Wives are not property (part 3) Dt 21:10-14

"It shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes; but you shall certainly not sell her for money, you shall not mistreat her, because you have humbled her." (Deuteronomy 21:14)

Husbands, our wives do not cease to be a person when they marry us. Even in marriage, our wives maintain their own unique and special identity, personage, and, most importantly, their individual relationship with God. Some husbands treat their wives as if all their interaction with the "outside" world is to be "funneled" and "filtered" through their husband. This includes their external relationships, their beliefs and opinions, and their aspirations, goals, and desires. They act as if there is only one person in the marriage; themselves. In doing so, they ignore the fact that their wives are, as they themselves are, a unique and special creation of God. "The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man." (Genesis 2:22) Eve was created by God, not Adam, and while she was to be Adam's helpmate, her new relationship with Adam would never erase her identity or individuality that was hers through her creation by God. Paul further reminds us of our wives individual relationship with God when he encourages husbands to, "live with your wives in an understanding way... and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7)

Our wives are not our property, nor do we own them, rather they are our companions, our partners, our "fellow heirs" of the grace and blessings of God. "She is your companion and your wife by covenant." (Malachi 2:14) In the Song of Solomon, Solomon describes his beloved in this way. "How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all kinds of spices!" (Song of Solomon 4:10) He describes her as both his sister and his bride. While she is his bride by marriage, she is still his sister, retaining her own identity and personage. This is especially true in the Lord. Our wives are our brides by marriage but our sisters in the Lord though His redemption. Our wives belong to God more than they belong to us. They are first His daughter, His bride, His beloved ever before they are ours. We should count it an indescribable privilege and blessing that He should share His daughter with us. Our wives are not our possessions, they are individuals, loaned to us by God, that we might be companions in love, one to another.

David Robison

wives, marriage, The Robe, Book of Deuteronomy, David Robison

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Wives are not property (part 2) Dt 21:10-14

"She shall also remove the clothes of her captivity and shall remain in your house, and mourn her father and mother a full month; and after that you may go in to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife." (Deuteronomy 21:13)

As husbands, we often loose sight of how much our wives gave up to be married to us. This is especially true in marriages that adhere to traditional male/female roles within the marriage. The sacrifices a woman makes to be married to a man can be substantial. Not only does she give up her last name but her relationship with her immediate family often change as she increasingly identifies with her new "family", thus leading to a diminishing closeness with her previous familial relationships. Often a woman is called upon to sacrifice her goals, plans, and future to be joined with, and aid in, her husband's goals, plans, and future. This sacrifice is further compounded when children come on the scene. It is most often the woman who sacrifices her time and plans in giving herself as the primary attendant in the raising and nurturing of the couple's children. This is not to say that men do not also sacrifice for a relationship of marriage, however, in most cases, the woman's sacrifice is of greater magnitude and more keenly felt by her that those of the man.

Too often, husbands view their wives as someone to meet their own personal needs; they are for cooking, cleaning, raising children, and performing other physical responsibilities incumbent with marriage. In doing this, they place their needs above those of their wife. The lesson of this scripture is clear; a husband ought to put his wife's emotional needs above his own physical needs. Just because a husband cannot empathize with or understand what his wife is going through, it does not mean that her needs and feelings are unimportant or that they can be ignored. Peter put it this way,

"You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7)

It is interesting that this verse is translated "in an understanding way." Peter does not say that men have to understand their wives, but they do have to be understanding. A lot of husbands view their wives as being weaker; not only physically but also emotionally. This causes many husbands to "look down" on their wife's emotions and to minimize what they may be going through. They chide their wives to "get over it", in hopes of "fixing" them, with a goal of making them act, respond, and behave like themselves. However, Peter reminds men to realize that our wives are different, they are "woman", and we need to teat them as so. We need to be gentle and tender in regards to their needs and emotions; giving them grace, support, comfort, and space for the things they are experiencing and feeling. We must not be quick to have them "get over it" so we can get our needs met, rather we should be willing to set aside our needs that we might minister to their needs. Husbands, let the needs of your wife be of greater priority than your own needs and, in doing so, you will be truly blessed. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)

More to come... David Robison

marriage, husband, wife, emotions, The Robe, Book of Deuteronomy, David Robison

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Wives are not property (part 1) Dt: 21:10-14

"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the Lord your God delivers them into your hands and you take them away captive, and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire for her and would take her as a wife for yourself, then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails. She shall also remove the clothes of her captivity and shall remain in your house, and mourn her father and mother a full month; and after that you may go in to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. It shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes; but you shall certainly not sell her for money, you shall not mistreat her, because you have humbled her." (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)

At times, when reading the Old Testament, it is hard to distinguish between those social behaviors that God tolerates and those He condones. This passage describes a practice that most of us would find intolerable but one which was very much accepted and practiced in that day. I believe that in addressing this practice, God is not condoning the practice but rather trying to teach us some principles of marriage using this practice as a backdrop.

