Hard Choices

(Pro 21:9 KJV)  It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

This is where I started reading this morning and I was tempted to skip beyond it but I am back.  Keep in mind that as far as we know this is being written by Solomon.  Some of the Proverbs are from other authors, it says so in the text, but this has no other designation.  Solomon had a total of 1,000 women who were bound to him as either wives or concubines.  I am not sure if that means he shouldn’t talk or makes him a great authority.

Let’s also state that this is not talking about divorce.  Although a later verse talks about living in the desert, it is not a call to walk away from the marriage.  It also is not a call to separation and ignoring your responsibility.  I would also accept that the concept of “brawling” (contentious NASB) (4066) can apply to men too.  Where does that leave us?

There are times and people that call for distancing ourselves.  Some people we can avoid for the rest of our lives.  Some need time to cool off.  Some need space.  Some need to be handled with kid gloves.  I don’t see any indication here that the man is guilty of generating this conflict.  It is still very real.

So?  It might be good to spend some time reviewing I Corinthians 13:5 where it talks about not being provoked and such.  Some relationships require a lot of grace.