The Daughters of the Old Testament
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
Among the daughters of the Old Testament we have chosen to present to you Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, and the sister of Ahaziah.
1. The wrath of Athaliah. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, discovered that her son was slain, she arose and slew all the seed royal. At least, she thought she had so done. However, in 2 Kings 11:2, we read: "But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain."
There is a sad story connected with the promise which God made to Eve that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. We know that the Son of God, our Saviour, and our Lord, was that destined Seed. From time immemorial, therefore, Satan sought to corrupt, or to slay the sons, born to any woman of the royal line from Abraham, and David, if perhaps, he might thereby make impossible the coming of the Son of God, and thereby break the promise of the Most High.
When Cain was born Eve evidently thought that the Seed had come, but she was wrong, for Cain was "of that wicked one." Then when Abel was born the devil entered into Cain, and slew Abel. However, the Seed came through the third son, Seth.
In the vast increases of population Satan must have lost all trace of the seed through which Christ should come. Perhaps, it was for this cause that he sought to destroy the whole earth through corrupting the whole race. However, God saved Noah and his family that through him the line of the Seed from Adam to Christ, might be sustained. After Noah; once more Satan lost the line of the Seed until God spoke to Abraham. Then against Sarah, who was to be mother to the promised child, every power of darkness was centered. Finally, through the years, David was born. The promise was made to him that the seed of the woman, the Saviour, would come through the Davidic line. Satan, therefore, began attacking the lineage of David, but made his attack upon the royal sons.
It was thus, when, in our study today, Athaliah rose up to slay all the seed royal, that Satan, doubtless, thought that he had accomplished the feat which he had been longing to accomplish from the Garden itself. However, he utterly failed.
2. A woman who loved the Lord. Jehosheba was a daughter of royalty, and also a sister of royalty, yet, she had married a priest. Perhaps, many thought this was a great come down for her, but to us it was a great blessing.
Many young women who are devoted to the Lord find their sphere of service enlarged, and not hindered, when they marry some minister of the Truth. Jehosheba not only married a priest, but she herself manifested her devotion and her faith in the Lord.
When Joash was about to be slain she became, by the grace of God, the one who shielded the seed royal from the wrath of Athaliah, and from the strategies of Satan. The infant, Joash, was hid six years with his nurse in the house of the Lord, Athaliah thought him dead, and when at last he was acclaimed king, she cried out in despair that treason had taken place against her, and her kingdom. Here is a daughter who was a protector of Jesus Christ, and who served the Almighty in preserving, from the human viewpoint, the one through whom our Lord obtains His right to David's throne. Thank God for such a daughter!
I. DINAH, THE DAUGHTER OF JACOB AND LEAH (Genesis 30:21; Genesis 34:1)
1. Unhallowed relationships. The 34th chapter of Genesis begins a sad story. The opening verse reads, "And Dinah the daughter of Leah, * * went out to see the daughters of the land."
Jacob was dwelling in tents in the region of Shechem. However, he and his family had no contact with the people of Shechem. In the home of Jacob was one of his children, named Dinah. Her name means "judgment." This girl was not satisfied to live a separated, tent life. She saw the daughters of Shechem as they moved about, perhaps, on their walks around the city of Shechem. They were dressed in the garments of the world. They carried with them a godless freedom of approach and of mien, of which Dinah knew nothing. Dinah was allured by them, and when her brothers were off with their flocks, she slipped away from home, and went out to see the daughters of the land.
2. The sad results of world-mixing. Beloved, when we remember this event in the life of Dinah, which occurred more than seventeen hundred years ago, we cannot but feel that God has in it a tremendous message to the young people of today. How often do they go out to see the daughters of the world! Many of them, although they have made their tryst with Jesus Christ, are accustomed to mix and mingle in the paths of the world where its pleasures and pastimes are altogether out of place for one who is called to dwell outside the camp with Christ.
Satan has no greater ambition than to draw the children of God away from fidelity to their first love. The Laodicean age has come, at last, and Baalim's advice to Balak is Satan's effort today. Satan still seeks to entice God's Dinahs to go after the ways of the world.
II. ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF THE PRIEST OF ON (Genesis 41:45)
Our key text reads, "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On."
1. The story of a remarkable youth. Joseph was a very promising young man. He had been resold into Egypt by traders to whom he was first sold by his brethren. In his early life in Egypt he resisted every appeal of the flesh, and, rather than yield to evil enticements, he allowed himself to be despised and cast into prison.