The backdrop is the taking of wives, either through arraigned or forced marriages or though the spoils of war. Marriages where the women had no say in the arrangement of their marriage. These women became wives completely apart from their own volition and often contrary to their individual consent. While in the western mindset such "arraignments" seem antiquated and belonging to an age long ago, these practices still persist in many part of the world today. God describes the practice as "humbling". This is the same term used to describe the forcing of a woman into an unwanted sexual encounter; it degrades and humbles the woman as a person. However, once a marriage has begun in this way, God's word seeks to remind the husband of his duties and obligations to his wife.

There is an innate tendency in husbands, irrespective of how their marriage came about, to view his wife as his property. Especially, in this case, where she became his as the result of the spoils of war. It is easy for him to see her just as property; property to be used for his own pleasure and purpose. However, this attitude can exist in marriages where both parties entered into the marriage relationship through mutual consent. I have met husbands who treat their wives as objects to be ordered around, items to be used to serve their own needs and interests, and, just like their children, someone to be punished when they do not measure up or meet their particular needs. God outlines in this verse some important principles that can be applied to any marriage, but especially to marriages that may have gotten off "on the wrong foot."

Remove the clothes of her captivity: There are many reasons for getting married, but God intends the married life to be better than the single life that each partner is leaving behind. Marriage is not intended to solely, or even primarily, benefit the husband, but rather should also benefit and be a blessing to the wife. Unfortunately, many wives find themselves trapped in marriage, their marriage has become their captivity, and many desire to be unshackled and once again be set free to an independent life. God intended marriage to be liberating, God intended that wives would find in their marriage new freedom to be and express who they are, to be and become all that God has created them to be.

Jesus warns us against exercising dictatorial rule over those under our care. "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'" (Luke 22:25) Unfortunately, too many husband try to rule their homes in this manner; they are the masters of the home and everyone else exists to serve and meet their needs and wants. Jesus, however, teaches us a better way. "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant." (Luke 22:26) It is a wise husband that learns to go low and lift up his wife and children; to be for them launching pads from which they may fully realize all that God has called them and made them to be. Only when we, as husbands, learn to let others become the "benefactors" within our homes, will we truly experience the blessing and joys of marriage and family. Husbands, remove the clothes of your wives' captivity and let them be set free in your love and in your marriage.

More to come... David Robison

marriage, family, husbands, wives, Book of Deuteronomy, The Robe, David Robison

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A National Faith: Dt 21:1-9

"If a slain person is found lying in the open country in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess, and it is not known who has struck him, then your elders and your judges shall go out and measure the distance to the cities which are around the slain one. It shall be that the city which is nearest to the slain man, that is, the elders of that city, shall take a heifer of the herd, which has not been worked and which has not pulled in a yoke; and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley... All the elders of that city which is nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley; and they shall answer and say, 'Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. Forgive Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, O Lord, and do not place the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel.' And the bloodguiltiness shall be forgiven them. So you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)

We have previously looked at how bloodguiltiness can be charged to an entire nation. National bloodguiltiness is washed away by the process of justice and the executing of judgment upon the guilty. However, this passage deals with unsolved crimes; the shedding of innocent blood where the perpetrator is unknown. Without the punishment of the guilty, the bloodguiltiness assigned to a nation remains. There needs to be a way for a nation to expunge itself of bloodguiltiness when the guilty cannot be found and punished. In these cases, God accepted the blood of a heifer as payment for the innocent blood, thus removing the land's bloodguilt.

