Bible study on women

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Barbara Harper

I did a Bible word search this week just looking for verses with the words “woman” or “women” in them. I excluded the ones speaking about particular women or the ones with detailed instructions from the OT ceremonial law except for a couple where I felt the principle still carried over today. I was looking primary for general instruction to or descriptions of women in Scripture. Here is what I found, with little commentary:

Made in response to man’s loneliness (Gen. 2:18, I Corinthians 11:9)
Made a help meet or fit for man (Gen. 2:18 )
Made from rib of man (Gen. 2:22-23)
Affected by the Fall in the realm of marriage and childbirth (Gen. 3:16)
Offered unto the Lord with a willing heart (Ex 35:29)
Under authority of father or husband when making vows (Numbers 30)
Not to dress like man (Deut, 22:5)
Required, along with men, children, and strangers, to assemble to hear the Word of God, to learn, to fear Him, to observe His commands (Deuteronomy 31:12 and many other places)
Women in Jesus’ life ministered to Him (Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41), ministered unto Jesus of their substance (Luke 8:1-3), worshipped (Matthew 26:7-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50), lamented His crucifixion (Luke 23:27-28), watched at the cross (Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49), followed afterward to see where He was buried and went home to prepare spices (Luke 23:55-56), came to the tomb Sunday morning (Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-11), continued ” with one accord in prayer and supplication” with the disciples and Mary after He arose (Acts 1:13-14)
Head of woman is the man (I Corinthians 11:3)
Prays and prophesies in church with head covered (I Corinthians 11:5)
Long hair is her glory and covering (I Corinthians 11:15)
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (II Corinthians 7:24)
Adorned with modesty, shamfacedness, sobriety, good works more than jewelry, elaborate hairstyles, etc. (I Timothy 2:9-10)
In the church is to learn in silence and not teach men or usurp authority over men (I Timothy 2:11-12; I Corinthians 14:34-35)
Good works: “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” (I Timothy 5:10)
Younger women encouraged to “marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” (I Timothy 5:14)
Instructions to aged women: “that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:2-5)
Subject to husbands (I Peter 3:1, Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18 )
To reverence husband (Ephesians 5:33)
To have chaste conversation coupled with fear (I Peter 3:2) which will win lost husband more than words
To be adorned with the “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (I Peter 3:3-6)

Negative descriptions of women

The strange woman: flatters with her words (Proverbs 6:24; 7:5, 21), forsakes the guide of her youth (parents?), forgets her covenant with God, her house and paths lead to death (Proverbs 2:16-19); her lips as a honeycomb, mouth smoother than oil, end bitter as wormword, sharper than two-edged sword, her feet go down to death, her steps take hold on hell; her ways are moveable – can’t know them; results in mourning when flesh and body are consumed; hunts for the precious life (Proverbs 6:26) wear attire of a harlot (Proverbs 7:10), is subtil of heart (Proverbs 7:10) loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house (Proverbs 7:11-12), impudent (Proverbs 7:13), fair of speech (Proverbs 7:21), wounds, slays, leads to death and hell (Proverbs 7:26-27); a narrow pit, lies in wait as for a prey, and increases the transgressors among men (Proverbs 23:27-28; 22:14); wisdom and discretion deliver from her (Proverbs 2:1-11; 5:1-2; 7:1-5); God’s commands will keep from her (Proverbs 6:20-24), also “evil woman” (Proverbs 6:24), “whorish woman” (Proverbs 6:26) “adultress” (Proverbs 6:26); (Ecclesiastes 7:26).
Outlandish women caused Solomon to sin (Nehemiah 13:26)
The adulterous woman claims to have done no wrong (Proverbs 30:20)
The foolish woman: clamorous, simple, knows nothing, lures men (Proverbs 9:13-18); plucks down her house (Proverbs 14:1; Job 2:10)
The discretionless woman is like a gold jewel in a pig’s snout (Proverbs 11:22)
A brawling woman (Proverbs 21:9; 25:24)
A contentious and angry woman (Proverbs 21:19), like a continual dropping (Proverbs 27:15-16)
An odious woman (Proverbs 30:23)
Careless (Isaiah 32:9-12)
Idle, wandering from house to house, tattlers, busybodies (I Timothy 5:13)
Silly women (II Timothy 3:6)

Positive descriptions of women:

“Willing-hearted” to give (Exodus 35:22)
Honorable women (Psalm 45:9)
“Wise-hearted” to spin fiber for the tabernacle (Exodus 35:26-27)
A gracious woman retains honour (Proverbs 11:16)
A virtuous woman crowns her husband (Proverbs 12:4), more valuable than rubies, trustworthy, does husband good, works willingly with her hands, brings food from afar, rises early, serves others, diligent, knowledgeable about fields and quality merchandise, industrious, helps the poor and needy, provides for her family, provides ahead of need, attentive to her clothing, strong, honorable, wise, kind, appreciated, God-fearing (Proverbs 31:10-31).
A wise woman builds her house (Proverbs 14:1)

Single Women:

With so much instruction to wives and mothers, what about single women whom God has not directed to or provided for marriage? Besides the general character instruction, the Bible says:

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (II Corinthians 7:24.)

