Sermon Tone Analysis

Story:

Marriage, Role of Wife

Charles Swindoll tells of being married ten years before he became aware of the value of being grateful for the differences between his wife and himself.

He was often irritated that she didn’t view things exactly as he did.

She wasn’t argumentative, only expressive of her honest feelings.

But he took this as a lack of submission and told her so.

Time and time again they locked horns until finally God showed him from the passage that his wife was different because God had made her different, and she was more valuable to him because of those differences.

She was not designed to be his echo but to be his counterpart, a necessary and needed individual to help him become all God wanted him to be.852

Charles Swindoll tells of being married ten years before he became aware of the value of being grateful for the differences between his wife and himself.

He was often irritated that she didn’t view things exactly as he did.

She wasn’t argumentative, only expressive of her honest feelings.

But he took this as a lack of submission and told her so.

Time and time again they locked horns until finally God showed him from the passage that his wife was different because God had made her different, and she was more valuable to him because of those differences.

She was not designed to be his echo but to be his counterpart, a necessary and needed individual to help him become all God wanted him to be.852

Historically, The Father Finds the Bride for His Son

It was The Father (Abraham) who chose a wife for His Son (Gen 24:1-4)

It was It was the Friend who went to Find a Wife for the Son

This servant was believed to be Eleazar (15:2), the one who stuck by the side of Abraham from the beginning of his call to step out toward Canaan, one who had highest trust, seniority and steward of all the Ab had.

Placing of the hand under the thigh (vs 2) also found in (47:29)Put your hand under my thigh, a prelude to the servant’s act of swearing.

thigh is undoubtedly a euphemism for genitalia, in the light of passages such as and .”

R. D. Freedman has suggested that taking the membrum—now circumcised as a covenant sign—into the hand is a way of invoking the presence of God at this moment between master and servant.

Or it may simply be a way in which the servant reassures Abraham that he will honestly and truthfully carry out his master’s wish.13

In touching the genitalia of Abraham and Jacob, the servant and Joseph are placing themselves under oath faithfully to expedite the last wishes of two elderly patriarchs on family matters.

Any attempt to void those wishes will arouse the wrath of the ancestral spirits.

The Servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore and oath to him concerning this matter.

The servant took 10 of Abraham’s camels and departs with all kinds of his master’s goods and departed to Nahor (his great nephews town Aram-naharaim (Mesopotamian) (Vs 9-10)

He is

The servant may have want to a plan b but Abraham knew and believe that God was fitful, He would find a wife for Isaac (vs7)

Abraham’s vision came to pass and the servant’s prayers were answered

It was the Wife who made Herself ready for the Son

(HCSB) — 57 So they said, “Let’s call the girl and ask her opinion.”

58 They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”

She replied, “I will go.”

The Father Finds A Bride for His Son

The Father Instructs His Servant to Prepare a Bride for His Son

Bible customs: Betrothal

Synopsis

The period of engagement preceding marriage; betrothal was a binding contract established between two families and sealed by the exchange of gifts.

During this period the couple did not live together; sexual relations with each other at this stage was regarded as equivalent to adultery.

Betrothal describes the relationship between God and his people and between Jesus Christ and the church.

Wives were often chosen by parents for their sons

It was usual practice for the groom’s parents to choose his wife and arrange the wedding.

(HCSB) — 21 He settled in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

See also ;

(HCSB) — 4 but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac.”

(HCSB) — 6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Suitable husbands were sought by parents for their daughters

Naomi, in the role of parent, assumes responsibility to find a husband for Ruth.

(HCSB) — 1 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find security for you, so that you will be taken care of? 2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative?

Haven’t you been working with his female servants?

This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.

3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes.

Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down.

Then he will explain to you what you should do.”

See also ; ;

(HCSB) — 17 Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab.

I’ll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.”

But Saul was thinking, “My hand doesn’t need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

(HCSB) — 21 “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought.

“She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.”

So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”

Sometimes the man chose a prospective bride and his parents negotiated the marriage.

(HCSB) — 1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. 2 He went back and told his father and his mother: “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah.

Now get her for me as a wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people?

Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?”

But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, because I want her.” 4 Now his father and mother did not know this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion against the Philistines.

At that time, the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

See also ; ; Esau chose a bride against his parents’ wishes.

(HCSB) — 1 Dinah, Leah’s daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see some of the young women of the area. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, a prince of the region, saw her, he took her and raped her. 3 He became infatuated with Dinah, daughter of Jacob.

He loved the young girl and spoke tenderly to her. 4 “Get me this girl as a wife,” he told his father Hamor.

(HCSB) — 57 So they said, “Let’s call the girl and ask her opinion.”

58 They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”

She replied, “I will go.”

(HCSB) — 34 When Esau was 40 years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.

35 They made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

Betrothal preceded marriage

; A betrothed soldier was exempted from military service until after his marriage; ;

(HCSB) — 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed.

I want to sleep with her.”

(HCSB) — 7 Has any man become engaged to a woman and not married her?

Let him leave and return home.

Otherwise he may die in battle and another man marry her.’

(HCSB) — 24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him.

He married her

(HCSB) — 36 But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past marriageable age, and so it must be, he can do what he wants.

He is not sinning; they can get married.

37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will ) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin, will do well.

38 So then he who marries his virgin does well, but he who does not marry will do better.

An exchange of gifts accompanyed betrothal

The bride-price

This gift, which was given by the groom to the bride’s family as compensation, sealed the marriage contract.

(HCSB) — 11 Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I’ll give you whatever you say.

12 Demand of me a high compensation and gift; I’ll give you whatever you ask me.

Just give the girl to be my wife!”

See also ; ; ; ; ;

(HCSB) — 53 Then he brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah.

He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.

(HCSB) — 18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

(HCSB) — 27 Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me.”