Three Great Women

by L M Grant

The devoted faithfulness of many women of Scripture furnishes a study of deepest blessing, not only to Christian women and girls, but to men as well. We propose to consider only three of these in this article, the first a wife and mother in the Old Testament, and both of the others single women in the New Testament. The first is called "a great woman," but the others are great also by reason of their taking a place of lowly subjection to the Lord Jesus.

The Great Woman of Shunem

This dear child of God is introduced to us in 2 Kings 4:8-37. The grace of God working within her heart is evident in the way she discerned how to act rightly in each of her relationships. The most vital of these is seen first:

Her Attitude Toward The Lord

She was not "afraid with any amazement," as a mere slave (1 Pet. 3.6), but as a faithful yet submissive wife, she made her request, "Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall" (2 Kings 4.10). Her character was plainly such that the heart of her husband could safely trust in her, so that later, when he questioned why she was going to the man of God and come again, she told him simply, "It shall be well," and he asked no more (v. 22-23). She knew the Lord's things were not as vital to him as to her, and that he could not enter into the turmoil through which her soul was passing, nor answer the need, as the man of God could. Therefore she did not even tell him the child had died. Her wisdom and self-control in this are remarkable

Her Attitude Toward Her Child

When Elisha told her she would have a son in one year, she could not believe it. It is clear that she had longed for a child, but had decided to be content without one, since her husband was old. The son being born, there is no doubt her love for him was pure and strong. Yet she was not a merely possessive mother, or fearful for her son's safety, for she allowed him to go out to his father at time of harvest. When he complained about his head, his father knew where to send him. In times of trouble, how good for a child to have a loving mother!

Tenderly she held him on her knees until he died. But let us observe that her love for him was not so uncontrolled that she broke down. Without doubt deeply feeling this unexpected sorrow, she laid the boy on Elisha's bed and went out (v. 21). Only faith in the living God could uphold her at such a time. No doubt inwardly she realized a truth of great importance for every parent: our children are not really our own, but the Lord's. He has sovereign rights over them. Though He has entrusted them to us for a time, we must eventually give them up, and giving them up we often find that we shall gain them again in a spiritual way, which is far better.

Rather than being in a panic, she moved with calm deliberation out of concern for her son, realizing that the man of God (typically Christ) was her resource. When later her son was restored to life by Elisha, her heart was so full that she could only fall at his feet and bow herself to the ground, not able to say a word (v. 37).

In all of this, whether her attitude toward her husband or toward her son, do we not clearly see the working out of her attitude toward the Lord? This is the prevailing influence, and the sweetness of it pervades her natural relationships. May we have grace to follow her faithful example.

Mary of Bethany

Mary shares the same affectionate attitude toward the Lord as we have seen, and much the same quietness that comes, not from mere human nature, but from acquaintance with the Lord Jesus. Introduced to us in Luke 10:38-42, she is found sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing His word. Precious occupation! She evidently lived in her sister Martha's home, which was a sweet haven of refreshment for the Lord Jesus in the midst of His abundant labours. We read of Martha's complaining to the Lord that Mary did not help her, but nothing about Mary's complaining about Martha. Perhaps Mary's listening to the Lord's word had borne this good result.

Can a single woman serve the Lord acceptably? The Lord Himself answers the question in lovely words, "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (v. 42). This did not seem like service to Martha, but the serious attention of Mary's heart to the Word of God was precious in the eyes of the Lord. We may think more of energetically doing things for the Lord, and for that reason take little time for quiet meditation on His word, which the Lord so clearly approves.

Later we find Mary at the Lord's feet in profound sorrow of heart (John 11:32). At this time she was crushed and bewildered, for the Lord had not come to Bethany on hearing that her brother Lazarus was sick, but waited until he had died. She could not understand this, but certainly understood it well after the Lord Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. He could not have been raised unless he had died, and her sorrow was turned into wondrous joy.

Again she is at the Lord's feet in John 12:3, but this time not in sorrow, nor even in learning from Him. She was there with a heart overflowing with thanksgiving and anointed His feet with precious ointment. Not even the disciples understood this, for Judas complained about it first, and the others also joined in (Matt. 26:8). But she was a true worshipper, and the Lord defended her in greatly approving what she had done, saying, "she hath wrought a good work upon Me," and that this would be spoken of her throughout the whole world (Matt. 26:10-13). Her act is perhaps the most precious picture of adoring worship that Scripture records. We do not read of any man doing such a thing. No doubt there are devoted women today with such an attitude of heart, but their number is not large. If we cannot literally anoint His feet, we may in some true measure imitate her adoration for the Lord.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene was perhaps not the same calm, meditative character as Mary of Bethany. How diligent she was in seeking to learn the Word of God is possibly questionable. The level of her intelligence and reasoning power may not have been so high as that of some, but we should not be surprised at this. Out of her the Lord had cast seven demons (Mark 16:9). Her previous life had been dreadful, not necessarily debased, but suffering bondage to Satan's power. One delivered from such a past does not so readily develop the habits of a student.

However, John 20:1-18 gives a lovely record of her undivided devotion to the Lord Jesus, which should speak to every woman and every man. She had joined with other women to come to anoint the body of Jesus, and found His body was gone. She did not understand, and even when seeing two angels in the grave she was not impressed by the sight, for it was the Lord she was concerned about. When Jesus Himself addressed her she thought He was the gardener, and even turned away from Him. Then He said simply, "Mary." Immediately she knew Him and apparently went forward to grasp Him. He told her not to touch Him, for He had not yet ascended to His Father, but gave her a marvellous message to take to the disciples, "go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God" (John 20:17).

Mary no doubt thought that the same relationship in which she had known Him before had been restored. However, she could no longer know Him on this basis. But now she could do so in a higher and more blessed relationship, as the One ascended to the Father, now known as ours as well as His. She would have Him now in heaven, the blessed Head of a new creation in which He owns His disciples as brethren. Wonderful is the gentle, condescending grace of the Lord Jesus, revealing Himself in this way, not to the most intelligent or energetic man, but to a woman whose affection for Him was undivided and real, the first witness of His resurrection (Mark 16:9). Well might we all, whether women or men, desire the same loving devotion to Him.

All three of these women had different backgrounds and circumstances, as indeed do all believers, yet each had her special place in which she could express the reality of her relationship to the Lord, each being a lovely example for us all.

L M Grant