All Christian life is to be a life of service, but the unmarried can serve the Lord “without distraction” (I Corinthians 7:35).

Some examples:

Anna (Luke 2:36-38 )
Mary and Martha
Lydia (Acts 16: 14-15)
Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42)

Booking Through Thursday: Electronic vs. paper

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Barbara Harper

The weekly Booking Through Thursday question for today is:

Something a little different today–

First. Go read this great article from Time Magazine: Books Gone Wild: The Digital Age Reshapes Literature. (Well worth reading.)

Second. Stop and think about it for moment. Computers and digital media are changing everything we do these days, whether we realize it or not, and that includes our beloved books.

Third. DISCUSS!

It is only natural that technological advances in other areas are also going to affect the world of reading, just as the invention of the printing press did.

I don’t read much in the way of actual books on the computer. It bothers my eyes after a while and it’s not terribly comfortable. There is just something soothing and comforting about curling up on the end of the couch with a good book, a throw blanket, and a cup of coffee that is not quite the same at the computer.

On the other hand, if I am studying something, I like having various sources opened up in different tabs on the computer and being able to just click back and forth between them rather than having the same number of books spread out on the table.

I’ve not gotten into reading on a cell phone or PDA or e-reader. I like the idea of the portability of it, but I can barely get through a text message on my cell phone without it bothering my eyes, and the idea of reading very long on a tiny screen just doesn’t sit well with me.

However, the only one of my sons who is an avid reader reads almost exclusively via electronic means. I wonder if the “coziness” we bibliophiles feel with the tactile sensation of a book will be replaced in the next generation with the feel of a electronic device.

I didn’t realize until this article that publishing houses absorbed the economic failures of the trade, from giving advances to authors whose books don’t sell to taking non-selling books back from stores. No wonder the industry is in trouble. I can see the appeal of electronic publishing in alleviating those factors.

I don’t know if I like the idea of publishing houses being the “gate-keepers” of what is considered good literature. They are going to be more interested in marketability than quality, and the two are not the same, so I don’t think traditional publishers are the last bastions of quality against the perceived cheap and common offerings that will proliferate with the availability and ease of self-publishing. There are a lot of cheap, common, even trashy books, and there will be a lot of the same in any other venue. But I don’t think self-published pieces are any threat to literature any more than YouTube is to Hollywood. There is a lot of junk on YouTube, but there is also a lot of clever stuff that otherwise would never see the light of day.

But I do hope there will always be physical books. I can’t imagine life without them.

Melli’s ABC challenge & etc.

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Melli is hosting an ABC photo challenge wherein we’re supposed to look for letters in common everyday things or in nature without actually manipulating anything to make the letter and without photographing the letter itself in a word. We’re doing two letters a week, and this week it is C and D.

I’ve really got a handle on the letters this week (ha, ha…ahem). My “C” is the handle of a little tin:

Front view:

And my “D” is the handle of a basket I keep my Christmas CDs in — which is still out…

In other news…there’s not much other news. I am late posting today. I’m working on the monthly ladies’ ministry newsletter/booklet, and there was a section for which I needed to do some studying. I figured I better do that first, both to think clearly and to make sure it got done and to take advantage of some rare solitude.

It’s been a gray, misty, foggy day — I’ve been glad to be inside for most of it. I hope the moisture clears off before we get some colder temperatures this weekend so we don’t have a lot of ice.

I hope to visit the other ABCers later this evening! Have a good afternoon/evening/night!

Bloggy Giveaway #3

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Comments are now closed. The winner is Kristin at These Moments… Congratulations! I’ll be contacting you shortly.

If you’re not aware of the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival, go to Bloggy Giveaways this week and look around. There are always giveaways going on over there, but during the carnival this week bloggers from all over are giving away various items, from books to gift cards to chocolate and all kinds of things.

For my third giveaway this week, I am offering an instrumental CD of hymns from the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team. The CD is titled A Firm Foundation (you can click on the title or CD picture for sound clips), the instruments used are primarily guitar, cello, violin, and penny whistle, though there may be a few more, and the styles of the arrangements range from Irish to Appalachian to traditional. Some of the hymns included are “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” “In Christ Alone,” “How Deep the Father’s Love,” and several others.