God, however, was with Joseph and delivered Mm. The king of Egypt (to whom Joseph revealed his dream, and to whom Joseph also gave advice about the storing of grain), saw in Joseph a most remarkable man. Pharaoh was unwilling to give God the glory for Joseph's deeds; and yet he felt that such an one should, as early as possible, be amalgamated by Egypt, and by the king. It was for this cause that Pharaoh gave to Joseph, Asenath to wife.
2. A misdirected marriage. Asenath was a heathen, and an idol worshiper. The result of the marriage was that Joseph soon became more or less assimilated by Egypt. When his sons were born he called the first one Manasseh, "for God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house."
God grant that our young men may never allow themselves to have as partners in life, women who are distinctive-ly worldly. The after-life of both Manasseh and Ephraim, who were born to Joseph in Egypt, show that Joseph made a great mistake in marrying Asenath.
III. PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER (Acts 7:21)
Pharaoh's daughter found her way into the New Testament testimony more than once. We are ready to grant that she was a remarkable character although she, herself, was a heathen, and the daughter of a heathen king.
1. Another Pharaoh had arisen. The Pharaoh who was the father of the young woman of whom we now seek to study was not the Pharaoh of Joseph's day. The Pharaoh who reigned when Moses was born had nothing but hatred against the people of Israel, whom the former Pharaoh had succored and sheltered. At the time of our lesson, the anathema of the king against the Children of Israel had gone forth, and he ordered that every male child should be slain.
2. A heathen daughter who possessed a woman's heart. This is what happened when the daughter of king Pharaoh went down to the river to bathe. She heard the cry of a little babe. Immediately she was attracted, and ordered that the babe should be brought to her.
As her eyes fell upon the innocent little one, she saw that one of the Hebrew boy babies lay before her. She did not ruthlessly order that her father's command should be obeyed, and that the child should be cast into the river. She shielded and protected the little one.
In this Pharaoh's daughter was distinctively human. Even a heathen girl seemed to have a mother's heart. She was more than touched by the cry of the babe. She even manifested a marked wisdom in the child's protection and care, when she quickly assented to the suggestion of the Hebrew girl, who appeared, and sent the child away to be nursed until it was weaned. Afterward, when the child was in her own home, she gave it every training that Egypt could afford.
In all of this she was but preparing this child of destiny to be God's deliverer of the Children of Israel.
IV. ORPAH (Ruth 1:14-15)
1. We have before us a daughter of opportunity. She was a Moabitess who worshiped heathen gods. However, into her city, and afterward into her heart-life, there came four covenant children of God, from the land of Bethlehem-Judah, These strangers who came to sojourn in Moab brought to Orpah and also to Ruth a message concerning God, His glory and His might, such as Orpah had never heard. It was not long until she was married into this Israelitish family.
2. We have before us a daughter who went part of the way. We have no doubt but that Orpah, when she became the wife of this son of Israel, at least, acquiesced to his religious convictions. Not only that, but when her husband was dead, she still clung to Naomi her mother-in-law, and went with Naomi even to the borders of Moab.
3. We have before us a daughter who turned back. Our verse is very striking. It reads: "And Orpah kissed her mother in law." Afterward Naomi said to Ruth, "Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods."
It was for this cause that we said that Orpah had come part of the way, because she went back to her gods. It is unspeakably sad when a Christian who has heard of the Word of Truth, and has known of the love of a Savior, turns back to the world.
V. JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER (Judges 12:1-15)
1. The daughter of a mighty father. Jephthah judged Israel. He judged under God's leadership. He was a mighty man because of his deliverance of the chosen race from their enemies.
In the New Testament his name is enrolled among the heroes of the faith, that wonderful star-cluster which we have in Hebrews 11:1-40. Thus we are studying today about the daughter of a man who was great in Israel.
2. A daughter who rejoiced in her father's victories. When Jephthah came home from the battle wherein God had given him so marvelous a victory, his daughter went out rejoicing, singing, and playing timbrels.
Should not every girl be interested in her father's welfare, and rejoice in her father's accomplishments? Some, alas, have turned away from the faith which had been taught to them in their early years, and at their father's knee.
3. A daughter willing to pay her father's vow. When Jephthah went out to meet the enemy and to lead the battle, he said something like this: If God will give me the victory, I will dedicate unto Him forever the first member of my home which cometh forth to meet me.
