She Tarries in Her Home

She Tarries in Her Home

“Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil” (Psalm 68:12).

This is a verse illustrating God’s beautiful roles for men and women. There are two interesting things about this verse. Namely, the men went off to war and the women were in their homes. All throughout the Word of God, this is shown. Men were to be the protectors and providers and women the ones caring for their families and homes. Here are what a few commentaries wrote about this verse.

“This sense thus gives a general description of war, and the women waiting eagerly for the victorious home-coming is a picture true to life” (Ellicot’s Commentary). Women going off to war is not biblical. God did not create them for the rigors of war. He created men for this job. Women are to be protected by men, thus husbands are to be head over their wives and elders head over the churches.

“The women, who had charge of the household affairs, were enriched by an equal division of the enemies’ spoils, in which their husbands and fathers had their share” (Benson Commentary). Women are to be in charge of the household affairs. Many women these days don’t like this assignment by God. They don’t want to do it and insist their husbands help them or even do it all but, women, it’s our job! God calls us to be the keepers at home and care for the home and family. Like the Proverbs 31 woman, we are called to look well to the ways of our household and not eat the bread of idleness.

“The women remaining in their homes, while the men went out to war. The victors would bring the plunder home, and lay it at the feet of their wives and daughters to be divided among the women themselves” (Barnes’ Note). The women remained in their homes. Tarry means “to stay; to abide; to continue; to lodge.” It’s where we should be spending the majority of our time.

Our homes should be places of rest, cleanliness, and beauty. They are safe havens in a wicked culture. In our homes, we need to be investing our lives in our families and those who need us: older women investing in younger women and younger women investing into their husbands and children.

“She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house” (Proverbs 7:11). This verse is about a whore. Her feet abide not in her house. She goes here and there but doesn’t want to be home. We are called to be keepers AT home. We are safest in our homes. Our children are safest in our homes. We work hard in our homes. This is God’s perfect will for us. We don’t fight to be somewhere else or do something that God hasn’t called us to do but learn contentment where He has called us to be and do.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

14 thoughts on “She Tarries in Her Home

  1. I don’t like the idea of female soldiers…. I think the army is succumbing to political correctness and radical feminism, letting our army become weaker and ore vulnerable! A lot of MEN don’t make the cut, so why are they allowing women in??? Especially elite units!

  2. Can you give some examples of this? My children are grown. Thanks.

    “older women investing in younger women…”

  3. I sure can, Tara. Older women can help the younger women with their children, bring them meals after childbirth, teach them biblical womanhood as commanded in Titus 2:3-5, and in any area that they may need.

  4. I was reared to believe that all Scripture is profitable for everyone, that when it said sons in Proverbs, for example, it included mankind including women. More and more, I’m convinced there’s definite Scripture for men and definite Scripture for women. Like this verse, it’s an amazing nugget tucked away in the middle of the Psalms! God is always supporting women in the home. There is no contradiction or shadow of turning with our Heavenly Father! What struck me is the phrase, she that tarried… meaning that there were some women who were not tarrying at home even back then. A warning and a blessing all wrapped up in one! Thankyou, Lori, for your wonderful insight!!

  5. I’ve always been the odd voice out about women in the military. When I was in my Sr. Comp. class back in HS, we were doing debates and our teacher asked us to make a list of things we’d like to argue for or against. I wanted to argue against the military draft….so my instructor, the best teacher in my entire ElHi education, assigned me to argue FOR the draft lol. I did my entire paper and all my debate arguments using only men in the military. I got a lot of nasty comments from girls in my class. Fortunately, my teacher didn’t call me to task for that, and she gave me A’s on everything.

    Even for those atheists that don’t believe in our God-given roles, the list of negatives to women in the military speak for themselves.

  6. Lori, thank you. This is such an important message to younger women, since we are being bombarded by messages that tell us we need to do more in business and ministry. Although , we are doing the most invaluable ministry in our homes.

    Also, when I observe (or am distracted by) the message that my peers, young women, are promoting and teaching. I am reminded of Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

    We definitely need godly older women to guide us. I look forward to reading your new book!

  7. How about women who serve the community, such as teachers, shop assistants, doctors, nurses and the police? They are also doing good.

  8. Yes, women do not belong in the military or in the police department. It’s harmful to them and society, and it detracts from the marvelous ability they have to take care of husbands, children, and homes.

    Further, evidence shows women probably should not be voting either. The vast majority of women’s votes go towards Democrats, causing our government to get bigger, and leads us to an inevitable slavery.

    Sadly, the vast majority of women today don’t want to stay at home. They love to travel, hate having children and taking care of a home, and idolize college and careers.

    Went on a date with one young woman, quite beautiful and affectionate, about 2 years ago. She began telling me about her vision she had of travelling the globe to spread the gospel. This kind of made me nervous, because I had conquered my wander lust long ago, and sure enough, she has been globe trotting in the 2 years since. Would have created quite a few tensions in the home if she constantly wanted to travel, and objected to being a mother, a keeper of the home, and would not pattern her life on the women of the Bible. We never see women in the Bible, who were Godly, who were all the time clamoring to travel, and were allergic to staying at home, raising children, and caring for their homes and husbands.

  9. They have watered down the requirements for women, of course, since men and women aren’t the same. A nation who allows its women in the military is soon going to self-destruct. It goes completely against God’s will for women.

  10. You’re welcome, RMR! An online friend emailed me this verse just yesterday and I thought it would make a great post. Yes, these nuggets are spread throughout the Word of God. He doesn’t keep us guessing what He requires of us. It’s clearly spelled out for those who have eyes to see!

  11. Oh, I would love to know them all, Debby! I can sure think of a few but if you were able to convince atheists, you must have had powerful arguments. Good for you!

  12. If they have children and they are interested in obeying the Lord, then they should seek to be home full time as a keeper at home. Their children need them more than anyone else and all of the jobs you mentioned can be replaced but not a mother in a child’s life.

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