Like Relations
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God…7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. (1 Cor 11:3, 7-8)
The above passage conveys to us that the Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the Head of Christ is God, the woman is the glory of man and she is of the man. Consider sisters that God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of the man, and the man, your husband, is your head. Thus you may consider that your husband covers you, Christ covers your husband, and God covers Christ. Thus if you are in subjection, in obedience to the LORD, abiding in Christ, you are enveloped in all of the coverings of your husband, Christ, and God! Praise God for so thoroughly enveloping you with holy protection and oversight of your precious soul! Surely when you are in this place the LORD thy God in the midst of thee is might; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing (Zeph 3:17)!
In view of the Spiritual realities of headship/coverings, I desire to elaborate on a specific principle in this section: that it is often the case that the way you relate to God bears many similarities to the way you relate to your husband and likewise it is often the case that the way the LORD is relating to you bears similarities to the way your husband relates to you when He is in the will of God. That is, the way that you believe or disbelieve, obey or disobey, surrender or rebel, love or hate, are zealous or lukewarm towards, despise or adore, perceive the love of, perceive the wrath of…the LORD is often how you are towards your husband. And thus, how you are inclined towards your husband is often a litmus test of how your soul fares before the King of kings and LORD of lords. Are you tempted against your husband? Then you are tempted against the LORD. Do you believe your husband hates you? It is very likely that you believe the LORD hates you? Do you perceive that your husband is rejecting or despising you? It is very likely that you believe that the LORD is rejecting or despising you. Are you hating and despising your husband? Then you are certainly hating and despising the LORD? Do you perceive that your husband is grieved with your sin? Then it is very possible that you perceive the LORD is grieved with your sin, and surely, sister, it is very possible that the LORD is grieved with your sin!
For such likeness between the way the LORD and your husband relate to you do exist when your husband is in the will of God. And bear in mind that though he have faults, he may yet be in the will of God in the way in which He relates to you. Does your husband reprove you for particular sin? Consider that the LORD is reproving you for the particular sin if your husband is in the will of God. Does your husband rejoice in your conversation? Consider that the LORD may very well be rejoicing in your conversation. Does your husband leave you to seek repentance? The LORD is truly commanding you to find repentance, and surely there will be light granted if you seek Him with all of your heart!
O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy.4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. (Hos 14:1-4)
Consider your coverings: the layers thereof. You are so tightly enveloped in them all, that is, your husband, Christ, and God. Therefore, if you lay hold of the outer covering of the LORD you cannot but lay hold of your husband with holy reverence and charity. If you hearken unto, obey, follow, love, pursue, and fear the LORD, you will certainly be performing such to your husband. And yet, to the contrary, you cannot strike a fist against your LORD without sinning against your husband. Treachery against the living God will ALWAYS be manifested as treachery against your husband.
O Christ may my life be hidden with you in God
That Christ’s overwhelming streams of charity for this man will my bowels laud
O keep me LORD from presumptuous sin; let it not rule over me
That to perfectly subject myself unto him I may be free
Go to Chapter 4 The Washing of the Bridegroom
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God…7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. (1 Cor 11:3, 7-8)
The above passage conveys to us that the Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the Head of Christ is God, the woman is the glory of man and she is of the man. Consider sisters that God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of the man, and the man, your husband, is your head. Thus you may consider that your husband covers you, Christ covers your husband, and God covers Christ. Thus if you are in subjection, in obedience to the LORD, abiding in Christ, you are enveloped in all of the coverings of your husband, Christ, and God! Praise God for so thoroughly enveloping you with holy protection and oversight of your precious soul! Surely when you are in this place the LORD thy God in the midst of thee is might; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing (Zeph 3:17)!
In view of the Spiritual realities of headship/coverings, I desire to elaborate on a specific principle in this section: that it is often the case that the way you relate to God bears many similarities to the way you relate to your husband and likewise it is often the case that the way the LORD is relating to you bears similarities to the way your husband relates to you when He is in the will of God. That is, the way that you believe or disbelieve, obey or disobey, surrender or rebel, love or hate, are zealous or lukewarm towards, despise or adore, perceive the love of, perceive the wrath of…the LORD is often how you are towards your husband. And thus, how you are inclined towards your husband is often a litmus test of how your soul fares before the King of kings and LORD of lords. Are you tempted against your husband? Then you are tempted against the LORD. Do you believe your husband hates you? It is very likely that you believe the LORD hates you? Do you perceive that your husband is rejecting or despising you? It is very likely that you believe that the LORD is rejecting or despising you. Are you hating and despising your husband? Then you are certainly hating and despising the LORD? Do you perceive that your husband is grieved with your sin? Then it is very possible that you perceive the LORD is grieved with your sin, and surely, sister, it is very possible that the LORD is grieved with your sin!
For such likeness between the way the LORD and your husband relate to you do exist when your husband is in the will of God. And bear in mind that though he have faults, he may yet be in the will of God in the way in which He relates to you. Does your husband reprove you for particular sin? Consider that the LORD is reproving you for the particular sin if your husband is in the will of God. Does your husband rejoice in your conversation? Consider that the LORD may very well be rejoicing in your conversation. Does your husband leave you to seek repentance? The LORD is truly commanding you to find repentance, and surely there will be light granted if you seek Him with all of your heart!
O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy.4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. (Hos 14:1-4)
Consider your coverings: the layers thereof. You are so tightly enveloped in them all, that is, your husband, Christ, and God. Therefore, if you lay hold of the outer covering of the LORD you cannot but lay hold of your husband with holy reverence and charity. If you hearken unto, obey, follow, love, pursue, and fear the LORD, you will certainly be performing such to your husband. And yet, to the contrary, you cannot strike a fist against your LORD without sinning against your husband. Treachery against the living God will ALWAYS be manifested as treachery against your husband.
O Christ may my life be hidden with you in God
That Christ’s overwhelming streams of charity for this man will my bowels laud
O keep me LORD from presumptuous sin; let it not rule over me
That to perfectly subject myself unto him I may be free
Go to Chapter 4 The Washing of the Bridegroom