Jephthah's vow might have been a foolish vow. Nevertheless, it was made in all sincerity, and it was faithfully kept. When the daughter was the first to go forth to meet her father, she saw her father's sorrow. Then, when she was told by him of his vow, the first effect upon her was that she bewailed her lot. However, she did not hesitate. She even urged upon her father that she was willing to do even as he had vowed unto God.
Thus it was that Jephthah's daughter bemoaned her lot for two months, and then, as we see it, she went out to the house of God. She never married. She never appeared before the world, but, as an ascending offering unto God, she gave her whole life in His service. God give us many such daughters! They may at first hesitate, and yet they will give up father, mother, brother, sister, and all, to go forth for the Lord.
VI. MICHAL, THE DAUGHTER OF SAUL (1 Samuel 14:49; 1 Samuel 18:20-22; 2 Samuel 6:16; 2 Samuel 6:21; 2 Samuel 6:23)
1. Seeking great things for herself. Whatever else may be said of Michal she was self-centered and self-proud. When David went to the slaughter of Goliath and came back a hero, admired of all, Michal lost her heart to him. She was the king's daughter, and, therefore, she wanted some one who was noble and great In the eyes of the people. She desired to live "in the limelight," in the popular phrase. She wanted the praise of the world, and she wanted the one whom she married to be the world's idol.
2. Her perfidy. It was not long after their marriage until David was despised by Michal, because Saul set his face to destroy David. Then, she turned with ready mind to Phalti, whom her father gave her as husband. David was cast off because he was in disgrace. The one whom she next wedded, was in honor and glory. Once more she sought the things which would bring herself honor and power, and cast aside with ruthlessness the man whom God loved.
3. Her great sorrow. Finally, when Saul and Jonathan were dead in battle, and David was restored to glory and became king, then her heart became open to him again, and she, who had left him, desired to return. However, when she saw David bringing back the ark, she (who had never yet turned from her idols), was disgusted, and she complained to David that he had made himself common as he danced with sacred joy before the ark of the Lord, David quickly told her that whether he was despised, or admired, his God was his all in all.
From that day David refused Michal and she moaned her lot.
VII. A CAPTIVE DAUGHTER (2 Kings 5:2)
1. Carried away by the Syrian band. A little girl who had wandered into the woods away from her home was caught by a marauding band of Syrians who were roaming the outskirts of her village. She may have gone to pick flowers. She certainly wandered in innocent play.
This little maid was carried captive to Syria, and given to the captain of the armies of that land, to be a maid to his wife.
2. A sympathetic maid. The next we see of this captive daughter is that she was waiting on Naaman's wife. Naaman was a great man; he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. The little Jewish maid saw the shadow that hung over the home; she saw the sorrow of her mistress, and of her master, and her heart was pained.
3. A daughter devoted to her God. This little maid, this daughter of Israel, finally got the courage to speak to Naaman's wife. She said, "Would God that my lord were with the Prophet which is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy."
Did ever a daughter express a deeper faith in her God and in the Prophet of her God, than did this little maid express? Her faith seemed to have weight. The king said to Naaman, "Go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel." The story which follows tells of the remarkable healing of Naaman. While the Bible does not say so, we feel sure that when Naaman came home, he was told more and more of the glory of God by this little maid, and that he himself encouraged her likewise in her faith in Jehovah. Perhaps, as a reward for her faithfulness, he returned her to her parents in Israel.
AN ILLUSTRATION
Orpah had the hour of her decision and she went back to her gods.
Max Muller tells a story from Indian legend of a Sabara, or wild man of the woods, who stole the infant son of a native king and carried him off to his own forest dwelling. The boy, as he grew, believed that the Sabara was his father; he lived the same wild life, subsisted on roots and on the spoils of the chase, and had no thought beyond the coarse interests that lay within his narrow and savage horizon.
The prime minister, however, after years of patient search at last found the boy. He told him that the Sabara was not his father, and had no right to him whatever. He spoke to him of the king, and described the splendors of the palace that was his home. No further argument was needed. When the lad learned that he was the son of a king, and that he might return to his inheritance, the truth made him free; he left his haunts in the forest, and went home to his father's house.
The story illustrates the great fact of conversion. Man is God's child, created in the Father's image, and nothing that can happen to him can ever alter that wonderful fact. He may be ignorant of this relationship; he may not know his Father; he may yield allegiance to sin and the world; but the fact of his sonship remains. He may wander far and he may wander long, but he never can get beyond the reach of the Father's love that fills and embraces all things.
The Gospel is the good tidings of this relationship Rev. R. P. Anderson.