Abuse
The principles of
Christ-like love forbid physical or verbal spouse abuse.
- Ephesians 5:25 HCSB
Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and
gave Himself for her,
- Ephesians 5:28-29 HCSB In
the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his wife loves himself.
(29) For no one ever hates
his own flesh, but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the
church,
- Colossians 3:19 HCSB
Husbands, love your wives and don't become bitter against them.
You cannot be an abusive, drunken, foul-mouthed lout and
rightfully claim the Messiah as your Master.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 HCSB
(9) Do you not know that the
unjust will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually
immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, (10)
thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers
will inherit God's kingdom.
- Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faith, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against
such things there is no law.
A
person who cannot show mercy has probably not received mercy from the Lord
either!
- Luke 6:36-37 HCSB Be
merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (37) "Do not judge, and you will not be
judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you
will be forgiven.
Persons given to
verbal abuse reveal their true selves.
- Proverbs 13:3 HCSB The one
who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites
his own ruin.
- Matthew 12:34-37 HCSB Brood
of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth
speaks from the overflow of the heart. (35) A good man produces good things from his
storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom
of evil. (36) I tell you that on
the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word
they speak. (37) For by your words
you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
- Luke 6:45-46 HCSB A good man
produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces
evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of
the heart. (46) "Why do you
call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say?
But
let’s just say that you are a Believer but a disobedient, abusive one. First,
understand that your prayers are not being answered by Hashem as long as you
are not treating your spouse well.
- 1 Peter 3:7 HCSB Husbands,
in the same way, live with your wives with understanding of their weaker
nature yet showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that
your prayers will not be hindered.
When
the Lord returns to take His rightful place on the throne, you will have to
face His judgment!
- Matthew 12:36-37 HCSB I
tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every
careless word they speak. (37) For
by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned."
- Luke 12:45-47 HCSB But if
that slave says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and
starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get
drunk, (46) that slave's master
will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know.
He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
(47) And that slave who knew his
master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.
Violence is a
characteristic of the unfaithful.
- Proverbs 13:2 HCSB From
the words of his mouth, a man will enjoy good things, but treacherous
people have an appetite for violence.
Violent persons are
not to be admired.
- Proverbs 3:31
HCSB Don't envy a violent man or
choose any of his ways;
God forbids incest.
- Leviticus 18:6 HCSB
"You are not to come near any close relative for sexual
intercourse; I am the LORD.
The Lord offers His
protection and comfort to the victims of abuse.
- Psalms 91:1-16 HCSB The
one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow
of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge
and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3
He Himself will deliver you from the hunter's net, from the
destructive plague. 4 He will cover you with His feathers; you
will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective
shield. 5 You will not fear the terror of the
night, the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in
darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side and
ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you. 8
You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of
the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD--my
refuge, the Most High--your dwelling place, 10
no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent. 11
For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you
in all your ways. 12 They will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13
You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the
young lion and the serpent. 14 Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I
will deliver him; I will exalt him because he knows My name. 15
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in
trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. 16
I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.
God loves abuse
victims. If anyone will see to it that they get justice, He will.
- Matthew 11:28 HCSB
"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest.
- Romans 5:5-8 HCSB This
hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our
hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6
For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ
died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just
person--though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to
die. 8 But God proves His own love for us in
that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!
Go to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him for help – either in the form of
release from the abusive situation or strength and grace to endure.
- Psalms 34:4-5 HCSB I sought
the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (5)
Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never
be ashamed.
- Isaiah 26:3-7 HCSB You will
keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for
it is trusting in You. (4) Trust in the LORD forever, because in
Yah, the LORD, is an everlasting rock!
(5) For He has humbled those
who live in lofty places--an inaccessible city. He brings it down; He
brings it down to the ground; He throws it to the dust. (6)
Feet trample it, the feet of the humble, the steps of the poor. (7)
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for
the righteous.
- 1 Peter 5:7 HCSB casting all
your care upon Him, because He cares about you.
- Psalms 42:9-11 HCSB I will
say to God, my rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why must I go about
in sorrow because of the enemy's oppression?" (10)
My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day
long they say to me, "Where is your God?" (11)
Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in
God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Ask Him for the wisdom you need to know how to deal with the
situation.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 HCSB Trust in
the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own
understanding; (6) think about Him in all your ways, and He
will guide you on the right paths.
We are promised
safety and sleep without fear.
- Proverbs 3:21-24 HCSB
Maintain your competence and discretion. My son, don't lose sight
of them. 22 They will be life for you and adornment
for your neck. 23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be
afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
Eventually abusers
will get their due.
- Psalms 60:11-12 HCSB Give
us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless. 12
With God we will perform valiantly; He will trample our foes.