Comments on Practical Theology for Women: How Should Christian Women Who Value Submission Th...

Have you written anything on Abigail's submiss...

2012-01-18T11:09:06.606-08:00

Have you written anything on Abigail's submission in I Samuel 25:10-38?

Love your perspective on this. Also, Tamie, some c...

2012-01-15T21:22:45.195-08:00

Love your perspective on this. Also, Tamie, some commentators also think that Xerxes asked Vashti to come only in her royal crown (aka naked), and that is why she refused to come. But, of course, that should be taken with a grain of salt-it may be reading too much into the passage. Just because it says he requested her to come in her royal headdress doesn't mean he wanted her to leave her clothes behind because the passage doesn't mention them!

Hi Wendy I reckon your comments about what the bo...

2012-01-14T18:55:21.170-08:00

Hi Wendy

I reckon your comments about what the book of Esther teaches us about wifely submission are spot on - not much!

I heard an interesting talk last year that caused me to re-assess how I read Esther. I think previously I'd read Xerxes positively and Vashti negatively but this talk argued that the focus is far more on Xerxes than Vashti and that he is presented negatively, as an inadequate king. Take the first chapter, for example - his large feast (what's he compensating for?); his overreaction to Vashti (why is he so insulted by her behaviour?). This talk suggested he's presented as a foolish character, so foolish that he treats his wife as a possession to fortify his own ego rather than a woman to be cherished.

That sort of foolishness seemed to me to be consistent with how Xerxes continues to act in the rest of the book. I think that perspective adds another dimension to the sovereignty of God!

Definitely, Amy. Though I would say it is good to...

2012-01-14T13:06:00.812-08:00

Definitely, Amy. Though I would say it is good to defer to others, including the nice men in our lives, in the same way they are called to defer to us in Eph. 5:21. Everyone in the Body of Christ is called to defer, love, lay down their rights, and so forth. But the particular call of Eph. 5:22 is only between the wife and her particular husband.

Further, regarding Ephesians 5 and complementarian...

2012-01-14T10:54:05.162-08:00

Further, regarding Ephesians 5 and complementarianism, the Bible never tells women to submit to men, but rather, a wife to submit to her own husband. Sometimes, I think comps like to make this Scripture bleed. Meaning, if it's true that a wife ought to submit to her husband, then it follows that I ought to defer to the other nice men in my life. And that's just not in the BIble.

I really need to be reminded of God's sovereig...

2012-01-13T15:38:32.108-08:00

I really need to be reminded of God's sovereignty right now. I look at some things in our lives and say, "Lord, where are you? Why aren't you stepping in doing something about this situation, you're the only one who has the power to do anything about it?" Trust, trust, trust, the Lord is sovereign. Thanks Wendy!

I'm glad this article turned out the way it di...

2012-01-13T12:58:24.448-08:00

I'm glad this article turned out the way it did. When I first read the title, I thought, "Oh, no, not another 'Be Like Esther' message! I'm SO grateful that you focused on God's sovereign and faithful care of His people. Refreshing.

Rachael, I agree with you about Esther's relat...

2012-01-12T17:29:41.258-08:00

Rachael, I agree with you about Esther's relationship with Mordecai. Thanks for the comment.

Thanks for preaching to yourself and then sharing ...

2012-01-12T17:07:04.479-08:00

Thanks for preaching to yourself and then sharing it! Such truth here.

Thanks for these thoughts. They are helpful remin...

2012-01-12T16:24:23.272-08:00

Thanks for these thoughts. They are helpful reminders about God's sovereign care for his people. I especially appreciated your paragraph starting "Esther is a beautiful book..."

Might I suggest, though, that Esther submits to Mordecai as to a father (even though he was a cousin) because he had taken her as his own daughter and brought her up because she had neither mother or father (Esther 2:7). I think it is fair to say that he is her 'adopted' father.

It doesn't change anything that you have said about wifely submission but explains why she so willingly and readily submits to Mordecai.