Women Of Worship - WOW!
“The Wise-hearted Woman” - Our example to follow!
Women of WORSHIP:
"The Wise-Hearted Women"
* Exodus 35:22-29; 36:1-3
What is worship?
Merely looking up the definition proves difficult because worship goes beyond what we may physically do, but includes our hearts and minds, as well.
As in John 4:23-24, we must worship God "in spirit and in truth”. The Amplified version breaks “spirit” down even further and labels it as “from the heart, the inner self”.
The Father is actively seeking those who are “true worshippers” - who give glory and honor to God from their heart, their innermost being.
What does that look like for you and I? How can we worship God in this way?
Psalm 86:11 lays it out for us.
“Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart [solely, reverently] to fear and honor Your Name.”
In order to “fear” God [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder - AMP], we must have an undivided heart. A heart that seeks wisdom and direction from the LORD. A heart that looks to His word and reverently obeys it with joy and gladness.
In Exodus, we see God command Moses to build a Tabernacle for His worship and service in the wilderness. It was very detailed instructions for each part of the construction process. In the latter part of chapter 35, it’s noted that men and women are bringing gifts as offerings unto the Lord and to be used in various projects of the construction.
Within this part of the chapter, the Bible continually reiterates the skilled and talented “wise-hearted women” who used their time, talents, and treasures as a form of worship unto the LORD.
Again and again, it’s said that “All the women who had ability and were wise-hearted” did the work of the LORD. With every spin of the spindle and every pull of the needle and thread, their hearts (and hands) were singing worship to God.
They were the true worshippers that the Father is seeking. They looked to God for direction and wisdom to be Women of WORSHIP.
Let’s go beyond what we think of as worship and direct our hearts towards wisdom and unite our hearts towards the LORD and be the Women of WORSHIP that we were created to be.
Study Questions:
* In what ways can you worship God in spirit and in truth in your own personal life?
* How might directing your hearts towards wisdom shape you into a true worshipper as mentioned in John 4:24?
* What does that look like for you?
* What are your abilities, talents, and gifts that you can use to worship God?
“Eve” - Mother of all Living
Women of WORSHIP:
”Eve” - wife of Adam
Genesis 2:21-23
Who was Eve?
She was the first woman, the first wife, the first mom, the first woman to give birth to a child, and the first woman to lose a child. She was the first woman to walk and talk with God. She was also the first tailor; the first cook and first baker; the first to clean her home; the first to gather food to prepare their first meal to eat together; the first helper to man. And sadly, she was the first woman to be evicted from her home.
Yet, God recognized that it was not good for man to be alone and so He made a helper for him out of Adam’s own rib.
This woman becomes Adam's companion and wife, setting the example of God's design for marriage. At the same time she shows us how important it is to listen to God, and not to be swayed by outside influences.
It is etched in history that she was the first woman who made a very costly mistake. But out of her adversity, she learned that obedience to God is better than listening to a smooth-talking snake! There is one thing in particular that she taught us; and that is to be aware of the devil, because he is very sly and subtle and he never speaks the truth.
Giving birth to a child is such a beautiful gift! Sure! We experience pain in childbirth, but it is truly one of the best moments of a woman’s life!!!
Throughout the ages, women have felt the pangs of giving birth because of Eve’s decision to disobey God when she was deceived by satan. Many blame her for the pain that we go through during labor; it is something that we remember in the heat of our labor pains.
But the joy that we experience when we hold our precious little bundle for the first time washes the memory of that pain away!
In Genesis 2:18–22, the woman is created to be ezer ke-negdo. The word ezer means ”active intervention on behalf of the other person.” Ke-negdo means "alongside, opposite, a counterpart to him.”
The woman is called ishah, with an explanation that this is because she was taken from ish, meaning "man"; to be a helpmate to him. Adam’s statement, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” expresses the strong bond between man and woman, which is so intimate that it’s like ripping out a part of one’s body to sever it.
This bond was forged by God to create an intimacy that only a husband and wife can experience and understand.