I got this CD recently and just love it. In fact, this particular giveaway came about because I accidentally bought two copies, so I am giving one away. I love the Pettit’s music and would love to share it with you!

To enter for this giveaway, simply leave a comment here. There are too many other giveaways listed to ask anyone to jump through any hoops!! I am willing to ship anywhere, and I’ll draw a name Saturday morning. You don’t have to have a blog to enter; just be sure and leave your e-mail address if you don’t leave your blog link.

What’s on Your Nighstand: January

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Barbara Harper

The folks at 5 Minutes For Books host What’s On Your Nightstand? the last Tuesday of each month in which we can share about the books we have been reading and plan to read. You can learn more about it by clicking the link or the button. This month’s participants are here.

When I posted my lengthy list last month, I guess I wasn’t thinking about this being a monthly meme, because I posted almost everything I have stacked up to read, more than I possibly could finish in a month. And then I found a clearance sale at our Christian bookstore and added another stack.

In January I completed What Women Wish You Knew About Dating: A Single Guy’s Guide to Romantic Relationships by Stephen W. Simpson. I had seen it at Deena’s, and have sons in or near dating ages, and the excerpt I saw looked interesting. I ended up having mixed emotions about it — a longer review is here.

I also finished Falling For You Again, the third in the Four Seasons series dealing with marriage by Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman, and reviewed it here. Each book is about a group of couples in a community in various “seasons” of marriage, but this one primarily focuses on an older couple dealing with declining health and a couple of unresolved issues testing the foundation of their long marriage. It’s sweet but sad, and I loved it.

I also finished @ Home for the Holidays with the same characters from SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken about a group of stay-at-home moms who stay in touch via an e-mail loop. I didn’t review it. It was…ok. I liked the camaraderie and support of the ladies for each other. I did think some were a little catty, and the conservative viewpoints were given to the over-the-top self-righteous member. Not to open a can of worms, but I disagreed with one lady taking over preaching for her pastor-husband while he was ill.

Currently I am still reading the unabridged Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, now on page 612 of this 1,463 page book (up from 366 last month at this time!) I truly rejoiced when I reached page 500 — it seemed like such a milestone!

I’m also reading the last of the Four Seasons of Marriage books by Palmer and Chapman, Winter Turns to Spring, focusing on the youngest couple of the group with perhaps the stormiest relationship, and I just started rereading To the Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson about Americas’ first missionary, Adoniram Judson. It’s a classic missionary biography I read years ago and wanted to revisit.

I also started one of the books I came across at that clearance sale, a daily devotional book titled Our Daily Walk by F. B. Meyer. When I saw it my first thought was that I didn’t need yet another devotional book, but I had been wanting to read something about or by Meyer for a long time. I kept coming across his name in other Christian biographies but didn’t really know anything about him personally. So this is probably a good introduction to him. I have already been blessed beyond measure as there have been several days the reading for the day has been just exactly what I needed. Funny how God directs through what we think was a random choice.

The devotional book will, of course, take me through the year, and the others will probably take the month until the next “nightstand” posting to complete. If I do get done before then, I have plenty of others waiting for me!

Bloggy Giveaway #2

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Comments are now closed. The winner is Audra at Audra’s Little Scraps. Congratulations! I’ll be contacting you in just a moment.

My second giveaway this week is a family heritage book.

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There are pages of writing prompts:

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There are all types of topics to cover: where the family came from (and a map to mark it), information about the family name, family lore and legends, family celebrations — just about anything you could think of concerning your family heritage as well as a few blank pages for anything else you’d like to cover.

There is a fold-out section to fill in a family tree:

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There are pockets in the back for a CD (they suggest recording interviews with older family members) and for documents. There are pages for pictures and optional scrapbooking pages scattered throughout.

In short, this book contains just about everything you would need to record your family heritage and create a family heirloom.

If you are interested, just leave a comment on this post. You don’t have to have a blog — just be sure to put your e-mail address in the space provided so I have a way to contact you. I am willing to ship anywhere. I will draw a name using a random generator on Saturday morning.

Just a note of clarification: The genealogy part is only a couple of pages and only goes back a couple of generations. It’s not the main part of the book, just one small section. Most of the book is writing prompts about various aspects of family life and heritage. Just wanted to be clear — some of the comments seemed to indicate some thought the geology was a major portion or went back several generations.

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival: Sharon Hinck book

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Comments are now closed. The winner is Chastidy! I’ll be contacting you shortly.

It is time for the quarterly Bloggy Giveaway Carnival! Go to Bloggy Giveaways this week, where there will likely be over 1,000 giveaways from bloggers all over the country and the world.

