Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 09:1 (Winter 1995)
Article: Women In God’s Plan
Author: J. Bruce Kilmer

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PP 9:1 (Winter 1995) p. 4

Women In God’s Plan

J. Bruce Kilmer

CBE member J. Bruch Kilmer grew up in the Churches of Christ. He is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, and hold a law degree from Wayne State University. He works as a Regional Court Administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court, and, with his wife Diane, co-edits Integrity Journal. This article first appeared in the July/August 1991 issue of Integrity, and is reprinted by permission.

Part I — Women In The Bible

The Old Testament teaches us much about the nature of God. It is the inspired record of God working out his eternal plan for us. From the Old Testament we learn about God’s long-suffering, loving, merciful nature. We see the beginning of his plan for our redemption. The God revealed to us in the Old Testament is the same God further revealed in the New Testament. Through Christ, we can see the promises of God more clearly than those who “welcomed them from a distance” (Heb. 11:13). Furthermore, in this era of God’s history, the Holy Spirit dwells in all who belong to his Son (Rom. 8:9). However, God is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We need to remember this truth as we study the Old Testament.

Monarchy, Polygamy and War

There are numerous practices recorded in the Old Testament which are not necessarily God-ordained or which are not necessarily the result of compliance with God’s law or ideal for his people. Monarchy, polygamy, and war are practices which most would agree are not favored by God. He may use those involved in such practices for his purposes, but the practices can still be sinful. The Old Testament faithfully reports the truth about those practices, about the people involved in such practices, about the working of God in spite of such practices, and about God’s use of the practices themselves.

God told Samuel that the peoples’ request for a king was not a rejection of Samuel but a rejection of God. He told Samuel to warn them about the dangers of having a king. But when the people would not listen, God allowed Samuel to give them a king (1 Sam. 8:4-22). This king was even anointed by God (1 Sam. 10:1). Is monarchy to be preferred over democracy and representative government today?

David had numerous wives and Solomon had hundreds of wives and concubines. In spite of this, God used these kings for his eternal purposes. Few would argue that polygamy or extra-marital affairs should be tolerated by the church today.

God used war many times in the Old Testament to fulfill his purpose. However, he often showed Israel by its victories and defeats t...

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