KEEPERS AT HOME, PART 2

“No man can enter into a strong man’s house,
and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man;
and then he will spoil his house”
(Mark 3:27).

Today we continue our word study regarding the phrase “keepers at home.” As committed Bible believers, we need to fully understand what it is all about.

The second word from which this phrase is translated is “oikouros.” It is also from two Greek words: “oikos” meaning “a home, a dwelling, or by metonymy—a household or family” and “ouros” meaning “to guard, to watch, to keep, to have the oversight and responsibility for something.”

It means we are HOME-GUARDERS! It’s the picture of a “keeper of the castle” who guards it from any intruder. Because this word is not used anywhere else in the New Testament, we must look to similar words in the Greek language to fully understand its meaning. This word and all derivatives of this word were used in the context of a woman who stayed at home to manage her household. In the language of the day this same word referred to a watch dog who guarded the house. It was also used of men who stayed home from war to avoid military service. They were called “stay-at-home” men.

Therefore, this word means a “stay-at-home” mother, which is the exact meaning from the Strong’s concordance, “a stayer at home.” This sounds like a negative phrase, doesn’t it? But that is far from the truth.

Mothers do not stay home for the sake of staying home. She is in her home to guard it. She is a Watch Dog. She watches over her marriage relationship. She watches over her children. She conscientiously manages her home. She keeps everything in order (Proverbs 31:27 and 1 Timothy 5:14).

The AMPLIFIED version says: “makers of a home (where God is honored).”

J. B. PHILLIPS translates it “home-lovers.” It is sad that many women do not love home. They want to get out of the home. I believe the reason for this is that most women have been brainwashed to think negatively about the home. They have been educated to think that the home is a boring place, an insignificant place, and a demeaning place. No one has told them the truth about the power of their home. School and college never teach them that home is not only a place to nurture and train our precious children but it is the place where we can truly fulfil all the creative and productive dreams God gives to us.

I often say to women: “All mothers love their children, but not all mothers love motherhood! It’s when we love and embrace motherhood that we enter into the joy and fulfillment of motherhood.” I believe it is also true of the home. God created mothers for the home, but they have been programmed to despise it. When they acknowledge the truth, and begin to embrace and love their home, they find how they have been cheated and lied to. They begin to see that home is their greatest place of fulfillment.

WAY’S translation tells the older women to teach the younger women “to recognize that their sphere is home.” This is God’s ultimate and wonderful plan for their lives. What a privilege to have a home. What an honor to have a dominion where we are queen and where we rule and reign. What a privilege to make a sanctuary for the living God and for our husband and children. There is no greater power we wield than when we are nurturing, loving, and training our children in our home who will one day go forth to bless the nation and the nations of the world with God’s truth and love.

What opportunity to influence the lives of hundreds of people as we open our doors in hospitality and invite in the needy and those who need encouragement and friendship. It’s not only the poor who are lonely and devastated; it’s often the wealthy ones. Every person is desperate to feel the love of God. And you can show them God’s love in your home.

Of course, over all, you are GUARDING. Your beady eyes (physically and spiritually) are watching and you are ready to bark at any entrance of the enemy. What’s the use of a wat h dog who is not at home? What’s the use of a watch dog that does not bark? Isaiah 56:10 sys: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” As watchwomen, we must be alert and always watching for any subtle inroad of the enemy into our homes.

Be blessed today, Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Thank you, dear Father, for Your wonderful plan for women. Thank You that You have given me a realm to live and reign as queen of my home. Please help me to manage my home diligently and to guard it from all evil and deception. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Look out enemy. I’m watching. I’m guarding my home on all sides.

P.S. The following versions translate this phrase as “home-keepers”: King James Version, Webster’s, Young’s Literal Translation, 1599 Geneva Bible, Berkeley, Williams, and Berean Literal Bible.