For my first giveaway this week, I am offering a copy of the book Stepping Into Sunlight by one of my favorite authors, Sharon Hinck. I reviewed it previously here, or you can click on the title for more information, but basically it is Christian fiction about a young mom who witnesses a violent crime as well as a threat to her own life.

Just after this occurs, her family moves to a new town due to her husband’s deployment, and then her husband has to go overseas, so she is without a support system. With all of this she begins experiencing panic attacks and is on her way to becoming agoraphobic. She tries to put on a brave face for her husband and family and tries to take care of the young son who depends on her, but she finds herself increasingly afraid and unable to take up even the ordinary tasks of life.

How she finds help and begins the long road to recovery make up the rest of this great book.

If you are interested, just leave a comment on this post. I will draw a winner Saturday morning, and I am willing to ship internationally.

Check back later this week for more giveaways! And check the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival through the week for a multitude of giveaways.

Blue Monday: Birds of a feather

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Smiling Sally hosts a Blue Monday in which we can post about anything blue — pretty, ugly, serious or funny — and then link up to other Blue Monday participants.

I love the I Can Has Cheezeburger site — it’s often the last thing I look at before I log off for the day. Most of the pictures are cats, and I am not particularly a cat lover, but often the captions are hilarious. They do use other animals as well. This one cracked me up the other day:

It reminded me of a painting a friend from a former church did for me before we moved away. That was a pretty small church, and this lady was the only person who did any painting. She was also the primary “crafter” in church. So she couldn’t make anything for her “secret sister” because that would give away her identity. She instead sometimes made something nice after identities were revealed as a thank you to the secret sister who gave to her.

So the year I was her secret sister she gave me this painting she had done herself:

I know I have shown this for Show and Tell Friday, but I don’t think I have shown it here. I love the fact that she did this for me, and I love the dogwood blossoms: two of the houses we have lived in have had dogwoods. She said the bird came out (unintentionally) looking like it could peck someone’s eye out, though I don’t know if you can tell it here, as the picture is a little dark. But that’s why the above picture reminded me of this one.

I hadn’t thought of it before, but it is kind of funny that the bird’s expression doesn’t match the verse she wrote: “Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17). She added the verse because she said it reminded her of me, though it is actually speaking of wisdom. I hope I have gained and display wisdom, pleasantness, and peace, though I assured her I am far from walking in any of those elements perfectly. But maybe this little birdie’s scowl can remind me of what I look like when I am not exhibiting peace and pleasantness!

Happy Monday to you! More Blue Monday participants for today can be found at Sally’s.

Trust in God, My Soul

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Barbara Harper

I was listening to the Depths of Mercy CD from Soundforth this morning and was blessed especially by this song:

Trust in God, My Soul

Words by Frances Havergal and David Burke

Oh, Lord, I trust Your grace; it is enough, enough for me.
In every trial I shall trace its all-sufficiency.

And, Lord, I trust Your strength; in You alone I shall be strong:
My failing flesh will learn at length a daily triumph song.

Oh, trust in God, my soul, and look into His face.
Oh, trust in God, my soul; His holy will embrace.
Then I shall stand complete and whole, a trophy of His grace
As I trust God.

Oh, Lord, I trust Your Word; it gives me hope and light to see.
The path ahead, though now obscured, will open wide for me.

Oh, Lord, I trust Your love; I feel its warm and changeless glow;
My life or death shall only prove its everlasting flow.

Oh, trust in God, my soul, and look into His face.
Oh, trust in God, my soul; His holy will embrace.
Then I shall stand complete and whole, a trophy of His grace
As I trust God.

Book Review: Falling For You Again

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Falling For You Again is the third in the Four Seasons series by Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman implementing Chapman’s teaching about seasons in marriage. I reviewed the first in the series, It Happens Every Spring, here, and the second, Summer Breeze, here.

Though all of the previous couples are mentioned, this book focuses on Charlie and Esther Moore, the “older couple” of the community, married nearly fifty years. Esther begins having memory problems and doing odd things, like driving the wrong way off the carport and putting the electric can opener in the dishwasher. Esther goes through depression, then denial, then fear and refusal to have the recommended treatment all the while becoming more irritable and confused. Though the Moores are looked up to as a stable example of marriage, they still have unresolved issues and everyday irritations that challenge both of them.

As they work through their problems, Charlie finds himself helping young, brash Brad Haynes on a housing project, alternately wanting to help and be an example to him and getting frustrated with Brad’s view of his own marriage and his seeming unwillingness to put any effort into it.

This book effectively and realistically dealt with different personalities, viewpoints, needs, and love languages in marriage. The Moore’s story is sweet but sad as they work through their challenges and focus on the good things and the underlying love they have for each other.

(This review will be linked to Semicolon‘s Saturday Review of Books, a great place to skim through reviews of titles you might be interested in.)