Isaiah 54 & Ephesians 5:21-33

The Husband of Valor.

  1. God directs husbands in their duties in many parts of Scripture.

    1. What husbands are not to do.

      1. He must not disobey God even if prompted by his wife. Gen 3:6; Job 2:9

      2. Exod 20:14 You shall not commit adultery.

      3. Exod 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife…

      4. The husband's conjugal responsibilities could not be set aside even when God tolerated polygamy. Exodus 21:10, Deuteronomy 21:15-17

      5. He had to write a bill of divorce before sending his wife away, and may not remarry her if she has become another man's wife and subsequently divorced. Deut 24:1 ff.

      6. He is not to divorce her. Matthew 5:32, Malachi 2:16.

    2. What husbands are to do.

      1. He may nullify a vow taken by his wife. Num 30:6 ff.

      2. He is to bring happiness to his new wife by putting her above all other obligations. Deuteronomy 24:5.

      3. He is to trust his Christian wife. Proverbs 31:11.

      4. He is to praise his wife. Proverbs 31:28.

      5. He is to rejoice with her and enjoy the personal relationship they have to the exclusion of all others. Proverbs 5:18, Ecc 9:9, 1Cor 7:3-4.

      6. He is to live with her with understanding and honor. 1 Peter 3:7.

      7. He is to recognize that his wife is a blessing from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22.

      8. He is to keep and treasure her as his companion, his wife by covenant. Malachi 2:14-15, Eph 5:30-31.

      9. He is to be her head and lead her as Christ does the church. Ephesians 5:23.

    3. God provides examples of husbands in many parts of Scripture.

  2. God reveals himself to be the excellent husband.

    1. God and Israel, Isaiah 54:5.

      1. Context: God's promise about the New Covenant church extending to all nations.

      2. God's Name and Titles: Creator & Redeemer & husband point to Christ

      3. Acts of the divine husband:

          Mercy, v. 7; kindness, v. 8; no anger and no rebuke, v. 9; forever, v. 10, beautifies his wife, v. 11-12, (image of the city in Rev 21-22), teach her children God's ways, v. 13, protects her from shame, and slander, and harm, v. 14-17. .

    2. God and Israel, Hosea. (2:16)

      1. Acts of the divine husband:

          v. 14 to entice her away from sin and speak comfort to her, (also Jeremiah 3:1), v. 15 to give her gifts that bring blessing and delight, v. 19 to betroth her forever in righteousness and justice and lovingkindness and mercy.

    3. Christ and the Church. Eph 5:23-27

      1. Acts of the husband

        1. He is head of the body, He loves, he gives himself for her to save her and sanctify her, He cares for her as for his own body: nourishes and cherishes her.

      2. In eternity: Rev 19:7, Rev 21:2.

      3. The church answers him: Isaiah 61:10.

  3. Husbands, imitate Christ.

    1. Man and woman living together in Christ can escape the snares of sin with discipline and prayer. Matthew 16:24.

      1. Christ has set us free, but we have to follow him.

      2. The cross is what you use to crucify the flesh.

      3. She is to submit and he is to love her. Replace "desire and rule over."

      4. He is to be her head and she is to respect him (Eph 5:33).

      5. He is to dwell with her with understanding. (1Pet 3:7).

      6. He is to "give honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel." (1Pet 3:7).

      7. He is to honor her as a fellow heir of the grace of life which Christ purchased for both of them.

    2. Acts of the redeemed husband.