God wants us to understand why women were created with a womb; to bear and birth children . Women have felt the pangs of giving birth because of Eve’s decision to disobey God when she was deceived by satan. Many blame her for the woes of womanhood today.
Eve was not perfect, but she was created by God, and God knows all things, so when He
created her, He had a plan to redeem mankind.
Remember that Eve was the woman that God created from Adam’s rib. Adam was formed from dirt and God breathed life into him. He was made to be the head of the home, like it should be today.
The man who respects the woman that God has planned to complete him, is the man whom will be “Blessed” for the world to see and appreciate.
Eve is found in the story of expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 3. I’m
sure that she realized the terrible mistake she made, but she still had to pay the consequences of her sin.
However, she raised her children to know who God is and that it is He that we should serve. Whether her children served God or not was not on her, but on them.
Eve is the “Mother of all living”! So, next time you want to blame Eve for all your problems, ask yourself if you would have done things any differently. We live in the dispensation of Grace and yet we fall for satan’s tricks many times.
Therefore, I believe that if you were to answer that question honestly; the answer would be, “No, you wouldn’t have done any differently than she did!” Thank God His plan was to redeem mankind from the bondages and ravages of sin.
We must be grateful for what Christ has done to bring us Salvation! Adam and Eve were the first man and woman, and all humanity is descended from them.
They lived in paradise in innocence (sinless, not perfect), until the serpent (the devil) enticed them to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As punishment for their disobedience, God banished them from Paradise.
The story of Adam and Eve is told in the Old Testament, and includes the following events:
Creation:
God created Adam on the final day of creating the world and universe, which was the sixth day, and put him to sleep so that God could operate on him to remove his rib to create woman, Eve.
The Garden of Eden:
Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, where God provided for them and they walked and talked with Him. It was man’s first home.
The Fall:
A serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and she gave some to Adam. God banished them from the Garden of Eden.
The Consequences:
Adam and Eve's disobedience began the process of death, and they had to leave the
Garden of Eden. Never to enter into it again.
The Punishment:
God punished Adam and Eve with mortality, pain, and drudgery. Adam was cursed to work by the sweat of his brow, while Eve was cursed with pain in childbirth and a desire to be in “control” of her husband. Giving in to the seduction of the serpent led to their eviction from Eden. God then placed angels with flaming swords at the gates of Eden to prevent Adam and Eve from returning.
The Family:
Adam and Eve had many children, including Cain, Abel, and Seth. Seth was the ancestor of Noah and Abraham. The temptation in the garden was too great for Eve. But that does not lessen the guilt for Adam, who also played a part in the fall of man. It is best, that when we are being tempted, to remember the cost that they both paid by listening to the deceiver who wanted them to pay for their sins, because satan knew that they were created in the image of God, therefore the devil knew “Eve’s” worth! You see, the devil wanted to lead her astray from her intended purpose.
Don’t allow the devil to rob you of the knowledge of your worth! Eve had been sentenced to a life of sorrow and travail in childbirth, and to be under submission to her husband. I gladly submit to my husband, because he is an anointed man of God. As women, we need to honor the husband that God has Blessed us with.
All woman after her are now sentenced to experience labor pains.
Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. The first was a tiller of the ground, the second a keeper of sheep. After Cain murdered Abel, Eve gave birth to a third son, Seth, from whom Noah and Abrahams descendants come from.
According to Genesis, Seth was born when Adam was 130 years old, "a son in his likeness and like his image". Genesis 5:4 affirms that Adam and Eve had sons and daughters beyond just Cain, Abel, and Seth.
This chapter has focused on Eve. There is much we can learn from her mistakes as well as her accomplishments. Remember that she did raise her children to at least know who God is and that He is the One who created them.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading about Eve, the “mother of all living” and understand a little more about the first woman. Be confident in the woman God created you to be, and no matter what station you find yourself to be in on this earth, live to your full potential that you were born with. God is a full potential Heavenly Father!
Study Questions:
• How was Eve created? And what does this signify about her relationship with Adam?
• What is the specific command given to Eve pertaining to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
• How does the Bible portray Eve’s responsibility in the fall of humanity?
