Proverbs 21:9 AND Proverbs 25:24 “It is better to live in a corner of a housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.”
Proverbs 27:15 “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;”
Proverbs 21:19 “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.”
Because of these verses and how they’re thrown around humorously in the church, I’ve actually grown very sensitive to the word “quarrelsome.” If my husband even so much as hinted that I was picking a fight or dragging something on longer than need be, I would immediately grow defensive and accuse him of comparing his dear wife to an incessant drip or worthy of running away from to a desert land.
A recent sermon on 1st Cor 10:12 (“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”) had me in a posture to be careful and sober in taking a good look at myself. Am I THE quarrelsome wife? Well, no. I think I can confidently say that my husband feels no need to retreat to a corner of the attic to avoid my unpleasantness.
But then is this proverb really written for the woman whose husband has run off to the desert because of her? Is Proverbs 19:24 (“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.”) really written for lazy people who are stuck to bowls because they cannot be bothered to bring the food to their mouths? No, it is to show us the wretched end of one who continues in this way. The way of the sluggard, the way of the quarrelsome wife, the way of the apostate.
So it led me to consider the way of the quarrelsome wife.
Is she easy to offend because of her pride? (I am.)
Does she sometimes speak harshly to get her point across? (I do.)
In the heat of an argument does she completely forget that she is to be like Christ who serves humbly and deals mercifully? (Yup, this is me).
I could go on.. I think the lesson here is honestly to not think yourself above the wisdom of the warnings Scripture gives us. Take heed, see yourself for who you are clearly, and do not forget the reflection you've seen in the mirror of God’s Word.
