A contentious spouse is beyond all words disagreeable, and a tent in the wilderness is to be preferred to their company...

"Word Pictures" for Our Imagination

Free Printable Devotional Sheets Monday, August 4th

Today's Daily Verse is found in Proverbs 21.9

"It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home."

No-one is more lovely than a woman who exhibits the special graces and sweetness of the Spirit of GOD.

It has nothing to do with outward looks or what is sometimes considered "beauty."

A contentious and angry woman can make everyone around her miserable by her tongue and destructive ways. Women have great power and influence. How they use that privilege...can be for good or evil.

Hold on, guys, your turn is coming...

Queen Athaliah was violent, treacherous...

2 Kings 11 Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah

11 When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family. 2 But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom, and they hid him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered. 3 Joash remained hidden in the Temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

Revolt against Athaliah

4 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the Temple of the Lord. He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the Lord’s Temple; then he showed them the king’s son.

5 Jehoiada told them, “This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself. 6 Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace. 7 The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord’s Temple. 8 Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

9 So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest, 10 and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the Lord. 11 The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.

12 Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening. 14 When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

15 Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, “Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be killed in the Temple of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.

Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms

17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18 And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the Lord. 19 Then the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace.

21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.

All would agree that this is an extreme example. However, it has truth within it.

• No-one needs to live in the atmosphere of contention whomever the conflict comes through.
• A solitary life outside a home would be preferable to conflict within
• Conflict becomes unbearable within a marriage because there is no easy fix

Proverbs 12.4

"A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones."

• A spouse makes their partner feel like royalty
• The pride of having a soft and tender spouse is worth more than money

Genesis 2.18

"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper [helpmate] who is just right for him.”

What destroys the peace of the home?

They did not seek the Lord for His choice of a spouse

Temptations are not avoided

Unwillingness to take responsibility to make the marriage a success by action and attitude

By illicit pleasures, selfishness, and waywardness

What should a husband be responsible for?

I guess the best way to answer this question is by asking some and throwing some gems out for willing husbands to get hold of, and implement...

• How much do you really listen? I mean - put down what you are doing and giving her your undivided attention, and respect
• Talk with her. Do not make her have to guess whether you are both on the same wave length. Reflect what she is saying back to her so she knows you do understand what she is saying...
• Are you validating her concerns?
• Are you a slob, expecting her to clean up after you? Seriously! Pick up your own clothes and dishes, and help out...
• How tight are on the money? Loosen up...
• Make time for both of you to do stuff together, and while you are at it - let her have some quality time for herself. You babysit!
  
• Bathe often. Nothing turns a woman off like a man unshaven that smells.
• Pray for and with her. She is that important!
• Ask her for advice, and acknowledge her wisdom and help.
• Learn how to bring a "spirit of forgiveness" into your marriage. take the lead.
• Think. What can you do to make a little easier for your wife?
• Be a servant. As a husband we lead by example, not the other way around.
• Don't be unfair in the bedroom - she has needs too.
• Remember, women have certain challenges physically and mentally each and every month. Guys don't. Respect her and show tenderness.
• Provide for your family. Provide respect. Provide strength.
  
• Power is not being angry - power is being gentle, firm and loving. It works!

And finally, do your children and wife "fear" you? As the physically stronger, men make the mistake of ruling by fear! Wrong. That is the coward's way of doing it.

Try this - ""Rather, beauty is something internal that can’t be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious."

Final thoughts...

1 Peter 3.4

"But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God." Amp version

Let's get started!

See you tomorrow...

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