• What was God’s reaction to Eve’s actions and what was her punishment?
“Sarah” - Wife of Abraham
Women of WORSHIP:
“Sarah (Sarai) Wife of Abraham”
Gen. 11:29-30; 12:5; Heb. 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6-7
When Abraham settled in Canaan with his wife, Sarah, he was 75 and childless, but God promised that Abraham’s seed would inherit the land and become a nation. Sarah was impatient and she told Abraham to sleep with her handmaiden, Hagar. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 when they had a son of promise.
She was a prominent figure in the Bible, and a major matriarch and prophet in Abrahamic religions. She is known for her beauty, hospitality, and piety.
She has many characteristics that empower her to be a woman of integrity and of faith. She is described as faithful, beautiful, loving, steadfast, authoritative, caring, submissive, obedient, hospitable, fearless and loyal.
She was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac; Sarah was originally named Sarai, but was renamed when God announced the birth of Isaac. She was barren until she was 90 years old.
When the LORD told Abraham that Sarah would conceive a son, she heard it and laughed.
Yet through faith, she received the miracle of being able to conceive a child in her old age, and she bore to Abraham a son of promise, Isaac.
She became the mother of many nations and the mother of a royal line of kings. She
became a symbolic type of Jerusalem, and in Isaiah 51, she is referred to as the one who bore Zion (Jerusalem).
Sarah was a free woman , a symbolic mother of the child of promise, a mother of heirs of the promises given by God to Abraham, and a mother of children who would enter into the New Covenant with God.
Study Question:
• What does the name Sarah mean?
• What was her name before God changed it?
• What did God promise Sarah?
• How old was she when she became pregnant?
“Rebekah” wife of Isaac
Women of WORSHIP:
“Rebekah - wife of Isaac”
Gen. 22:23; Gen. 24:1-67; Romans 9:10-13
Rebekah is a prominent woman in the Hebrew Bible, her name Rebekah means "to tie firmly" or "to bind", appearing in the story of how she became the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the great-niece of Abraham, and the sister of Laban.
The story of Isaac and Rebekah teaches us that marriage is built not just on love, but on faith. Abraham sent a messenger, Eliazer, to get Isaac a wife in his hometown of Nahor. His mission was to seek out a wife for his son, Isaac.
The messenger was told to seek out someone with a kind heart.
So, the man went to the well and Rebekah was there and offered to draw water for him. But, she not only gave him water, but his camels as well.
When the two first met, it was love at first sight for Isaac and they quickly married.
The beautifully constructed narratives in Genesis 24–27 describes how she became Isaac’s wife, and that she gives birth to twin sons after initial barrenness, and finally obtains the primary place in the lineage for her younger son, Jacob, who is destined to become ancestor of all Israel.
When Rebecca became pregnant, she was overwhelmed by the difficulty of her pregnancy, and she decides to approach the LORD to find out what is going on. The children inside of her are "struggling" so much that she's become concerned (Genesis 25:22).
You should remember that Isaac and Rebekah didn't have the same kind of medical tools available to us today; more than likely, she had no idea that there are actually two children in her womb. All she knows is that the turbulence she feels is not right; this is not a normal part of pregnancy. She receives a very specific prophesy given in the form of a poem.
She was told that her twin sons (and their descendants) would be rivals – and that unusually, the elder child would lose out to the younger. This prophecy eventually came true, as her twin boys Esau (the elder) and Jacob (the younger) constantly fought and eventually fell out very badly.
The prophecy may have seemed vague and unhelpful at this specific point in Rebekah's life, but it describes what is to come, very clearly. Rebekah's two sons, Jacob and Esau, would indeed become two peoples or nations.
Their relationship would be marked from the beginning by conflict and division. One would be stronger, but the older one would become a slave or servant to the younger one.
The LORD’S answer to Rebekah's prayer began to be fulfilled. She gave birth to her sons. As she was giving birth, Esau was born first, and Jacob had a grip on his brother’s heel and came out after him. The prophecy was fulfilled!
