Domestic Violence - Scriptural Applications #1

Psalm 11:5 (HCSB) - "The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence."

The Bible makes it very clear that any form of domestic violence is a sin before God. The author of the Psalm above - believed to be David - speaks out that God hates those who loves (is a friend to) violence is hated by God. Now, this is not speaking to a person's salvation, it does speak to the fact that anyone who is a friend to violence is at odds with God. Their relationship is one that is strained. The word in Hebrew for violence is châmâs and means violence, wrong, cruelty, or injustice.

Other passages that point out that domestic violence is a sin and cannot be condoned or accepted in any fashion would include (all HCSB):

Malachi 2: 16 - 17 - "“If he hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord God of Israel, “he covers his garment with injustice,” says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously. You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

Colossians 3:19 - "Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them."

And in this vein, abusive speech is never an acceptable way to communicate - consider these verses -

1 Corinthians 5:11 - "But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person."

Colossians 3:8 - "But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth."

Take some time today to muse over the fact that DV is a sin in God's eyes. God has never - and will never - condone any form of IPV or DV.

Tomorrow, let us ponder and muse over the facts that violence is never justified and that the husband is the head of the household - but not with unlimited power.