Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 37:3 (Summer 2023)
Article: In Spite Of The Culture A Sermon
Author: Beulah Wood

PP 37:3 (Summer 2023) p. 17

In Spite Of The Culture
A Sermon

Beulah Wood

Beulah Wood BA, BD, DMin (GCTS, Mass). Widowed many years ago, Beulah is the happy mother of four daughters and has ten grandchildren. She served for several decades in India and Nepal, publishing books and teaching preaching and theology of family in Bangalore. In retirement, Beulah was the voted President of the Baptist Union of New Zealand for 2019.

Looking at cultural attitudes, I made a list of married women of the Bible this week and found myself surprised. Do we not all know that in the culture of Bible times, women were not part of decisions and did what they were told? Husbands owned and controlled land, assets, and money, and widows did not inherit if their husband died. Wives could be highly regarded if they were “virtuous.” Did that mean they needed only to avoid doing what was wrong, and never mind if they failed to do what was right?

However, I noticed something odd. Many married women took responsibility and acted without or ahead of their husband. In fact, it seems to be a strong counter-cultural and accepted strand of ancient Israelite and Jewish history. It recurs often, and with the apparent blessing of God, both in the OT and the NT. There are over a dozen times when, in spite of the culture, a married woman took responsibility, and was right in doing so.

Abigail

Let us start with Abigail in 1 Sam 25. Intelligent and beautiful, she was married to Nabal, a man who was wealthy, bad-tempered, and surly. David was a guerrilla chief, leader of a small unofficial army. When David asked for festive food for his men who had guarded Nabal’s extensive flocks, Nabal shouted rudely at David’s men. In response, David began to plan revenge. Soon, a major fight was brewing between Nabal (with about fifty men on his side) and David (whose four hundred men were armed with swords).

Enter Abigail. Advised of the situation by a loyal servant, she took responsibility in order to save him and all their staff. She spoke no word to her husband (25:19). In a short time, she amassed from their family stores two hundred loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five large bags of popcorn, one hundred blocks of pressed raisins, two hundred blocks of pressed figs, and five butchered sheep. With this feast loaded on donkeys, she threw a gunnysack over another donkey for herself and set off down the mountainside. None too late, her train met David’s private army in a steep gully, already marching towards them.

While David ranted, Abigail drew out her considerable powers of negotiation and peace making. She begged David not to attack. She argue...