To this day, each of our nations bear a measure of bloodguiltyness for crimes committed but never atoned for. However, today we don't need to shed the blood of bulls and goats for the blood that covers all sins has already been shed upon the cross of Calvary. If the people of a nation will repent and ask for forgiveness then God will forgive their bloodguiltiness. "And [if] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

It is not sufficient for a nations institutions to be godly and to be founded upon scriptural principles and wisdom, a nation must also possess a common faith in God. This is not to say that everyone must agree on all points of faith and religion, but simply that a common national faith in God and in His providence and governance over them is essential for the prolonged live and prosperity of any society. There will always be instances where, in the course of events, guilt is imputed to a nation and, at times like these, the people may be called upon in their common faith to ask for the forgiveness and favor of God upon their lives and their nation. The saving power of a national faith is no where more clearly demonstrated than in the story of Nineveh.

The sin of Nineveh had piled up and it was time for God to act, so God spoke to Jonah saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." (Jonah 1:2) After a miraculous trip in the belly of a great fish, Jonah arrived in Nineveh and began to declare to them God's judgment upon their sins. "Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and said, 'Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.'" (Jonah 3:4) Upon hearing of God's impending judgment, and much to Jonah's displeasure, the people of Nineveh turned to God, repented, and prayed. "When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. He issued a proclamation and it said, 'In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.'" (Jonah 3:6-9) Upon seeing their repentance, God relented of the punishment He had determined for them and He forgave their sins. "When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it." (Jonah 3:10)

It was their corporate response to God, their common faith in the goodness, rightness, and mercy of God, that brought about their deliverance from impending doom. There is no indication that the Ninevehvites had a national religion or state sponsored church, but they did have a common faith in God and, when the situation demanded it, they knew where to turn for mercy and forgiveness as a nation. God never intended for nations to be secular. He never intended for faith and relationship with God to be removed from the public discourse or from public life. Rather He intended that a nation's shared faith in God would provide the sure foundation and stalwart pillars of all corporate life and of the nation as a whole.

David Robison

government, faith, repentance, forgiveness, sin, The Robe, Book of Deuteronomy, Foundations of Governance, David Robison

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Head knowledge vs heart Knowledge: Truth or fiction?

Growing up in the church I have often heard of this distinction. We are warned about the problems of head knowledge and exhorted to let our head knowledge become heart knowledge. Some have explained it saying that our problems are often a matter of eighteen inches; the distance between our head and our heart. Growing up with this concept I have accepted it as true, but recently I have been having some doubts as to the reality of such a distinction. Is such a distinction a biblical distinction and, if so, how does one move from head knowledge to heart knowledge? Is such a distinction a distinction in reality or a construction of human imagination?

It appears to me that God often uses the mind and the heart interchangeably, often making little distinction between them. For example, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) Solomon ascribes reasoning and thinking as a faculty of the heart. Jesus also spoke of the heart's as a seat of thought, "But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart." (Like 9:47) Conversely, the mind is describes as having some of the same frailties and iniquities as the heart. "Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind , rejected in regard to the faith." (2 Timothy 3:8) and "To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled." (Titus 1:15) Depravity, unbelief, and defilement are traits we often attribute to the heart but which the Bible also attributes to the mind.

These scriptures, and others, have lead me to conclude that there is no biblical difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge. That being said, it is clear from observation that there is some distinction between different kinds of knowledge. For example, in schools where the scriptures are taught as literature, the students have knowledge of the Word of God but few have any of the power of the Word they have learned. Even the devil has knowledge of God and yet he is eternally damned. Simple knowledge is not enough, so what is the difference between knowledge and knowledge that can change and save us? What does the Bible have to say about this distinction and what is the biblical remedy? The biblical distinction is found in the Book of Hebrews.

"Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest." (Hebrews 4:1-3)

The biblical distinction between the different kinds of knowledge is knowledge alone and knowledge with faith. There are many who have a knowledge of the existence of God, and many who even have a knowledge of His word, yet without faith such knowledge is powerless to save us, change us, and lead us in the ways of God. It is one thing to know that Jesus died for us, but it is another to mix that knowledge with faith. So how does one move from knowledge to knowledge with faith? Paul goes on to give us the answer.

"And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:18-19)

Paul directly links unbelief and disobedience. Knowledge without faith is knowledge without obedience. Jesus warned the Pharisees about the necessity of obedience to the understanding of knowledge. "But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire compassion, and not sacrifice," for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" (Matthew 9:12-13) The Pharisees had knowledge but their disobedience kept them from true understanding of that knowledge; they had knowledge but not knowledge mixed with faith. Jesus told them that true knowledge and understanding was learned through obedience, not mere learning. He instructed them to "go and learn" the meaning of knowledge.

