, as then Adam wouldn't be lonely, he would have a pal to hang out with. Yet he purposely choose to make a woman. He created us different physically and emotionally. Also note that Adam names woman. God does not tell him what to call her and he notes that she was taken out of man. If it was unimportant then he wouldn't have called attention to it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