Jacob loved Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. She knew by the prophecy given to her when she was pregnant that the younger (Jacob) would be a great leader of Israel.
When Rebecca discovered that she had twin nations inside her, she knew that there would be a struggle amongst them. The elder (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). Jacob became one of the patriarchs of the Hebrew people, while Esau became a leader of the Edomites, natural enemies to Israel.
Study Questions:
• What does the name Rebekah mean?
• What are some good qualities about Rebekah?
• What was the name of the man that Abraham sent to pick Rebekah for Isaac?
• Why do you think Isaac fell in love with Rebekah as soon as he seen her?
“Jochebed” - Mother of Miriam, Moses, and Aaron
Women of WORSHIP:
”Jochebed“ - Mother of Miriam, Moses, and Aaron
Exodus 2:1-10; Num. 26:59; Heb. 11:23
Jochebed is a biblical figure who is known for her faith, courage, and resourcefulness:
Mother to Miriam, Moses, and Aaron:
She was the wife of Amram and a member of the priestly tribe of Levi. Her name, yokheved, means "YHWH is glory". Jochebed is one of the outstanding mothers of the scriptures.
She protected Moses:
Jochebed defied Pharaoh's order to kill every male Hebrew child by hiding her newborn son for three months. She then placed him in an ark of bulrushes on the Nile River, sending her daughter Miriam to watch over baby Moses and tell her to make sure no harm came to him.
Faithful to God:
Jochebed is an example of faith in God's promises and providences. She trusted in God and obeyed His commands.
Nurtured her children:
A mother who loved and nurtured her children in the LORD.
Long life:
She lived to see her children's leadership positions and was one of the Israelites who entered Canaan.
Jochebed was a wise woman who was righteous and God-fearing. By merit of her good deeds, she gave birth to the three leaders of the Exodus generation: Miriam Moses, and Aaron.
The lessons we learn from Jochebed are love, faith and self-control. When faced with her greatest fear, she didn't panic. She made a plan and boldly executed it.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
* How did Jochebed protect Moses?
* What does Jochebed’s name mean?
* Where did she place her baby, Moses, to protect him from Pharaoh?
* How did she know that Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses and wanted to keep him and raise him as her own?
“Miriam” - Moses and Aaron’s Sister
Women of WORSHIP:
“Miriam - Prophetess of God”
Exodus 2
Moses, Aaron and Miriam are all from the tribe of Levi.
Miriam was born in Egypt. The daughter of Amram and Jochebed and was the older sister to Moses and Aaron. She is known for her role in helping her brother Moses lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the promised land.
Miriam was at the Exodus from Egypt. When she crossed the Red Sea on dry ground while following her brother, Moses, she led the woman of the Israelites in a dance and “a song of the sea” when they reached the other side.
Due to their lineage, Moses became the leader of the Israelites, Aaron served as the High Priest and Miriam was a prophetess to the Israelites.
In light of Pharaoh’s decree that all baby boys be thrown into the Nile, Miriam was told by her mother to watch over her baby brother Moses when he was placed in a basket on the Nile River.
Miriam hid among the river reeds and the
Pharaohs daughter found the child and wanted to keep him.
So Miriam told the kings daughter about a Hebrew woman who could care for Moses and the princess agreed.
God planned this so that Jochebed was able to raise her own son, Moses.
Years later, when the LORD decided to deliver the Israelites from bondage, Moses lifted his staff over the Red Sea and caused the waters to part so they could cross on dry ground. Leading the Israelites out of Egypt!
When they reached the other side, Miriam led the women in singing, dancing and playing the timbrels. Worshipping God through the dance.
Miriam was not a perfect woman, she was struck with leprosy when she came against Moses because of who he married. Aaron agreed with her and they were both punished for their disagreement with Moses.
Not only does Miriams story encourage us to continually trust God, but it also shows us how we should respond to God’s work in our lives.
But God forgave them both and they were restored in the sight of God again.
Miriam led the Israelite women in Praise and Worshipping God for delivering them out of bondage.
We are to worship The LORD for delivering us from the bondages that we were held in before we accepted Gods deliverance for our lives.
