As Peter the
apostle continued giving instructions to “wives”, he
included the importance of them living“chaste” and pure
before their husbands. This was to be demonstrated not with the
“outward adorning” such as “plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel”, but was to be
within “the hidden man of the heart” which would be
manifested with a “meek and quiet spirit”. This behavior
would not only “win” their husbands, but also was “in the
sight of God of great price”. In chapter three and verse five
of his letter, Peter uses the example of “holy women” in
“the old time” to encourage the “wives” where
we read
For after
this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned
themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
The
verse begins, “For after this manner in the old time the
holy women also, who trusted in God,...” Peter
began with the word, “For”
which means “even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore and
verily” “after this manner”
which means “on this wise, even so and likewise” “in
the old time” which refers to
“once, formerly, aforetime and at some time” “the
holy” or “sacred, pure,
morally blameless or consecrated” “women”
which means “women of any age, whether a virgin, married or a
widow” “also” or
“both, then, likewise, even and indeed” “who trusted”
which means “hopefully to trust in” “in God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised
of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Peter used
the “holy women” “who trusted in God”
as his example for those in the past who modeled the behavior he
desired for the “wives”
to follow.
The
verse continues, “...adorned themselves, being in
subjection unto their own husbands:”
Peter added the word, “adorned”
which means “to put in order, arrange, make ready, prepared, and
embellished with honor” “themselves” which
refers to “the holy women”,
“being in subjection”
which means “arranged under, subordinate, subject or obedient”
“unto their own”
or “pertaining to one's self and belonging to one's self”
“husbands” which
refers to “betrothed or future husbands”. The manner in which
these “holy women” lived
was “being in subjection”
to their “husbands”,
and the “wives”
whom Peter was instructing would know who these women were and what
they represented.
When
we think about these words of Peter, we can benefit by considering
the women of whom Peter wrote. Women such as “Rachel”, “Leah”,
“Rebecca” and “Sarah” lived lives in “subjection”
to their “husbands”,
and if we look at their lives, the Lord watched over and protected
them as they did. Once again, as we consider these things, let us be
reminded that this idea was to be implemented to “win” their
husbands to a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we keep this
perspective, we understand the importance of Peter's example.
Next
time Peter shares how “Sara obeyed Abraham”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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