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Outstanding Women in the Old Testament

Introduction:

The Bible informs us of how important it is to study the Old Testament.  (Romans 15:4) “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” NKJV  (I Corinthians 10:11) “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” NKJV

Body:

I.            Manoah’s Wife  (The Mother of Samson)

A.   She and her husband were often together.  Throughout Judges 13, we find both of them close to one another, sharing their lives.  How different are many of our lives today, fragmented, husbands and wives going separate ways, hardly knowing what each other is doing.  But she and her husband were not like this.  They prayed together.  (Judges 13:8) “Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.’ ” NKJV  (I Peter 3:7) “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” NKJV  They are heirs together of the grace of life.  How blessed Samson was to have a mother and father like he did.

B.   She desired her child to be raised according to the will of God.  Whatever the Angel of the Lord instructed her to do concerning her son, she was willing to do.  Her son was brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Children need direction; influence them to follow the ways of God.

C.  Her heart was broken, even though Samson had godly parents and good training, he still went astray, did wrong.  (Proverbs 22:6) “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” NKJV  This verse is a general rule.  There are exceptions.  Manoah’s wife had done all that she could. 

II.          Hannah  (The Mother of Samuel)

A.   Hannah considered motherhood a privilege.

(I Samuel 1:11) “Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’ ” NKJV  Hannah did not believe motherhood to be drudgery, but understood its importance.  It was a source of joy.  (Psalm 127:3-5) “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” NKJV

B.    Hannah was a woman of prayer.  She poured her heart out, persisted in prayer, and prayed according to the will of God.  (I Samuel 1:11) “Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’ ” NKJV  Her vow was very specific; she made a vow to God in prayer.  (I Samuel 1:12-28) The story followed through Verse28.  She thanked God.  (I Samuel 1:27-28) “ ‘For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.  Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.’  So they worshiped the Lord there.” NKJV  (I Samuel 1:10, 12) “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.” NKJV  (I Samuel 2:1-2) “And Hannah prayed and said:  ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord;  I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.  No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.’ ” NKJV

C.    Hannah was one who worshipped regularly.  (I Samuel 1:7) “So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.” NKJV  How many of us here today were brought to services by godly mothers when we were young?  We learned about God by listening to our mother read from the Bible.  Recall II Timothy 3:14-15.  “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” NKJV

D.  Hannah dedicated her child to the Lord.  (I Samuel 1:28) “ ‘Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.’  So they worshiped the Lord there.” NKJV  (I Samuel 2:1 – 20)  (I Samuel 2:26) “And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.” NKJV  How many of us would be willing to do what Hannah did?  Are we doing all in our power to make sure our children become faithful Christians?  Maybe we should make a vow as she did. 

III.        The Shunammite Woman

A.   She was very hospitable.  (II Kings 4:8-10) “Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food.  So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.  9 And she said to her husband, ‘Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.  10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.’ ” NKJV  What a great example.  Listen to I Peter 4:9.  “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”  Being in one another’s homes greatly strengthens us.

B.   She saw the good in others.  Note Verse 9.  She was much like Barnabas in the New Testament.  Do you see the good in others?

C.  She was good even though the days were evil.  The king at that time was Jehoram, an evil king.  (II Kings 3:1-3) “Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.  And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.  Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.” NKJV  She’s a good example for us, regardless of our circumstances.  [country, work, school]  We can live righteous lives.

D.   She had strong faith, even though suffering came to her life.  Even though her son was dying, her faith remained intact.  (II Kings 4:32) “When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed.” NKJV  (II Kings 4:33-37) “He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.  And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.  He returned and walked back and forth in the house and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.  And he called Gehazi and said, ‘Call this Shunammite woman.’  So he called her.  And when she came in to him, he said, ‘Pick up your son.’  So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.” NKJV

Recall the words of the song, “It Is Well with My Soul” written by Phillip Bliss.

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,  When sorrows like sea billows roll,  Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,  It is well, it is well with my soul.

 

Invitation:

The lives of these outstanding women of the Old Testament speak volumes.  We have much to learn from them.

 

 

Bobby Stafford 

June 17, 2018