We are not perfect either, but because of God’s love and mercy, we have been delivered, too!
Study Questions:
• Why was God displeased with Miriam?
• What is the “song” that Miriam sang when the Hebrews crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground? (Exodus15:1-2)
• What does the name Miriam mean?
• Does it fit with who Miriam was?
“Ruth” - Wife of Boaz and great-grandmother to King David
Women of WORSHIP:
“Ruth“
Book of Ruth
Ruth is a Moabite woman who married a Judean immigrant named Mahlon. She is a model of selflessness and devotion:
Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, fled Bethlehem to move to Moab, a neighboring country east of the Dead Sea, to escape a famine in Judah and they settled in Moab. Naomi’s husband was a descendant of the tribe of Judah, he was from Bethlehem in Judah and came into the country of Moab to find work, and continued there.
While living there Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with just her two sons. Naomi’s sons took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; so Naomi had now lost her husband and two sons. After her sons died Naomi, who missed her home country of Bethlehem, told her daughters-in-law to go back to their families. Orpah hugged her mother-in-law and said goodbye, but Ruth begged Naomi to let her stay with her. Despite the cultural and social challenges, Ruth knew that she wanted to serve the God of Israel that she seen so genuinely exhibited in her mother-in-law.
Because of that, she didn't want to leave her mother-in-law and so she begged Naomi to allow her to remain with her. Ruth spoke the words that are used in most wedding ceremonies today, saying, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth stayed and Naomi wanted to show her thankfulness by telling her to glean in Elimelech's relative's fields. Ruth caught the attention of Boaz, the land owner, right away and he told his harvesters to leave some extra stalks and grain behind for Ruth to gather. Boaz invited her to dine with him that night. The rest is history!
Ruth's story among the women in the Bible represents selflessness and devotion. It shows us that our background does not define us, and we can make choices that reflect our deepest values and commitments.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
* What outside factors contributed to Naomi's difficulties?
* Why did Ruth choose to follow Naomi, even though Naomi lost everything?
* How is God's presence evident in Ruth's life?
* How does Ruth compare to Orpah?
“Rahab” - the Canaanite Woman Helped Israel Gain Victory!
Women of WORSHIP:
“Rahab, the Canaanite!”
Joshua 2 - 6; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:3
James 2:25-26
Rahab was a Canaanite who helped the Israelites. She was living in Jericho, upon the wall, Rahab was once a “prostitute” who became a biblical heroine.
According to Joshua 2, before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to seek and search out the land. They came to Rahab’s house for lodging, and information.
Joshua tells us about a “gentile” woman who resided in Jericho, upon the wall, and who had assisted the Israelites by hiding two men that had been sent to scout the city prior to their attack.
So, when the Israelites were approaching Jericho, Rahab let down a scarlet thread (rope) to help the spies that came to Jericho to scout out the city to plan their attack against the Canaanites.
Rahab and her family were spared from destruction because she helped the Israelites.
She helped them conquer Jericho. according to the Bible, she and her family became a part of the people of Israel!
It is safe to say that Rahab ONLY feared Jehovah God! Even though she had been a prostitute in her past, once she heard of a Loving God, who accepted anyone just as they were and if they “accepted” Him to keep His Laws and Commandments, God gave them a new life, then she wanted to be a part of the victory!
Rahab’s statement that “The LORD Yahweh has given you the land” shows that she believed that The God of Israel is the God that was able to conquer Jericho.
Regardless of her past profession, Rahab was delivered in her heart and she became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ! A true woman of C.L.A.S.S.
Praise God for His Love and Mercy!
Study Questions:
• Why do you think God spared a Canaanite woman who lived in Jericho?
• How can YOU identify with Rahab?
• Why do you think a Canaanite woman would be named among the lineage of Jesus?
• What is the importance of Rahab being mentioned in the line of Jesus?
Old Testament Women Continued!
Deborah - Mother in Israel & Judge
Jael - A Kenite Woman Who Won A Victory For Israel!
