|
1) Beginning of Godly
women's submission to men--
Yahweh is not being an unreasonable tyrant when He commands women to
be under submission to their husbands. The domination trait of Eve'
sinful nature came about as a curse from God because of her
disobedience in the Garden of Eden. This curse, along with that of
pain in childbirth and that of death, extends to future generations
of her female descendants.--
16: "Unto the woman [Eve] He [God] said, 'I will greatly
multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring
forth children; and thy desire* shall be to thy husband, and he
shall rule over thee.'" (Genesis 3:16, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
*I found in an original Hebrew dictionary that the meaning of
"desire" came from the root word meaning "to run after or over,
overflow, water." There are 24 Hebrew words translated in the Bible
into the English word "desire." The Hebrew word for this definition
of "desire" ("t shuwqah") is found in only 2 other places in the Old
Testament. These 2 scriptures clarify the exact meaning of this
word, which basically means "to want to be in control of."--
4-7: "Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel
and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no
regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then
the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your
countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be
lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door;
and its desire is for you, but you must master it.'" (Genesis
4:4-7, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
10: "I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me." (Song of
Solomon 7:10, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
2) Reason why YAHVAH set Christ over
man and man over woman--
7-15: "I [Paul] will therefore that men pray every where,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner
also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided ("plegma"*) hair, or
gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in
silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor
to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was
first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman
being deceived was in the transgression**. Notwithstanding she
shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and
charity and holiness with sobriety." (I Timothy 2:7-15, HOLY BIBLE,
KJV)
(*See explanation at the end of #4 set of scripture verses.)
(**2-3, 6, 13: "And the woman said unto the serpent [Satan in one of
his many disguises], 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the
garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God hath said, "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die."' . . . And when the woman saw that the tree
was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree
to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and
did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. .
. . And the LORD God (YHVH) said unto the woman, 'What is this that
thou hast done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent beguiled me, and I
did eat.'" )(Genesis 3:2-3, 6, 13, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
When Eve didn't obey God's commandment,she became deceived
(beguiled, seduced). Eve also led Adam to sin. He, too, was cursed
by Yahweh; therefore, all of Adam and Eve's descendants suffer from
a sinful nature with all its terrible consequences.--
17-19: "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ. Therefore
as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation;
even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men
unto justification of life. For as by one man's* disobedience many
were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made
righteous." (Romans 5:17-19, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)(*human being).
God's merciful redemption from the curse of a sinful nature (Yahshua,
known as "Jesus" in Greek, being our redemption) was prophesied in
the following scripture. It was given at the beginning of the
curses God issued to the disobedient ones, Satan, Eve, and Adam.
With the punishment came a gracious escape from death for the mortal
sinners, Adam and Eve and their descendants.--
15: "And I [YAHVAH] will put enmity between you [Satan] and the
woman [Eve], and between your seed and her seed; He [Yahshua] shall
bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel."
(Genesis 3:15, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
3) YHVH's commandment of submission
applies to Godly women in the church, as He requires order, peace
and, above all, obedience from His people. Notice in the first
scripture that part of God's order of submission is in regard to
their hair length. A woman (this is addressed to all Christian
women) is told that her hair is her covering and not to have it
shorn (cut), that having her hair long is a glory to her.--
2-15: "Now I [Paul] praise you, brethren, that ye remember me
in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and
the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,
dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth
with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all
one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her
also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or
shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his
head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman
is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the
woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but
the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power
on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man
without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the
woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely
that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself
teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair
is given her for a covering." (I Corinthians 11:2-15, HOLY BIBLE,
KJV)
33-40: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,
as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in
the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they
are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if
they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for
it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (I Corinthians
14:33-40, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
3-6: "And hereby we do know that we know Him [Yahshua], if we
keep His commandments. He that saith, 'I know him,' and keepeth not
His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso
keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby
know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought
himself also so to walk, even as He walked." (I John 2:3-6, HOLY
BIBLE, KJV)
4) Submission of Christian women to
their husbands is a requirement for their part of an ideal, godly
marriage.--
22-33: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the
body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for
it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should
be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as
their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no
man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His
flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two
shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning
Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that
she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5:22-33, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
3-5: "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their
behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching
what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love
their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure,
workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that
the word of God will not be dishonored." (Titus 2:3-5, HOLY BIBLE,
NASB)
1-9: "In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own
husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word,
they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as
they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment
must not be merely external--braiding* the hair ("emploke" means
"intertwining the hair in ornament"), and wearing gold jewelry, or
putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart,
with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the
holy women also, who hoped (trusted, expected, anticipated usually
with pleasure, had confidence) in God, used to adorn themselves,
being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed
Abraham, calling him lord (a respectful title given to someone
supreme in authority, i.e., controller, by implication "Mister,"
"Master," "Sir"), and you have become her children if you do what is
right without being frightened by any fear. You husbands in the
same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with
someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow
heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be
hindered. To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic,
brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for
evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you
were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."