The truth is that often obedience precedes knowledge and without that obedience we often forfeit the power of the knowledge we seek. Consider what Isaiah prophesied, "A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it. And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." (Isaiah 35:8, 10) The scripture can equally be translated, "they will overtake gladness and joy." Joy and gladness are in the way of obedience and by walking in obedience we will overtake gladness and joy. Obedience first, joy and gladness second. Paul also taught this, "and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." (Hebrews 12:13) Notice the order, obedience then healing.

While the Bible does not make a distinction between head and heart knowledge, it does distinguish between knowledge with and without faith. Let us determine not to be unbelieving in our knowledge but, through obedience to the truth, let us mix our knowledge with faith.

David Robison

faith, knowledge, truth, unbeliefe, disobedence, The Robe, David Robison

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Diplomacy, War, and Victory: Dt 20:10-18

"When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. If it agrees to make peace with you and opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you. However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. When the Lord your God gives it into your hand, you shall strike all the men in it with the edge of the sword. Only the women and the children and the animals and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourself; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the Lord your God has given you. Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby. Only in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 20:10-18)

This passage gives us several principles relating to the execution of a war.

Diplomacy before war: Conflicts are bound to arise between nations, but the first response should never be war but rather diplomacy. The nation of Israel was to first offer terms of peace to those nations that stood before them. This was an attempt to achieve a negotiated peace and to avoid the blood shed of war. This principle is consistent with God's dealings with mankind. When God was ready to judge the city of Nineveh He first sent a prophet to warn them of their sins, proclaim God's impending judgment, and call them to repentance. The Ninevites repented in dust and ashes and God also repented of the harm He had purposed on Nineveh. "When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it." (Jonah 3:10) Diplomacy should come first, but if diplomacy fails, then war may be the only option.

A measured response: Israel's ferociousness in battle was determined by the degree to which her opponent posed a threat to her way of life. For remote nations, God allowed them to keep the women, children, animals, and spoils or war, but for the nations that made up the land they went to possess, they were to destroy everything in which was the breath of life. Their response in war was a measured response based on the specific dangers posed by their enemies. In this case, remote nations posed a reduced threat to the nation of Israel while the nations of the land of Canaan posed a direct and immediate threat. "So that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 20:18) In war, our response should be measured and appropriate to the perceived threat.

Peace through victory: The goal of war is victory. Israel was to pursue here enemies until they were either destroyed or were subjugated to their control. "Then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you." (Deuteronomy 20:11) Sometimes peace is only achieve through victory. For over four thousand years there has been waring in the middle east between the Jews and the decedents of Ishmael. While much effort has been exerted to achieve a negotiated peace, I wonder if peace will only come to that region through victory; one side reigning victorious over the other. In victory there is a winner and a looser, a dictator and a dictated, an imposer and an acceptor and so it should be. We should not fear victory nor stop short of its full realization for, without victory, peace is unsure.

David Robison

peace, war, victory, Foundations of Governance, Book of Deuteronomy, The Robe, David Robison

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Calling out the militia (Part 2): Dt 20:5-9

"The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, 'Who is the man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it. Who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would begin to use its fruit. And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry her.' Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, 'Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers' hearts melt like his heart.' When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people." (Deuteronomy 20:5-9)

Militia participation should be voluntary. This scripture presents two key exemptions from military service. First, those for whom service would present a significant hardship were to be excused. This would include those who recently moved to a new home, those who's job and livelihood would be disproportionately adversely affected, and those who had recent status changes within the nuclear family. These were to tend to the pressing issues of life before engaging in military service. The second exemption was for the fearful. Many are the terrors of war. All entering into battle must be ready and willing to die for the cause for which they fight. Courage and bravery are required in military service and, especially in a militia, panic and disorder birthed out of fear can endanger many warriors and can place victory at risk. For these reasons, the fearful were to be sent home and the brave into battle.

Leadership within the militia should be appointed not elected. Discipline and order are essential in military ranks and campaigns. The appointment of qualified and tested leaders contributes much to the discipline and order amongst the troupes. In the Revolutionary and Civil wars in our country, they at time allowed the men of a military unit to elect their own leader. Unfortunately, the men would elect leaders who would indulge their undisciplined lifestyle and cater their particular wants. While this was done in hopes of cajoling people to volunteer for service, the end result was a group of undisciplined and unprepared men unfit for military service.

David Robison

war, militia, Book of Deuteronomy, Foundations of Governance, David Robison, The Robe

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