Suspicion
Reading: Song of Solomon 8:5-7
“Love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave” (SS 8:6)
Suspicion and jealousy between husband and wife have been an age-old problem as we see in Numbers chapter 5. In a strictly patriarchal society it was always the man who suspected. There was no place for the woman to suspect. However in the Song of Solomon we find a subtle suggestion of the Shulamite searching for her companion in the night when he was found missing in the bed. She sought him and found him. She held him and would not let him go until she brought him back (SS 3:1-4). She speaks about her experience of jealousy and challenges, “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (2:16).
Note the similarity between the husband’s jealousy reflected in Proverbs 6:34,35. “For jealousy is a husband’s fury; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense, nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.” The wife’s is in Song of Solomon 8:6,7: “Love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave ... If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.”
Suspicion is a double-edged sword. It can heal like a surgeon’s scalpel or cut your own throat. It’s like walking on a razor-sharp edge. You don’t need to trust anyone 100% — preacher, teacher, musician or one who fasts and prays. Everybody is human. Spiritual attraction is very dangerous and we need to be doubly cautious in a spiritual atmosphere. Remember what happened in the Corinthian Church. The matter was not dealt with till it came to the notice of Paul. Though some congregants smelt fish, nobody had the guts to act (1 Cor 5).
When you suspect that someone is after your husband, be alert and watchful. Suspicion should not spill over your relationships. If it does, relationships will be damaged, and relationships once damaged will be difficult to mend. Keep praying for proof. If you find proof, act on it or else relax. You must also leave your husband to fight his own battles. He may not fall for it. Most have to put up with minor flings. If he is a spiritual man he will get over it soon and steady himself. If it snowballs into a relationship you can do something about it (See article, Caution — Affair ahead, in my website). You don’t need to suspect everyone. For every bad person you meet, there are a host of good people around you.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Suspicion
Reading: Song of Solomon 8:5-7
“Love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave” (SS 8:6)
Suspicion and jealousy between husband and wife have been an age-old problem as we see in Numbers chapter 5. In a strictly patriarchal society it was always the man who suspected. There was no place for the woman to suspect. However in the Song of Solomon we find a subtle suggestion of the Shulamite searching for her companion in the night when he was found missing in the bed. She sought him and found him. She held him and would not let him go until she brought him back (SS 3:1-4). She speaks about her experience of jealousy and challenges, “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (2:16).
Note the similarity between the husband’s jealousy reflected in Proverbs 6:34,35. “For jealousy is a husband’s fury; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense, nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.” The wife’s is in Song of Solomon 8:6,7: “Love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave ... If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.”
Suspicion is a double-edged sword. It can heal like a surgeon’s scalpel or cut your own throat. It’s like walking on a razor-sharp edge. You don’t need to trust anyone 100% — preacher, teacher, musician or one who fasts and prays. Everybody is human. Spiritual attraction is very dangerous and we need to be doubly cautious in a spiritual atmosphere. Remember what happened in the Corinthian Church. The matter was not dealt with till it came to the notice of Paul. Though some congregants smelt fish, nobody had the guts to act (1 Cor 5).
When you suspect that someone is after your husband, be alert and watchful. Suspicion should not spill over your relationships. If it does, relationships will be damaged, and relationships once damaged will be difficult to mend. Keep praying for proof. If you find proof, act on it or else relax. You must also leave your husband to fight his own battles. He may not fall for it. Most have to put up with minor flings. If he is a spiritual man he will get over it soon and steady himself. If it snowballs into a relationship you can do something about it (See article, Caution — Affair ahead, in my website). You don’t need to suspect everyone. For every bad person you meet, there are a host of good people around you.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
