God's Word Comes To Us Through A Woman
In fact, we have a number of places in Scripture where God’s Word comes to us through a woman. These words will have been read by and ministered to men and women throughout the centuries, just as they still minister to us today.
Miriam’s Song
One example can be found in: Exodus 15:20-21
Then Miriam the Prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.
Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord for He is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. ”
Deborah’s Song
Another example is Judges 5, which is entitled “The Song of Deborah”, one of the judges in Israel.
We will read verses 1-9 of this chapter though the Song of Deborah is, in fact, the theme of the whole chapter.
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
”When the princes in Israel take the land, when the people willingly offer themselves - praise the Lord. Hear this you kings! Listen you rulers! I will sing to the Lord, I will sing; I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel. O, Lord, when You went out from Sei, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel.
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael the roads were abandoned; travellers took to winding paths. Village life in Israel ceased, until, I, Deborah arose, a Mother in Israel. When they chose new gods, war came to the city gates, and not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
My heart is with Israel ’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people.
Praise the Lord….. ”
Hannah’s Prayer
We will next turn to I Samuel 2:1-10, where we can find the prayer of Hannah, who was the mother of the prophet Samuel:
Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no-one holy like the Lord, there is no-one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed. The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; upon them He has set the world. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed. ”
Mary’s Song
We will next look at Luke 1:46-55, which is Mary’s Song, the mother of Jesus:
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm. He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants for ever, even as He said to our fathers.”
The Holy Spirit inspired these women to write down these words, which have been included in the infallible and authoritative Word of God and contain great insights into the character of God. That speaks of God’s approval of women in whatever function He may have chosen for them.
