2 Kings 21:13 KJV.
“And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it , and turning it upside down”.
MESSAGE:
God was angry with the children of Israel because of their sins.
From our scriptural verse for today, God was explaining how he would purge and cleanse Jerusalem.
Let us quickly do a little digression first to really understand the above verse of the bible.
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus was giving an illustration of how we should be good neighbours to our friends.
He gave a parable of a trader who fell among thieves. The trader was wounded and “a good Samaritan” took him to an “inn”.
Bible scholars believe that “inn” as used in this scripture was another name for hospital.
The reason being that the good Samaritan paid for the treatment of the injured trader thereafter.
Patients are treated and you only pay for treatment in the hospital and not in a hotel or “inn”.
My point, if it was wrong to patronize the hospital, Jesus wouldn’t have used that as an illustration.
It is good to believe in divine healing. However, where your faith is not strong enough to carry it and you are sick, go to the hospital for treatment.
Back to our main verse of discussion for today:
God said, “…I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down”.
The question is, why must God give this kind of illustration to prove his point?
To “wipe” as used here means to “wash”.
“Dish” in this verse refers to “plates”.
I know this is a parable, as the story of the trader in Luke 10:25-37 was also a parable.
However, I want us to look at the literary meanings of both parables to address the point am about to make.
Literarily speaking, you wash your dishes (plates), turn them over on the tray to dry up.
Beloved, it is true that part of the duties of a woman is to do all the cooking and wash (wipe) the plates (dish), etc.
However, in our focal text for today, the bible is saying that it is not evil for a man in “wiping (washing) the dish (plate) and turning it upside down”.
Men, please listen before you begin to castigate me. Remember I am also a man and married too.
Many may not buy into this idea but am heading somewhere.
Listen to me beloved, that woman you call your wife is not your house maid. God says, she is your “help meet”.
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” – Genesis 2:18.
There is therefore no evil in the man giving a little help to the woman in carrying out her duties, even in the kitchen.
Am aware that we all know the scriptures. A man reading this message may be boiling with anger right now.
Many are already searching the scriptures now to remind me of what the bible says are the roles of a man.
I will help you:
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” – 1 Timothy 5:8.
Part of your provisions for your family includes rendering assistance to your wife too.
In Africa, men are called many funny names, to despise us, when seen helping the woman out.
If a man decides to help his wife in the kitchen or attend to their little baby, he is quickly called “woman wrapper”.
If I decide to play the “woman wrapper” to my own wife, what’s your problem?
Remember, am doing that to my wife and not yours. So, there should be no qualms.
I am sorry for most men who will allow side talks, from their friends or even relations, to have negative impacts on their marriages.
For instance, if your wife is busy in the kitchen and your little baby just excretes or urinates in the living room, while you are relaxing and watching the TV, what stops you, as a man, to attend to that baby!!!
Man remember, that baby is “our baby” not “your baby” as many will refer to their wives when such a child needs attention.
Most men will still expect the woman to stop her cooking to attend to that baby.
The running of homes is in the hands of both husband and wife according to the dictates of God.
You are therefore under no obligation to run your own home the way your father raised you.
You can choose to be different and better beloved, even God himself will be happy with you.
Marriage is the idea of God and not that of man.
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” – Genesis 2:18.
God is equally saying here to the man, in our main text for today:
“…man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down”.
Follow the order of God for marriage and you will experience marital bliss and the peace of God.
Most men pray and their prayers are not answered because they have not treated their wives right as commanded by God.
The bible says:
“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” – 1 Peter 3:7.
God is simply warning married men here to treat our wives well and rightly too so that they don’t stand as hindrances to our prayers.
God listens to the cries of a woman faster beloved.
Most marriages today suffer breakups because couples refuse to abide by God’s rules regarding their relationship.
God is the author of marriage and he alone has the rules for a successful marriage.
To the woman, God said:
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord” – Ephesians 5:22.
The problem of most women that often leads to chaos in marriage is “submission”.
☆☆☆ Woman, you may be richer, more positioned, or more educated than your husband, he is still your husband. God is saying you must submit to him.
Note: “as unto the Lord”.
☆☆☆ If you are rude to your husband, it is “as unto the Lord”.
☆☆☆ If you obey your husband, it is “as unto the Lord”.
Finally, to the man, God again said:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” – Ephesians 5 :25.
☆☆☆ God knows that a woman doesn’t have problem in loving her husband, her problem is submission.
☆☆☆ Likewise the problem of man is “love”.
☆☆☆ So, wife obey God and submit to your husband.
☆☆☆ Husband, please obey God and love your wife.
I pray that this message will mend the broken walls in many homes and marriages in Jesus name.
I decree, those marriages that are at the verge of collapse shall be delivered and restored in Jesus mighty name.
May the Lord open your eyes to those areas in your marriage where you need to make amends, as husband and as a wife, in Jesus name.
To every family struggling to make ends meet, I decree, declare and prophesy, the All Sufficient God will make ways for you in Jesus name.
I prophesy, help divine, from known and unknown sources, shall attend to your needs in Jesus name.
I pray for every mature youth, getting ready for marriage, you will not enter into wrong homes in Jesus name.
I decree, declare and prophesy, God who instituted marriage, shall repair every faulty marriage in Jesus name.
I kick the devil out of every home where there is crisis in their marriage right now.
May your marriage follow the divine order of God for marriage in Jesus name.
May you not take your marriage outside the coverage and supervision of God in Jesus mighty name.
All our children shall be and remain for signs and for wonders in Jesus name.
To every woman trusting God for the fruit of the womb, I prophesy, in 9 months from now, your twins shall be dedicated unto the Lord in Jesus name.
Your home will experience peace.
Your marriage will enjoy marital bliss.
God bless you.
God bless your marriage.
God bless your children.
God bless your home.
You are blessed.
Shalom.
Pastor Olutimehin Isaac is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
For prayers and counselling, please call or connect me on watts app 08033916074.
You can also connect me on facebook @ Isaac Olutimehin.
Or email: pastorisaacolutimehin@gmail.com