Deborah - Mother in Israel & Judge
Women of WORSHIP:
"Deborah the Judge"
Judges 4-5
We discussed using our talents and gifts as worship to the LORD in the story of the wise-hearted women.
What happens when we use our seasons of life as worship unto the LORD?
Deborah was a powerful judge and an even more powerful force to be reckoned with in the time where judges ruled the nation of Israel. No one wanted to go to battle without her consent and authority or even her leading the charge.
They recognized the holy mantle placed on her life and she served the people well. Known to break out in songs of worship, she interceded for Israel many times and inspired them with her just and fair decisions and actions.
She was as a judge, prophetess, worshipper, prayer warrior, and deliverer, but the title she declares for herself to the people of Israel is mother. Amazing, isn’t it? She was ordained for this time and for these people and yet she saw motherhood as the standout role.
In this way, she embodied the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31. Her worship became extraordinary because she chose to view herself as ordinary. From her humble beginnings as a homemaker between Ramah and Bethel, she sat under palm trees and doled out counsel and judgement. Her worship was found in the wisdom and discernment that she received from God and delivered to His people.
This was her season, her time.
When the frailty of men rang clear (see: Barak in Judges 4:8), she pronounced that victory would come from a woman. That woman was Jael and her story is worth the read, trust me.
Just as in Joseph’s story where he went from the pit, to the prison, to the palace; Deborah’s seasons ranged from humble homemaker and palm tree judge to honorable prophetess and powerful chieftain.
In each of her roles, her worship to God was evident in the prayerful decisions she made and in the powerful songs she sang. It isn’t about gender. It isn’t about background. In the case of Deborah, it isn’t even about her gifting. It’s about what season you are in life and how you choose to use that as worship unto the LORD.
It’s about choosing to look to God as your guide for ALL the days of your life. Whether in your today under a palm tree or your tomorrows leading an entire country; whether in the deepest pit you can fathom or the highest mountain peak on earth, let your worship be found in each season of your life.
Psalm 48:14 explains it poetically for us:
“The depths of the earth are in His hand, and the mountain peaks are His.”
This vast spectrum shows just how mighty God is and explains so fully how Deborah was able to worship God in her valleys and hills, in every season she faced.
A true Woman of C.L.A.S.S. uses the here and now that God has gifted her with, her worship, to fight the enemy. That’s how Deborah can be seen as a Woman of WORSHIP. A Woman of C.L.A.S.S., and certainly how we can be seen as one, too!
Study Questions:
- What season of life do you feel like you are in?
- How can you use this time in your life to glorify God?
- How do you choose to describe yourself? (i.e. Deborah, a mother in Israel - Judges 5:7)
- Deborah sings for the LORD to make His enemies perish but requests “let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might”. In what ways can your worship be a light to others during this time in your life?
Huldah - Prophetess in Israel
Jael - A Kenite Woman Who Won A Victory For Israel!
Deborah - Mother in Israel & Judge
Women of WORSHIP:
”Huldah - Prophetess”
2 Kings 22:13-20, 2 Chronicles 34:22-28
The Forgotten Story of a Female Prophet. The prophetess Huldah had an important share in the great spiritual revival of the Jewish people under the reign of King Josiah, through her prophecy and influence. She is a well-known prophetess and woman in Judah during the reign of King Josiah (640–609 BC). The Huldah Gates in the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount are named after her. Her story involves a scroll discovered in the temple during renovations. This was also the time of the outstanding prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah.
After the discovery of a book of the Law during renovations at Solomon's Temple, on the order of King Josiah, he sends five messengers to Huldah with the book of the law to seek what she had to say about the discovery. Hilkiah together with Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah approach her to seek the LORD’S opinion.
Huldah's prophecy has a significant effect on the young king, who makes a covenant with the LORD to keep His commandments. Huldah is described as intelligent, faithful, and spiritually perceptive. She is also said to be a descendant of Rahab and Joshua, and a relative of Jeremiah.
She was known as:
- The Woman Who Unveiled the Future of a Nation.
- She prophesied the end of Israel's time in Canaan.
