Honoring Women

Berean Baptist on March 19, 2018

Psalm 128:3

Sometimes I wonder how people can think the Bible is an old dated book that is irrelevant to the issues of the modern world. The truth is the Bible is amazingly modern and has answers for many of our dilemmas. The problem is we don’t like the answers.

A case in point is this verse in Psalm 128. The first part of verse 3 says, “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house.” Sit down because you might not like this. The psalmist made one of the most politically incorrect statements he could make. He indirectly affirms that women are weaker constitutionally and require special support. The fruitful vine is a tender plant that cannot stand on its own but requires a superstructure to support it. It grows up the side of the house and only then is it able to bear its plentiful fruit. In this case, the structure is a strong family unit that is anchored by a husband who takes care of his wife and in turn she bears him children that are pleasing and honorable.

Although seeing this in the verse may be difficult, the concept is plainly taught in many places of scripture. None is a clear as Peter says in 1 Peter 3:7 when he calls the woman the “weaker vessel.” He said that men should dwell with their wives in knowledge, understanding his and her God-given roles. It is his job to protect her not only from those who would do her harm physically, but also those who would do her harm spiritually. The serpent beguiled Eve, not Adam, which led to the fall (1 Timothy 2:13-14).

The sense that women need protection is not a strange tenet of Bible thumpers. It turns out to be one of those pieces of inherent knowledge that God put into the human heart just like knowledge of His existence, of heaven, and of hell. Though there are some societies in which women are dominant as matriarchs, I know of none in which women are charged with protection of men. We know instinctively to shelter women and to risk dying for them should it be a choice between the man’s life or theirs.

This brings me to one of today’s hot topics. Should women be allowed to serve in the military in combat roles? No one mistakes there are times when women have been forced to defend and they have afforded themselves well. This is not about whether women should be excluded because they are never courageous. The problem is putting women in the position to protect men and to take the fall for them when this is against what God put instinctively in the heart.

Political correctness says that anyone who does not see women in all ways equal to men is a misogynist. However, there is no use lying to ourselves on this front. Women are not the same as men physically and are not suited for the same rigors of wars that men fight. They are not the same and neither is there a need to be. There is no inferiority in being different. Men and women are equal in worth to God, but He made us different to perform distinct functions.

Put yourself into a foxhole with your daughter. Who gets shielded from bullets? What man lets her be killed to protect him? What man lets any woman take a bullet for him? We aren’t wired this way and if there is anything a woman should cherish it is to be so revered by a man that he would give his life for her without ever thinking their roles should be reversed.

The Bible simply has a better way of doing things. The God who made us knows how to use us. If the world has a problem with this, we understand. The world has forever tried to suppress innate knowledge. What we do not understand is why any Christian would argue with it. We do not need a political debate on this. The Bible has already settled the debate.

 

Pastor V. Mark Smith

“Fear not I am with thee…”

Berean Baptist on May 16, 2016

Psalm 44

Have you ever felt that God has abandoned you and you have no real discernible reason why? Have you examined your heart for sin and found you are doing your best to serve God, and yet despite your best efforts it seems God is nowhere to be found? If this is how you feel, you have just hit upon the gist of this psalm.

We do not know the author of the psalm although we do know he was a descendant of Korah. This means it could have been written anytime over a period of 1400 years. Apparently, Israel had just suffered a stunning military defeat and the psalmist did not understand why God had not come to their aid. There were times in the past when it was very clear why Israel had been defeated. Those times were connected to obvious sins, usually the sin of idolatry when Israel fell into the worship of false gods. This was not one of those times which makes the defeat all the more puzzling.

The psalm is divided into three time periods. The first eight verses are about the past as the psalmist remembers the stories told by his forefathers about the miraculous deliverances from their enemies by the Almighty God. This section ends with the admission that each victory won was because of God, not because of Israel’s military might.

The next section (vv. 9-22) is about the present. This is the psalmist’s lament as he tries to understand why they were defeated and why it seemed God did not care. The third section (vv. 23-26) is about the future as the psalmist is sure that God had not forgotten them. He cries out for God to awaken from sleep—a metaphor for God’s supposed inattention. How much this reminds us of that fearful night when the disciples were tossed about by the boisterous waves on the Sea of Galilee. While they rowed and worried, Jesus was asleep in the boat. The tumult of the sea did not bother Him. He was awakened to the disciples’ pleas for help. A hymnist expressed their words this way: “Carest thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep, when each moment so madly is threatening a grave in the angry deep?” There was no trouble for Jesus. He awoke and said, “Peace be still.”

The explanation for God’s refusal to help Israel is not given in this psalm. However, we know the character of God. He said He would never leave us or forsake us. If it appears He has, we know it must be for His divine purposes. Sometimes trials come upon us simply because we have been called upon to suffer for Christ. Peter wrote: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).  Paul also often mentions the sufferings of Christians, even his own as the divine providence of God. This is often hard for us to understand just as it was for Christians in the early centuries that suffered so much persecution. We notice, however, they always held on. They were firm and steadfast and waited for God’s deliverance. Sometimes the deliverance was death—but death is no problem when the destination is the glories of heaven.

Christians today need to do what the psalmist did. Look back to the past and remember the victories you have won in Christ. Examine yourself in the present to make sure sin is not your problem. Consider the future because you know God will never abandon you. When it seems God is not there, be sure He is. He is closer to you than in your boat—He is in your heart. Peace comes when you are fully dependent upon Him. Another hymnist related the sentiments of God’s heart: “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.”

Pastor V. Mark Smith