Originally published in the September 2004 issue of The Testimony magazine
The woman’s side
THIS IS A FASCINATING and worthwhile book, describing the lives of forty-two women mentioned in the Scriptures. There is even an article on Lot’s wife, a woman we rarely consider, and thoughts on the lesser-known New Testament sisters, Dorcas, Lydia, Priscilla, Phebe, Lois and Eunice. The book concludes with an essay on the virtuous woman in Proverbs.
I found it a valuable book, full of exhortation and example. The different authorship of the essays gives the book a strength. Each treatment of each subject is different, with the basic Biblical description of the facts of their lives and the lessons to be drawn from them. The understanding of the women by the sister-authors is excellent, as is their comprehension of a sister’s role in marriage.
The essay on Eve is especially interesting and significant. Very few of us have ever thought seriously about her life, yet her role is vitally important to us all. She has been blamed and cursed down the ages for her fall and her belief in what the serpent said, and her action has even affected the treatment of women in more bigoted ages. This detailed study explores her wrongdoing and the consequences.
The effects of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the garden have lasted until modern times in the structure of families and in women’s role in the ecclesia, even in the covering of women’s heads in the meeting. Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 11 hark back clearly to the Fall and the changes it brought about in the relationship between men and women. However, Paul also assures us that we are all one in Christ Jesus. In the Kingdom all human sex distinctions will be done away, and the bride, the saints, will be brought to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The chapter on Rahab is equally interesting. She was a harlot, but we know she will be counted as one of the faithful. It is not usually recognised that she married Prince Salmon of Judah, and became the mother of Boaz. Thus she was in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. The line of scarlet thread in her window saved her life and that of her family, and is very significant to us.
The chapter on Jezebel describes very clearly her idolatrous background and the weak-willed character of her husband Ahab. Jezebel’s selfish and ruthless character is well described, and her fanatical support of her god Baal is emphasised. Her ambition to spread this worship throughout Israel, and her hatred of Elijah, forms a major theme of the article. This wicked and selfish woman stopped at nothing to get what she and her husband wanted. In the end her corruption ruined Israel, and this is well brought out.
There is a stark contrast to Jezebel in the story of Ruth and Naomi, beautifully described and aptly commented on. God’s guidance of events is emphasised, and also the parallels in the story with the redemption provided by Christ.
The story of Abigail is fascinating. Here is a beautiful, intelligent and resourceful woman married to a brute of a man, whose very name means ‘a fool’. Why the marriage was ever made, and how she coped, we can only speculate. Her contact with David, and her quick wits in defence of her household, are well described. It is a marvellous story. There is a lot we are not told about Abigail’s life, and we would love to know it, but the Bible reveals no more.
In the New Testament the article on the sister called Tabitha and Dorcas is most interesting. She is a little-known character, though her story became dramatic when she was raised from the dead by Peter. Her practical work of making clothes for the poor has given rise in the past to ‘Dorcas classes’. She is much praised for this.
Paul praises Phebe of Cenchrea, whose name means ‘Shining One’. She carried Paul’s letter from Corinth to Rome, and he describes her as “a succourer of many, and of myself also” (Romans 16:2). She was a trusted servant of the ecclesia at Cenchrea (verse 1), and the article brings out how worthwhile it is to serve and to look after others.
This is a wide-ranging, informative and uplifting book, which every sister should have.
This review originally appeared in the September 2004 edition of The Testimony Magazine (page 358), and is reproduced by kind permission.
