November 18, 2007

Morning Meeting

• Hymn 245 – On that same night, Lord Jesus

• Scripture:

  • Exodus 12:1 to 14
  • Luke 22:14 to 20
• Hymn 149 – Lord Jesus! we remember
• Prayer
• Hymn 40 – O Thou great all-gracious Shepherd
• Scripture – Revelation 5:6
• Breaking of Bread
• Hymn – 146 – We bless our Saviour’s name

• Prayer

  Children’s Meeting—Gordon Burgess

EG Hymn 215 – Happy they who trust in Jesus,

Prayer

Last time we read Esther 1, and learned about how Vashti did not obey her husband the king. Today, let’s read Esther 2. Esther was a Jewess, but she didn’t tell anyone. Now we find that the king sent an invitation for all the young women to come to be looked over; he needed to find a queen to take Vashti’s place. So Esther went to the palace; but before the king could see her, she had to purify herself for 12 months. Hegai, the keeper of the women, liked Esther and gave her seven maids to help her. Finally, she was allowed in to see the king; Ahasuerus liked her better than any other woman. So he chose her to be the queen and threw a feast for her.

We can see this story as a type, a picture of our lives. When we get saved, we don’t go to Heaven right away: we have to wait here on earth until the Lord comes to get us. While we wait we can be like Esther and please the King we are waiting for. Or, we can be like Vashti and disobey and displease Him. There’s more I’d like to say, but I’m out of time, remember that we should try to live our lives for the Lord.

Reading Meeting

I Peter 3:1–7

Our chapter begins with the word “likewise,” a connecting word that tells us we have a continuation of what we have been looking at in the practical part of ch. 2. We looked at submission/authority relationships. Now we are looking at household relationships, starting with that of the wife. A wife should be in subjection to her husband. The definition of being in subjection is left assumed here, and some have taken it so far as to say that a wife cannot do anything without her husband’s permission. If this were so, it would mean we would have to ask the government officials for permission to do everything. What does Paul say about this relationship? We can see this in I Corinthians

7. Before looking at his words, read v. 6: “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.” This sounds as though Paul is not writing this as a direct command from God, but as something God let him add in. Now read vv. 1–4. In every aspect of the relationship, there is a wife’s and husband’s side. Is Paul saying marriage is a 50-50 deal? We could make a case that marriage is a 60-60 relationship. Both the husband and the wife have their responsibilities. In domestic duties, taking care of the household and children, a wife is more adept. When it comes to fixing things around the home and providing for the family, that is a husband’s area. But as in every relationship, there needs to be one who is the leader, one who makes the decisions for the household. In this the wife is to support her husband’s choice, even if it is not the best option. If she is uncomfortable with his choice, she, of course, is free to discuss it with him. But how is this a 60-60 relationship? There are times when a husband should step in and help his wife and where a wife will step in and assist her husband.

Now this verse goes on to say that it may be possible that the wife is married to an unsaved man. This is not giving permission to marry someone unsaved, but it is possible that the wife is saved after they are married. If this is the case, the wife should try to win her husband to the Lord. Peter mentions three ways this could be done.

1. Vv. 1 & 2 – It is possible to try to preach at him, or nag him. Peter says this is not a good idea; it is better to use your conversation, or manner of life: chastity coupled with fear of God.
2. V. 3 – It’s also possible to use excessive hairdos, jewellery, or clothes to try to win your husband. This would be a wrong method, although it is not saying at all that it is wrong to braid your hair or wear jewellery any more than it is saying it is wrong to wear clothes. It is the overdoing of these things that is wrong. Mr. Darby sums this up by saying it is the modesty and purity of a wife that should win her husband.
3. V. 4 – The hidden man (or woman) of the heart is the way to save an unsaved husband: by having a meek and quiet spirit, “which is in the sight of God of great price.”

These principles are also good general rules of Christian life. Even if a husband is saved, there is no excuse for a wife to overdo her hair or wear too much jewellery. Also, as Christians, we should have the same spirit so that others around us who are not saved will see the Lord in us.

EG Hymn 20 – When we walk with the Lord,

Prayer