- She was one of the seven prophetesses (Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, Miriam, Esther, Abigail and Huldah).
- Details about her can be found on : 2 Kings 22:13-20, 2 Chronicles 34:22-28.
- Huldah’s husband, Shallum, had a prominent position in the royal court. He was the keeper of the king’s wardrobe, in charge of the king’s robes and clothes for all occasions. He was also one of the king’s instructors when Josiah was still a child. Josiah was only eight years old when he inherited the crown from his father, Amon.
- Her husband Shallum, was captured and taken into Egypt, he was never released and he died there in captivity.
- Shallum and Hulda are blessed with a son, Chanamel. The name Chanamel implies “favor” (“Chen” in Hebrew) in God’s eyes.
- She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
- Huldah was a relative of Jeremiah; While Jeremiah admonished and preached repentance to the men, she did the same to the women.
- Huldah was not only a prophetess, but taught publicly in the school (2 Kings 22:14), according to some teaching especially the oral doctrine as an authoritative person, one who made a claim, recognized by the king, the high priest and the secretary of state as a legitimate claim, to speak for the LORD God of Israel.
- Huldah was a woman of great faith, moral character and broad Torah knowledge.
- The book that Huldah authenticated – Modern critical scholars suggest that the book of the law was most likely Deuteronomy.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
- Why is she important for understanding the role of women prophets in the Bible?
- What biblical passages primarily detail her life and message?
- What king took her counsel at a critical time in his reign?
- Who was Huldah married to?
Jael - A Kenite Woman Who Won A Victory For Israel!
Jael - A Kenite Woman Who Won A Victory For Israel!
“Hannah” - wife of Elkanah; mother of the prophet Samuel
Women of WORSHIP:
“Jael, The Kenite!”
Judges 5:24-27 (NKJV)
24 . Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she
among women in tents.
- He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.
- She stretched her hand to the tent peg, her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; she pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, she split and struck through his temple.
- At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead.
Jael was a fearless woman whose courage and prompt action resulted in a big victory for Israel. Jaels’ story shows how God uses people to accomplish His purpose. Israel had turned away from following God and was oppressed by the Canaanites. So, God raised up judges to bring the Israelites back to Himself.
Deborah led them into battle. Prophesying that God would deliver the Canaanite military leader, Sisera, and his armies into God’s hands by the hands of a woman, speaking of Jael. She was not an Israelite. In fact, Jael’s husband was a friend of the Canaanite king.
As a result, on the day of battle Sisera sought rest from battle in her tent when she offered him sanctuary. He asked Jael to hide him, telling her to lie to all who came looking for him. She agreed, offered him milk and told him to rest. Sisera was tired and fell asleep.
Then Jael grabbed a tent peg and a hammer and drove the tent peg through Siseras temple. Thus, Sisera was ‘delivered into the hands of a woman’, and Jael secured a victory for Israel. God chose Jael, a non-Israeli woman, to deliver Israel. God delights to use people others dismiss as insignificant to reveal HIS Glory.
The general of the Canaanite army lost his life by the hands of a woman, which in the culture of the Ancient Near East, was considered to be a great humiliation a soldier could ever experience. Jael followed the law of God in what she did – taking away the oppression of the land and returning back the Law of God.
Here are some questions you can ask about Jael in the Bible:
- What does Jael's story show about God?
- Why did Jael kill Sisera?
- What caused a Canaanite woman to kill another Canaanite to give Israel the victory?
- What is the significance of Jael's name?
- What is the significance of Jael's actions?
“Hannah” - wife of Elkanah; mother of the prophet Samuel
“Hannah” - wife of Elkanah; mother of the prophet Samuel
“Hannah” - wife of Elkanah; mother of the prophet Samuel
Women of WORSHIP:
“Hannah”
1 Samuel 1:2–21
Hannah, who’s name means “favor, grace” was a woman who prayed for a son and became the mother of the prophet Samuel: She was one of two wives of Elkanah, but was childless. The other, Peninnah, had given birth to Elkanah's children, but Hannah remained childless. Nevertheless, Elkanah preferred Hannah and she was the primary wife, yet Peninnah had succeeded in bearing him children.
