Q: Though I dearly love my spouse, lately there has been verbal abuse, and I no longer can deal with it. Is there anything in the Bible about verbal abuse?
A: Yes. James 4: 11, 12 states:
Speak not evil one to another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Our homes should be a place of safety rather than of fear as promised in Psalms 4:8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”
The Bible is often referred to as The Word, and it is this Word that tells us of our true identity. Recognize that what the person antagonizing you says is absolutely untrue.
Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Now I ask you, is not God’s image beautiful and perfect? Then you must accept yourself as reflecting this image and not the false image presented to you by a verbal abuser, “for sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
Find strength and comfort from Psalms 91:1, 2 –
“Whosoever goes to the Lord for safety, whosoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, “You are my defender and protector. You are my God, in you I trust”.
Ask God to give you the words needed to stand up against mistreatment. It is a challenge to think quickly under such circumstances.
Moses, who wrote down the Ten Commandments given by God, also lacked the confidence to know exactly what words to use when asked to confront a challenging situation. In Exodus 4 Moses replies to God, “No, LORD, don’t send me. I have never been a good speaker