I am sure you have heard the old saying, “A man is king of his castle.” While the phrase is no longer appreciated in all circles it does, when understood correctly, describe the function of patriarch as king. According to Phrases.org the old adage dates to 17th century English common law, which held that a man had the right to protect his home and enjoy it as his refuge. It pointed to his right and duty to protect home and family from intruders, and to guide its affairs.
This is precisely the biblical concept of king as we apply it to patriarchal anointing. Men were set apart as king to govern the affairs of the kingdom under God. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures kings are referred to as “shepherds,” and charged with the responsibility of leading and protecting the sheep.
It is clear that God intended Israelite kings to serve as first among equals. In Deuteronomy chapter 17 God gave Moses clear instructions for establishing kings. They were to be chosen from among the people, not a foreigner. They were not to focus on accumulating wealth or women. Most importantly, they were to borrow a copy of the law from the priests and make their own copy to have with them at all times. Hand-copying their own book meant they would be forced to go through the Torah word-for-word and therefore know its contents. Having it at their side would make it convenient for reference when needed.
Hebrew kings were to be different, set apart, from other kings. They were to rule with God’s vision in mind. In Hebrew thought rule means giving guidance and direction. Kings were also intended to provide protection from intrusion by raising, training, and leading armies. They were to defer personal benefit and enjoyment in order to serve God and people in their charge.
Applying those principles to modern patriarchy describes what I see a husband and father needs to do to be a man.
First among equals. A man is not greater than his wife in God’s sight. The Bible is clear, in the kingdom there is no longer male or female (Gal. 3:28). A man does not take a built-in slave when he takes a wife. They should be like-minded, and headed in the same direction. Like the king in Hebrew thought, the man leads and governs from a biblical point of view. He is set apart for that with the masculine qualities God gave him and burned into his being. His wife joins him and goes with him, at his side, not ten steps behind.
Know and apply the Scriptures. As Israel’s kings were to copy and own their own Torah scroll so they would know them, men need to know the Scriptures and learn how to apply them. Men, we must be leaders at this. We cannot give appropriate spiritual guidance to our homes if we do not know the Scriptures.
Government. This refers to guidance and direction. The rule of kings was intended to guide the nation to where God wanted it to go, as the rudder of a ship governs its direction and course in the water. As husbands and fathers, we need to be in touch with the Father to govern our ship in the direction God would have it to go.
Protection. The English common law precept of a man and his castle comes from the Scriptural idea that men protect their people and property against intruders. Kings provided a means of defense for their people, including walled fortresses (castles) for protection. We need to build walls of protection for our families. This includes the obvious protection from physical harm. But it also means protection from the intrusion of culture into our homes through television, ipods, internet, and the influence of friends. We need to set boundaries that protect our wives and children. Ezk. 20:33 says, “I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Provision. It goes without saying that men are responsible for providing the physical needs of their families. Our culture wants to spread the responsibility to our wives so that we can have a materialistic standard of living. It may be nice to have two incomes and money to make payments on fancy cars, boats, large houses, and “man toys,” but let me emphatically state it is not biblical. God will look to men to be providers of material needs, and we will be held accountable. Much of what we deem “needs” in our materialistic culture actually indulge the lust of the eyes.
Patriarch as king of the home does not mean tyrant. It does not allow us to demand, “Woman, submit!” and trample over our wives and children. It is a servanthood where authority is recognized because of a role and earned because we humbly defer our own interests and desires to respond to duty and responsibility.
Jesus put it this way. He told the disciples if they wanted to be great in God’s kingdom they must first be servant of all. A good description of patriarch as king.
This is precisely the biblical concept of king as we apply it to patriarchal anointing. Men were set apart as king to govern the affairs of the kingdom under God. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures kings are referred to as “shepherds,” and charged with the responsibility of leading and protecting the sheep.
It is clear that God intended Israelite kings to serve as first among equals. In Deuteronomy chapter 17 God gave Moses clear instructions for establishing kings. They were to be chosen from among the people, not a foreigner. They were not to focus on accumulating wealth or women. Most importantly, they were to borrow a copy of the law from the priests and make their own copy to have with them at all times. Hand-copying their own book meant they would be forced to go through the Torah word-for-word and therefore know its contents. Having it at their side would make it convenient for reference when needed.
Hebrew kings were to be different, set apart, from other kings. They were to rule with God’s vision in mind. In Hebrew thought rule means giving guidance and direction. Kings were also intended to provide protection from intrusion by raising, training, and leading armies. They were to defer personal benefit and enjoyment in order to serve God and people in their charge.
Applying those principles to modern patriarchy describes what I see a husband and father needs to do to be a man.
First among equals. A man is not greater than his wife in God’s sight. The Bible is clear, in the kingdom there is no longer male or female (Gal. 3:28). A man does not take a built-in slave when he takes a wife. They should be like-minded, and headed in the same direction. Like the king in Hebrew thought, the man leads and governs from a biblical point of view. He is set apart for that with the masculine qualities God gave him and burned into his being. His wife joins him and goes with him, at his side, not ten steps behind.
Know and apply the Scriptures. As Israel’s kings were to copy and own their own Torah scroll so they would know them, men need to know the Scriptures and learn how to apply them. Men, we must be leaders at this. We cannot give appropriate spiritual guidance to our homes if we do not know the Scriptures.
Government. This refers to guidance and direction. The rule of kings was intended to guide the nation to where God wanted it to go, as the rudder of a ship governs its direction and course in the water. As husbands and fathers, we need to be in touch with the Father to govern our ship in the direction God would have it to go.
Protection. The English common law precept of a man and his castle comes from the Scriptural idea that men protect their people and property against intruders. Kings provided a means of defense for their people, including walled fortresses (castles) for protection. We need to build walls of protection for our families. This includes the obvious protection from physical harm. But it also means protection from the intrusion of culture into our homes through television, ipods, internet, and the influence of friends. We need to set boundaries that protect our wives and children. Ezk. 20:33 says, “I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Provision. It goes without saying that men are responsible for providing the physical needs of their families. Our culture wants to spread the responsibility to our wives so that we can have a materialistic standard of living. It may be nice to have two incomes and money to make payments on fancy cars, boats, large houses, and “man toys,” but let me emphatically state it is not biblical. God will look to men to be providers of material needs, and we will be held accountable. Much of what we deem “needs” in our materialistic culture actually indulge the lust of the eyes.
Patriarch as king of the home does not mean tyrant. It does not allow us to demand, “Woman, submit!” and trample over our wives and children. It is a servanthood where authority is recognized because of a role and earned because we humbly defer our own interests and desires to respond to duty and responsibility.
Jesus put it this way. He told the disciples if they wanted to be great in God’s kingdom they must first be servant of all. A good description of patriarch as king.
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