An explanation of "Dwelling with Knowledge"

I have read the following in "Matthew Henry's commentary on the Bible". I thought that it gave quite a good explanation..


II. The husband's duty to the wife comes next to be considered.

1. The particulars are, (1.) Cohabitation, which forbids unnecessary separation, and implies a mutual communication of goods and persons one to another, with delight and concord. (2.) Dwelling with the wife according to knowledge; not according to lust, as brutes; nor according to passion, as devils; but according to knowledge, as wise and sober men, who know the word of God and their own duty. (3.) Giving honour to the wife—giving due respect to her, and maintaining her authority, protecting her person, supporting her credit, delighting in her conversation, affording her a handsome maintenance, and placing a due trust and confidence in her.

2. The reasons are, Because she is the weaker vessel by nature and constitution, and so ought to be defended: but then the wife is, in other and higher respects, equal to her husband; they are heirs together of the grace of life, of all the blessings of this life and another, and therefore should live peaceably and quietly one with another, and, if they do not, their prayers one with another and one for another will be hindered, so that often "you will not pray at all, or, if you do, you will pray with a discomposed ruffled mind, and so without success." Learn, (1.) The weakness of the female sex is no just reason either for separation or contempt, but on the contrary it is a reason for honour and respect: Giving honour to the wife as unto the weaker vessel. (2.) There is an honour due to all who are heirs of the grace of life. (3.) All married people should take care to behave themselves so lovingly and peaceably one to another that they may not by their broils hinder the success of their prayers.

Till next time,
 
Joel

COME BACK! and DWELLING....

OH WOW, Another Post. and you all thought that you would never see another one! Yes you thought it was "a passing phase" but no I am making a come back....(we will see how long this lasts!!!)

On a more serious note,

I was thinking a while back about what it means in this verse "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered". I particularly want to focus on the "dwell with them (your wife) according to knowledge"...What does it mean to do this? I have heard a few different things from different people over the past few months..
I think that it must mean something more than we often first take it to mean. If you look at the first 6 verses before the one I am talking about; it focuses on the wife, and the husbands only have this 1 verse..So I think that to begin with it must mean that it is something REALLY IMPORTANT. I don't have the complete answer to my question but it is something that has been on my mind for a while now..oh and if you think that you have an answer to the question it would be great to hear from you!

Well I am signing off, catch you next time....

Joel

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all! I kow it is a little late, but better late than never...

Beth and I were looking over some of our highlights from last year. It is amazing how God provides and when you look back it ironically feels like there is a bigger plan and purpose being set before us.. ;)

Some of the highlights are as follows.

> I started a new job at the beginning of the year
> We had the birth of our first child, Joshua
> We bought our first house
> We found out we were expecting our second Child

And of course there was alot of other 'smaller' (well looking back they seem smaller!) things that happened in between it all.

We hope that you all have a blessed New Year, and that you will look to the Lord in everything that you do and you will become closer to him this year than you have before..

Joel