34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
Proverbs 6: 34-35 NIV
6min read
This is our God. A jealous God. Like a husband who is a protector of his wife. No man can touch her, without his fury taking over.
God loves each of us as His bride. And if we choose to be in right relationship with Him, the enemy has no foothold over us. God’s hand cradles us. He battles for us. And we can experience His love that He pours out to us, through His jealousy. Let Him stand in our defence, as our protector. One who guides us to Himself, and tells us to take refuge in Him.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91: 14-16 NIV
As a woman, I desire that protection from my husband. That masculine protection that I want him to provide. I love that my husband walks on the road side of the path, because he wants to make sure I am safe. I love that he sleeps on the door side of the room for my safety, so he can be my first line of defence. I love that if there is an unusual noise in the house, that he is the one who ventures out to see what it is. He stands tall, he stands strong for his family. That he would stare down a man with fury, if that man was looking at me or our daughter with ill intent.
There is something so appealing to me as a woman, to know that the man I am with is there to fight for me, to shelter me, to protect me. To scan a room that he enters, ensuring he is doing all he can, to provide for my safety. There is so much beauty in surrendering this burden to him as a form of submission, and allowing Him to lead our home with masculinity, through the LORD.
1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
Psalm 35: 1-3 NIV
This was not always the case in our marriage. Even though this image is appealing, I fought this concept over and over again, unknowingly thinking I knew best. I desired to control what was happening in our home, and it is still something I can battle with, if I let it. I did not realise I was fighting what I truly desired. And that was my husband’s arms wrapping around me and telling me, ‘You are mine, I’m not going anywhere, and I love you.’ I believed that being in control and standing for my rights, was what I truly desired. And I thank God on this day, that my eyes were open to the cunning lies that I chose to believe. Because when I look back, I can only imagine what my life would be like, if God did not grasp my hand and invite me in, when He did.
I believe God designed men and women differently. We each bring different aspects to a godly marriage, and when brought together can be so beautiful and perfect. And I see what God is trying to do in my marriage when I read His word, and through the examples that Jesus gives us. That He would lay down his life for his bride, protecting us if harm ever came our way.
God does not ask us to be strong in ourselves. He asks us to surrender our ways, have faith in who He says He is, and believe that He is for us, and not against us. He can fight for you. Do you believe it?
There have been times when I have put on worship music, and as I am listening to the words, the presence of Jesus surrounds me, like a fourth man in the fire. No doubt there are days filled with heartache and exhaustion, and the trials seem too much for me in that moment. And even though I believe that God is a good God, it does not always feel that way. I have to remind myself to focus on God’s promises. He will come through in ways that we sometimes do not understand. Through His blessings, He will provide you with His spirit of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-control. These are like gold….. in a world that is filled with chaos.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3: 16-18 NIV
God desires for us to come under His headship, like taking on the last name of my husband. God desires to have ownership over us. Surrendering our will for His greater will, because He knows what is best for us. He does not want us to prostitute ourselves with the world, allowing sin to entangle us and burden us, with heavy chains and shackles. He wants us all to Himself. He wants us to desire His protection, His love, His shelter and embrace no other, through our act of surrender.
And as I ponder on this idea, it is as though Jesus is saying to me……nothing can come to her except if it comes through me first, I am her protector. This is our God, and He is our armour-bearer, our first line of defence.
Nadia x
All for His Glory.