Bible Ballistics: BBs #650      God’s Woman???

 

As we approach Mother’s Day here in the United States, celebrations will be a bit different in the present crises, I would like to share scriptures about women who loved, served and trusted God.  Obviously, it can’t be an exhaustive list, due to time and space, but I hope to encourage and challenge us to be more of what God desires us to be!  (Not just what we ‘say’ and ‘do’—for scripture has taught me that if we will take care of the “being” in right relationship with our Lord, HE will lead us in the right “doing” and “saying”)!

“Who can find a virtuous woman?

for her price is far above rubies…

… 30 Favour is deceitful,    

and beauty is vain:

but a woman that feareth the LORD,

she shall be praised.”  Proverbs 31:10 & 30

Virtue: moral excellence; goodness; righteousness… 2…conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness….

God calls us to be women of moral excellence!  That includes our behavior, attitudes, language, attire, and our influence!  Our world needs women of virtue, integrity, and godliness.

“And Deborah,

a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth,

she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah

between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim:

and the children of Israel

came up to her for judgment…

… 5:1 Then sang Deborah and Barak

the son of Abinoam

on that day, saying,

2 Praise ye the LORD

for the avenging of Israel,

when the people willingly

offered themselves.

3 Hear, O ye kings;

give ear, O ye princes;

I, even I,

will sing unto the LORD;

I will sing praise

to the LORD God of Israel.” Portions of Judges 4:1-5:3

Deborah was a judge of the nation, and a prophetess—one who walked with God and shared wisdom, and direction from God, and she helped lead Israel to a great victory over their oppressors.  Who are we leading?  Are we leading them to victory with Jesus—or down the devil’s sordid path?  It’s your choice; but remember there is a consequence to our choices, and not just for ourselves, but also for those who are following our steps!  I know it’s a hard question, but are we leading our loved ones to Jesus or to hell?  The answer is of eternal import.

And another mother that we have seen in scripture is one of my favorites, Hannah.  Hannah was childless, and constantly provoked by her adversary, but instead of bitterness, she channeled her sorrow into prayer!  I truly believe there is little greater than a praying mother!  Are we busy praying or are we still using manipulation to accomplish our will?

“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten

in Shiloh,

and after they had drunk.

Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post

of the temple of the LORD.

10 And she was in bitterness of soul,

and prayed unto the LORD,

and wept sore.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said,

O LORD of hosts,

if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction

of thine handmaid,

and remember me,

and not forget thine handmaid,

but wilt give unto thine handmaid

a man child,

then I will give him unto the LORD

all the days of his life,

and there shall no razor

come upon his head…

… 14 And Eli said unto her,

How long wilt thou be drunken?

put away thy wine from thee.

15 And Hannah answered and said,

No, my lord,

I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit:

I have drunk neither wine

nor strong drink,

but have poured out my soul

before the LORD.”   1 Samuel 1:9-15

Are we choosing like Hannah, to pour out our souls to HIM in our sorrow and trials, or are we settling for the comfort of temporal things like liquor, pills, or any other things that we pursue instead of God?  And when God answered her prayers, she honored her vow, and praised God!  What about you and me, what have we thanked God for lately?  What promises have we made and failed to keep?  Food for thought!  Here is Hannah’s response.

“20 Wherefore it came to pass,

when the time was come about

after Hannah had conceived,

that she bare a son,

and called his name Samuel,

saying, Because I have asked

him of the LORD…

… 27 For this child I prayed;

and the LORD hath given me my petition

which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also

I have lent him to the LORD;

as long as he liveth

he shall be lent to the LORD.

And he worshipped the LORD there.”   Portions of 1 Samuel 1 :20-27

I know this is a bit long for my weekday BBs, but there is one other picture of godly womanhood–not only faith but also of good deeds (as my former pastor would say “good, good deeds”—in contrast to good deeds done for the wrong reason)!

“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple

named Tabitha,

which by interpretation is called Dorcas:

this woman was full of good works

and almsdeeds

which she did.

37 And it came to pass in those days,

that she was sick, and died:

whom when they had washed,

they laid her in an upper chamber.

38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa,

and the disciples had heard that Peter was there,

they sent unto him two men,

desiring him that he would not delay

to come to them.

39 Then Peter arose and went with them.

When he was come,

they brought him into the upper chamber:

and all the widows stood by him weeping,

and shewing the coats and garments

which Dorcas made,

while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all forth,

and kneeled down,

and prayed;

and turning him to the body said,

Tabitha, arise.

And she opened her eyes:

and when she saw Peter,

she sat up.”   Acts 9:36-40

WOW!  What a testimony! So, I’ll close with a few words of encouragement for accomplishing a godly life—simple, but not necessarily easy; yet doable, if we will but draw near to God!  For when we do, He will draw near to us and use us for HIS glory, our good and the work of ministry to others!

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”  Proverbs 31:26

And if I might take a moment of liberty to paraphrase a portion of Psalm 1 for our meditation as women:

“Blessed is the [woman]

that walketh [NOT] in the counsel

of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way

of sinners,

nor sitteth

in the seat of the scornful.

2 But [her] delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in [God’s] law

doth [she] meditate day and night.”                                           Blanche’s paraphrase of Psalm 1:1-2

Amen and Amen!