(I Peter 3:1-9, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
*The braiding of the hair in I Timothy ("plegma" in # 3 scripture
verse) and in I Peter 3 ("emploke"), according to one Bible scholar,
refers to the custom practiced by women of means during the Roman
imperial period. It involved the elaborate entwining of the hair in
knots or braids. The braids would then be folded about the head in
a high, ornamental fashion, often including thin threads of gold,
pearls or precious stones of various colors. The two writers of
these two Bible verses were speaking against this practice because
of its identification with the world system of that day; it was a
showing-off of wealth. They felt that it brought undue attention to
the physical attractions of women, thus causing them to be diverted
from their basic calling in life. A different commentary mentioned
that this "in-braiding" was a custom of loose women. Another Bible
commentary, in regard to these Scriptures on braiding the hair,
wrote that these New Testament women were warned against excessive
attention in dressing the hair. Another scholar said that Christian
women were exhorted to refrain from adorning their hair for outward
show; this is still applicable to Christian women today.
5) Yahweh's gift of material wealth to
Godly women and the wrong and right attitudes toward it.--
The following quotation from the Bible shows that there is nothing
wrong with a woman being well-groomed and nicely dressed for God
adorned Jerusalem [representative of His bride, the church]. He
lavished "her" with material wealth.
10-14: "I [YHVH] also clothed you [Jerusalem] with embroidered
cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped
you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with
ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your
neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and
a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and
silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered
cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly
beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among
the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because
of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD."
(Ezekiel 16:10-14, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
Jerusalem, though, didn't stay submissive to Yahweh; she became
arrogant and was ungrateful to the One who had blessed her with
wealth and beauty.
15: "But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot
because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every
passer-by who might be willing." (Ezekiel 16:15, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
This was one of YAHVAH's punishments for having pride in outward
appearance.--
16-24: "Moreover, the LORD [YHVH] said, 'Because the daughters of
Zion are proud and walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, and
go along with mincing steps and tinkle the bangles on their feet,
therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion
with scabs, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.' In that
day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands,
crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils,
headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, finger
rings, nose rings, festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, money
purses, hand mirrors, undergarments, turbans and veils. Now it
will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be
putrefaction; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well-set hair, a
plucked-out scalp; instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty." (Isaiah 3: 16-24, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)
The following two scriptures reveal what constitutes true, lasting
beauty, that is the kind Christian women should be clothed with--
30: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that
feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30, HOLY
BIBLE, KJV)
5-7: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you." (I Peter 5:5-7, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
6) YHVH's provision of land ownership
for women, a gift from a caring Heavenly Father--
Submission to the Lord God and to a husband doesn't mean a Godly
woman is a second-class citizen. In the Bible, she could inherit
land from her earthly father if she had no brothers to provide for
her after her father's death.
1-11: "Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the
son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the
families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these are the
names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and
Tirzah. They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and
before the leaders and all the congregation, at the doorway of the
tent of meeting, saying, 'Our father died in the wilderness, yet he
was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together
against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own
sin, and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be
withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a
possession among our father's brothers.' So Moses brought their
case before the LORD. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'The
daughters of Zelophehad are right in their statements. You shall
surely give them a hereditary possession among their father's
brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to
them. Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, "If a
man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to
his daughter. If he has no daughter, then you shall give his
inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, then you shall
give his inheritance to his father's brothers. If his father has no
brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest
relative in his own family, and he shall possess it; and it shall be
a statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the LORD
commanded Moses."'" (Numbers 27:1-11, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
In the Bible, a woman could also buy land.--
16: "She [an excellent wife]
considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she
planteth a vineyard." (Proverbs 31:16, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
7) The punishment for being disobedient
to YHVH's commandments--
A Christian woman, in order to live a godly life, must trust and
obey God and His commandments, as shown in His Word, the Bible.
(One of Yahshua's names, found in Revelation 19:3, is "The Word of
God.") A Christian woman must have a heart submissive to Yahshua
the Christ and to her husband. To do otherwise is rebellion
(disobedience) toward God, a sin which brings painful, unhappy
consequences. The following Scriptures describe what rebellion to
God is and the high cost of continuing in this and other sins.--
14-15: "[Samuel said to the nation of Israel,] 'If ye will fear
the LORD, and serve Him, and obey His voice, and not rebel against
the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king
[Saul] that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
but if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the
commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against
you, as it was against your fathers.'" (I Samuel 12:14-15, HOLY
BIBLE, KJV)
22-23 "And Samuel said [to King Saul], 'Hath the LORD as great
delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice
of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because
thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee
from being king.'" (I Samuel 15:22-23, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
6: "God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out
those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a
dry land." (Psalm 68:6, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
7-8: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh
shall of the flesh reap corruption (ruin, decay, destruction,
death); but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting." (Galatians 6:7-8, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
8) Conclusion: Earthly and eternal
blessings are gifts for the obedient servant of Yahweh.--
5-8: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the
LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and
marrow to thy bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
15-17 "[Jesus said,] 'If ye love me, keep My commandments. And
I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth
Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you." (St. John 14:15-17, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
1-7: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first
heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more
sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And
I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be
His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain: for the former things are passed away.' And He
that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And
He said unto me, 'Write: for these words are true and faithful.'
And He said unto me, 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the
fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall
inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My son."
(Revelation 21:1-7, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
1-7, 12-14: "And he [an angel of God come down from heaven]
shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst
of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the
tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her
fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing
of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of
God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve
Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their
foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no
candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them
light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he [an angel of
God] said unto me, 'These sayings are faithful and true: and the
Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His
servants the things which must shortly be done. "Behold, I come
quickly:" blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of
this book'. . . [Yahshua said,] 'And, behold, I come quickly; and
my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall
be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and
the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may
have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city.'" (Revelation 22: 1-7, 12-14, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
Page 7
|
