1161 I love Jehovah, for he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications; 2 For he hath inclined his ear unto me, and I will call upon him during [all] my days. 3 The bands of death encompassed me, and the anguish of Sheol took hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow: 4 Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: I beseech thee, Jehovah, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is Jehovah and righteous; and our God is merciful. 6 Jehovah keepeth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before Jehovah in the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore have I spoken. As for me, I was greatly afflicted. 11 I said in my haste, All men are liars. 12 What shall I render unto Jehovah, [for] all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of Jehovah. 14 I will perform my vows unto Jehovah, yea, before all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints. 16 Yea, Jehovah! for I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of Jehovah. 18 I will perform my vows unto Jehovah, yea, before all his people, 19 In the courts of Jehovah's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
1171 Praise Jehovah, all ye nations; laud him, all ye peoples; 2 For his loving-kindness is great toward us, and the truth of Jehovah [endureth] for ever. Hallelujah!
1181 Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever. 2 Oh let Israel say, that his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever. 3 Oh let the house of Aaron say, that his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever. 4 Oh let them that fear Jehovah say, that his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever. 5 I called upon Jah in distress; Jah answered me [and set me] in a large place. 6 Jehovah is for me, I will not fear; what can man do unto me? 7 Jehovah is for me among them that help me; and I shall see [my desire] upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to trust in Jehovah than to put confidence in man; 9 It is better to trust in Jehovah than to put confidence in nobles. 10 All nations encompassed me; but in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them. 11 They encompassed me, yea, encompassed me; but in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them. 12 They encompassed me like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of Jehovah have I destroyed them. 13 Thou hast thrust hard at me that I might fall; but Jehovah helped me. 14 My strength and song is Jah, and he is become my salvation. 15 The voice of triumph and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: the right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly; 16 The right hand of Jehovah is exalted, the right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of Jah. 18 Jah hath chastened me sore; but he hath not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them; Jah will I praise. 20 This is the gate of Jehovah: the righteous shall enter therein. 21 I will give thee thanks, for thou hast answered me, and art become my salvation. 22 [The] stone which the builders rejected hath become the head of the corner: 23 This is of Jehovah; it is wonderful in our eyes. 24 This is the day that Jehovah hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Oh save, Jehovah, I beseech thee; Jehovah, I beseech thee, oh send prosperity! 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah. We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah. 27 Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light: bind the sacrifice with cords,—up to the horns of the altar. 28 Thou art my God, and I will give thee thanks; my God, I will exalt thee. 29 Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.
71 But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman; 2 but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each [woman] have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband. 4 The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. 6 But this I say, as consenting [to], not as commanding [it]. 7 Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I. 9 But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 But to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband; 11 (but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife. 12 But as to the rest, I say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her. 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave [her] husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such [cases], but God has called us in peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?
17 However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies. 18 Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-16)
Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Romans 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the labour and study of those who are married, to make each other as easy and happy as possible. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife, when there is opportunity to give the greatest proof of love? Stay, and labour heartily for the conversion of thy relative. In every state and relation the Lord has called us to peace; and every thing should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.
