There are no Jews, Greeks, etc part 37

What is so wonderful about God in the grand scheme of His people is that all play an important and vital role. God is no respecter of men as it says in Acts. And as the title of this chapter and devotional say, there is no Jew, no Greek, no male, nor female. What this means is that women were never intentioned to be robots. God fully intentioned that women would be responsible for their own actions. For example, in Deuteronomy 22:21-28, if a man leads a woman astray and she follows, she is punished; yet if she does not follow him into sin, she is vindicated. God protects women the same way He protects men, with a way out. The truth always wins out, and those that follow the truth are to be admired. Other traits to be admired in women are resourcefulness, working diligently and unceasingly, and in kindness and unselfishness. And women do all this quietly. All these are qualities described in Proverbs 31:10-31, often called “the Worthy Woman”. Women in Exodus were also described as being protectors, as Pharoah’s daughter was to Moses in Exodus 3. In the kingdom of Judea, in 2 Kings 11:1-18, Jehosheba protects Joash so that he could rule and later remove Athaliah from the midst of the Isrealites so that they could be faithful to God. God thus used women as a way to keep the family going, not only by giving birth but by provided examples and teaching family members (Numbers 36:1-13). And God delighted in women that walked in holy ways both in their heart and in deed, and He actually shared divine information with them, as in 2 Kings 22:14. This demonstrates that all humans were created in His image. And the same intent is expressed in 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. These scriptures and Numbers 27:1-11 are indicative that women are to be treated fairly. This is reiterated in Joshua 17:3-6. Women are also shown to give God praise during times of trial, much as Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. And God blesses such women and looks after them as in Ruth 4:3-9. In Judges 5:1-31, Deborah as a woman of God demonstrates another woman that had God’s heart and hand because she was willing to step aside and let Barak lead troops into battle. And of course the godly women in Luke 1:41-59 are examples of how God blesses and protects women

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc...part 36

While it is so that there is no male or female in Christ, spiritually, and in the grand scheme of things, in the physical world, women are to be submissive to men. That does not mean enslaved, nor does that mean that women cannot rule countries or sit as judges or be senators. What that means is that under certain circumstances women are submissive to the leadership of men. One of those circumstances is in church. Isaiah 3:6-25 speaks about this. Women had become show-offs and prideful and they forgot that God made them and they should follow God. Since women have a definition in the flesh, they also have a hierarchy in the flesh. The connection to this is that in this world man is the head of woman. That is what 1 Corinthians is speaking about, not about the literal maintaining of a woman’s hair length, but of the figurative covering representing the submission of woman to man. The relationship between men and women is interesting in this regard, if woman is submissive to man, then why are women considered equal spiritually. The reason being is that is the way God planned it. I know that sounds like parents saying, “Because I said so”. But it truly is the way God planned to do things. In fact, during old testament times, men had to purify themselves when they came in contact with women. (Numbers 31:9-34)

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc... Part 36

Women, like men, are told how to purify themselves after being through situations that would render them unclean. (Leviticus 15: 19-33) God obviously wanted women to be a part of His worship as much as men. And in the New Testament many women are prominently mentioned by Paul as a huge part of the work force of the church. And as such then the chapter in Proverbs (Proverbs 31) speaking about the worthy woman should be an example of a godly woman to me and how they should be respected by members of the congregation.

At first it would seem that how men are to treat women various from Old Testament to New Testament. In Numbers 5:11-31, for instance, is described how men were to deal with a woman who may or may not be defiled but the husband was jealous and the various ordeals that the woman is put through by the priest. Numbers 30:3 describes a woman making a bond. In Leviticus 12:1-7, this is never more evident as there are regulations what to do when women bear children and how to purify her so that she can come into the company of men again. There were in the temple, Court of Women which was outside of the temple courts, similar to the Court of Gentiles and other Courts that were around the temple but not inside of the Temple. But does this mean that women were to be regarded any differently by men, or is that just man’s interpretation of God’s law? More than likely it is the latter, especially since these regulations and other laws were nailed to the cross as spoken of in Colossians 3:17. There is after all no Jew, no Greek, no Male and no Female as far as God and Jesus are concerned. In Him we are the same.

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc.. Part 35

Women also were a metaphor for the righteousness that could be seen in Israel. Women were shown as keeping things close to their heart (Luke 3:19) and delicate (Jeremiah 6:2). They were also seen as those that maintained the purity of the race. (Genesis 24:3-5), as well as those that maintained the honor. (Exodus 22:17)

Then there were those who maintained silent submission, as Ruth did to Boaz in chapters 2 and 3. What is silent submission? For women, it is so hard to follow because of women’s liberation who claim that submission means slavery to men. Then again there are men that mentally and physically abuse women so that they won’t express themselves. But this is not God’s idea of submission. God’s idea is that women have a role in life and worship. I believe it goes along with reading and understanding what is meant by “should” and “must”. “Should” expresses a desire that something be done, “must” is a command. So this would indicate that there is a reconciliation of scriptures. 1Timothy 2:10-15 is reconciled with 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. And this silent submission would also explain how there could be the lifting of hands in worship. Does the fact that I don’t lift my hands in a worship service mean I am not obeying the scripture? No not at all. All it means is that this is how I am keeping order in worship. Lifting holy hand can be done in my heart, much as I can sing in my heart. It has to do with what my attitude is. Do I want to obey God or man? God tells me to “be silent and know that I am your God.” So I will lift my hands to Him in my heart. So I will make melody to Him in my heart. I think it has to do with what is the better vs. the best way to worship Him.

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc.. Part 35

Women also were a metaphor for the righteousness that could be seen in Israel. Women were shown as keeping things close to their heart (Luke 3:19) and delicate (Jeremiah 6:2). They were also seen as those that maintained the purity of the race. (Genesis 24:3-5), as well as those that maintained the honor. (Exodus 22:17)

Then there were those who maintained silent submission, as Ruth did to Boaz in chapters 2 and 3. What is silent submission? For women, it is so hard to follow because of women’s liberation who claim that submission means slavery to men. Then again there are men that mentally and physically abuse women so that they won’t express themselves. But this is not God’s idea of submission. God’s idea is that women have a role in life and worship. I believe it goes along with reading and understanding what is meant by “should” and “must”. “Should” expresses a desire that something be done, “must” is a command. So this would indicate that there is a reconciliation of scriptures. 1Timothy 2:10-15 is reconciled with 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. And this silent submission would also explain how there could be the lifting of hands in worship. Does the fact that I don’t lift my hands in a worship service mean I am not obeying the scripture? No not at all. All it means is that this is how I am keeping order in worship. Lifting holy hand can be done in my heart, much as I can sing in my heart. It has to do with what my attitude is. Do I want to obey God or man? God tells me to “be silent and know that I am your God.” So I will lift my hands to Him in my heart. So I will make melody to Him in my heart. I think it has to do with what is the better vs. the best way to worship Him.