Hannah's status as primary wife and her barrenness recall Sarah and Rebecca in Genesis 17 and Genesis 25 respectively. Elkanah took Peninnah as a second wife because of Hannah's barrenness. She prayed fervently to God for a son, promising to dedicate him to God if she was granted one.
Hannah is considered to be a prophetess in her song of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1–10) because she recognizes the pain of barrenness, especially when Elkanah’s other wife mocks her because of it, knowing that Hannah is her husband’s favorite.
Outside of the first two chapters of 1 Samuel, she is not otherwise mentioned in the Bible.
Every year, Elkanah would offer a sacrifice at the Shiloh sanctuary, and give Peninnah and her children a portion but he gave Hannah a double portion "because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb" (1 Samuel 1:5, NIV).
One day Hannah went up to the Tabernacle and prayed with great weeping (I Samuel 1:10), while Eli the High Priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost. In her prayer, she asked God for a son and in return she vowed to give the son back to God for the service of God. She promised he would remain a Nazarite all the days of his life. The desperation of Hannah's vow indicates that bearing a male child would bring honor and respect to not only herself, but her husband as well.
When Eli the Priest seen her fasting and praying bitterly and weeping in the Tabernacle everyday, he thought she was drunk. But Hannah told him of her problem and how she was mocked because of her barrenness, and how desperately she wanted a son. Wanting one so much that she vowed to give him to God to raise in the temple.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
* What can we learn from Hannah's story?
* What does Hannah's story teach us about God?
* How can we apply Hannah's story to our lives?
* How can we commit our children to the LORD?
Queen Esther!
“Hannah” - wife of Elkanah; mother of the prophet Samuel
Queen Esther!
Women of WORSHIP:
”Queen Esther”
Esther 4:14 (AMP)
“For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”
Proverbs 31:30 (AMP)
“Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.”
The next powerful woman of God the we will discuss is Queen Esther, the Israeli Liberator! She is an example of beauty, humility, brains, and courage, Esther is became the Jewish Queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus, who was King Xerxes 1.
Esther was a brave and strong Queen who saved the entire nation of Israel! She became a symbol of hope for the Hebrew people when she offered herself to King Ahasuerus (Xerxes 1). The Jews were living under Persian rule, King Ahasuerus got upset with Queen Vashti because she refused to attend a banquet for the King and he decided to search the land for a new Queen. Esther was chosen for her beauty and grace, though Ahasuerus didn’t know that she was a Jew.
Being an orphan, Esther was being raised by her cousin Mordecai. He worked for King Xerxes 1, (Ahasuerus) at the palace. One of the King’s advisors, Haman, didn’t like Mordecai and decided he wanted him to be killed. So, Haman tried to convince the King to kill off ALL the Jews in the empire. Because of Haman’s hatred of the Jews, he planned to trap Mordecai in a an evil plot to have him executed. He told the King that all the Jews were troublemakers and needed to be killed.
King Ahasuerus trusted his advisor Haman, so he was thinking of what to do about the situation. Mordecai told Esther to talk the King out of the annihilation of their people, but Esther was worried. No one, not even the Queen, talked to the King without being invited. She was concerned about Ahasuerus finding out that she was a Jew. Mordecai convinced her that God had put her in her position as Queen for just this very reason.
So, Esther gathered all the necessary courage and said, “If I perish, I perish!” And entered the Kings court to tell the King about Haman’s plot. The King spared the Jews and Haman was hanged on the gallows. That’s how Esther’s people were saved! She showed herself to be brave and strong in the face of great danger. She trusted God and followed His calling on her life. God used her to save the entire nation of Israel from being wiped off of the face of the earth.
Questions about Queen Esther:
- Why did Queen Vashti refuse to appear before Xerxes 1 (King Ahasuerus)?
- Who was Mordecai and why is he important in the story about Queen Esther?
- What does it mean that Esther was appointed “for such a time as this”?
- What is the significance of Esther saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16)?