Tag Archives: Women of the Scriptures

Anna, the Prophetess

Christmas, Scriptures, , , , , , , , , ,

Anna the Prophetess

Who?

She lost her husband when she was young. She had been married for less than ten years. When we meet Anna in the second chapter of Luke, she’s an elderly widow of many years.How did she go on with life? But she did her best and served at the temple. She and another person 720px-Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_056 (2)named Simeon recognized that the baby Mary and Joseph brought to the temple was Jesus. The baby would someday be the Savior of mankind.

 

I first learned about Anna when my mom was playing a new Christmas song at the piano. She was putting music to a poem written by our friend, Sally Wise.

Sally writes of Anna:

She came to the temple,
Anna the faithful.
She was old and wise, she fasted and she prayed.
When she beheld the baby, her heart was filled with joy.
She gave thanks and spoke of Him, Savior to all men.
She knew, she knew, she knew her Savior.

The Substance of Hope copyright of Elsbeth YoungAnna is a significant person in the Christmas story because she is another witness that Jesus had indeed been born. We need to pay attention to her.

She had gone through a lot while remaining faithful to the Lord. She knew the real meaning of “good tidings of great joy” and peace, and we can as well.  We probably all know Annas who endure while seeing the good in life.

Sally ends her poem by showing how we can be like Anna and Simeon:

At this Christmas season,
I will remember
The birth of Christ our Savior, the babe of Bethlehem.
As I read the scriptures I can feel His warmth.
And I know He lives today, Savior to all men.
I know, I know, I know my Savior.

References:
Luke 2
“They Came to the Temple” by Sally Wise
Images:
Featured and second image in post: The Substance of Hope found on alyoung.com. Copyright by Elsbeth Young.  All Rights Reserved.  Courtesy of Al Young Studios.
Simeon in the Temple by Rembrandt

Elisabeth, Mother of John the Baptist

Christmas, Scriptures, , , , , , , , , ,

Elisabeth and her husband, Zacharias, were good people. They were in their golden years and had been faithful to the Lord, and, yet, nothing could fully prepare them for the news from the angel, Gabriel. Zacharias was probably the most shocked.

While doing his priestly duties in the temple, Gabriel appeared to him privately. Understandably, Zacharias was also “troubled.” The angel started out with his usual greeting of “Fear not.” The angel went on.  “For thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,  and thous shalt call his name John.”

The news was too much for Zacharias. This was impossible. He and his wife were very old. Gabriel called these things “glad tidings” and still Zacharias was in a state of unbelief. Since he was in doubt, Gabriel told him, “Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

One could only imagine Elisabeth’s reaction when her husband came home speechless. Yet, she was grateful and accepting to carry a son who would eventually be known as John the Baptist.

Six months into her pregnancy, Mary visited her. At Mary’s greeting, “when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.”Champaigne_visitation

At the moment, Elisabeth officially knew her cousin would give birth to the Son of God. Elisabeth said, “Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord could come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

Mary also acknowledged her gratefulness. “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiceth in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

This is an important part in scriptures seeing women interact and celebrating with each other. It also shows how much God is aware of women.

Mary helped Elisabeth for three more months before going back to her town.

And yes, Zacharias spoke  again at the naming of his son.

 

King James Version of Bible:
Luke Chapters 1 & 2
Photos from https://www.lds.org/bible-videos as well as the scriptural references and videos.
Painting: ” Visitation”, by Philippe de Champaigne

Michal: The “Loved and Despised” Princess

Blog, Royalty, Scriptures, , ,

I first heard about the woman “who loved” David when I was seventeen. I was in seminary and  when my teacher mentioned how David married Saul’s daughter, the girls were like, “Really? That is so cute!” My teacher grinned and continued to glow as she told about Michal saving David from Saul by sneaking him out of a window.
Michal’s story came to light again when I was 24 and suffered from a heartbreak—though nothing near the magnitude of Michal’s. I felt her pain when it said she “despised David.”  I wanted learn more so read some biblical fiction about her (like that would tell me the truth) and could feel Michal saying, “That is not me at all!”
So I started doing research—and discovered that the opinions of her are quite diverse! Scholars, artists, and writers differ their views. So who is the real Michal?

"Penelope and Her Suitors" (from The Odyssey)

Penelope and the Suitors by John William Waterhouse (1912).

I was shocked to find that writers have used Michal as their muse. There are traces of her story in fairytales and myths—and even primetime TV!

Rapunzel by Johnny Gruelle

Rapunzel by Johnny Gruelle

I believe the stuff in the Bible isn’t made up though.  I made discoveries that support my already belief that she was a real person. So many royal brides would come to the same trials of Michal. This book points out parallels between Michal and other controversial princesses such as Diana and Fergie. I wonder if in her Bible study, Catherine of Aragon connected herself with Michal.

Catherine and Henry VIII by Henry Nelson O'Neil

Catherine and Henry VIII by Henry Nelson O’Neil

Featured Image of Michal helping David by Gustave Dore

 

Jochebed: Willing to Put Her Child First

Blog, Scriptures,

A post from nine years ago…

With Mother’s Day being last week and wrapping up the subject of Moses in Sunday School, I am going to share part of an article called “Who Do You Admire?” by Brenda Combs

Jochebed, mother to Moses, here is a woman to admire!  She had the courage to defy the Pharaoh no less and refused to condemn her son to death as so decreed.  In our society we are surrounded with individuals who give in to popularity, fads, whims, and politically correctness but here was a woman who had everything to lose yet willingly put her child first despite what society wanted her to do. She had the creativity to hide him in a basket upon the Nile and care for him once the Pharaoh’s daughter claimed him took him to her heart.  She only had him for a short time, but you can bet she taught him of the Lord’s way and loved him completely each and every second she had with him.  Finally, she placed her confidence in God after all she could do and her children are examples to all who value strength, integrity, faithfulness and righteousness.

Side Note: I love having discussions with Brenda, and yesterday we talked about the heroine, Rahab, whose bravery helped Joshua and the Israelite army conquer Canaan. And the Bible will continue with women making sure that Israel goes forward.
Coming soon A royal aunt’s sacrifice in the French Revolution. A glimpse at my book in progress about  a timeless and biblical princess plus Poet’s Profile.

Moses in his Mother’s Arms was painted by the British artist Simeon Solomon (1840–1905)