Week Two | Woman in First-Century World

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Week Two | Jesus & Women Online Book Study
Reading Assignment – Session Two
Scripture Passage: Psalm 89:14
Listen to the Audio version | Read time 4.5-minutes

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I think I can speak for each of us in saying that, as women, we’ve all been in a situation where we have felt undervalued, disrespected, objectified, or shameful.  Maybe we’ve been in more than just a situation.  Maybe our lives have left us in a perpetual state of feeling lost, broken, and shameful.  

Reading the stories of how women were treated in their societies in the New Testament, we see women anchored in their shame, cast aside by a society who refused to see their value.   It is quite easy for us to relate to these feelings of shame, isolation, and injustice. 

First century to now, women have faced unique sets of trials and tribulations.  

Then we look at the women of the Old Testament, and we realize that things weren’t always this way.  In Israel’s beginning, women like Eve, Miriam, Deborah, Abigail, Esther, Ruth, and Huldah were bestowed honor and respect.  

So what happened?  The answer can be found on one blank page. 

Within our bibles the Old Testament and the New Testament are separated by one blank page, but in history, this page represents roughly 400 years.   Four hundred years which are referred to as the Intertestamental period (Protestant) or the Deuterocanonical period (Catholic/Orthodox), during which women went from a place of honor and respect to shame and isolation.

Jesus & Woman in the First-Century World

In reading the Bible through a Middle Eastern lens, we are learning to understand Jesus in His world.  When we do this, we in turn learn how He treated those around Him.  

When Jesus connected with women, there were two things that were always a part of those interactions, mishpat and tzedakah, the Hebrew for justice and righteousness.   In fact, the foundation of His throne is built upon mishpat and tzedakah.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”
Psalm 89:14, NIV

So what are mishpat (justice) and tzedakah (righteousness)?  

When we think of the word justice, we may often think it to mean equality, but biblical justice is quite different.  You see, biblical justice, mishpat, happens anytime the honorable reaches down to the shameful, lifts them out of their shame, and restores their honor.   

While we might think that Righteousness is equal to cleanliness, in this situation, it means more than that.  Tzedakah means generosity and giving.  Jesus arrived at a time when women were in desperate need of biblical justice.  She needed generous restoration.   Jesus came to generously lift her up and restore her honor.  

This restoration doesn’t stop in the New Testament, friends.  

“Jesus meets you in your deepest place of shame, looks at you right in the middle of your story, and lifts you up, restoring your honor, and inviting you to live forward from that place.“

Kristi McLelland, Jesus and Women study

Can I get an amen?  Jesus will turn to see you friends, in the midst of your story, in the midst of your shame. 

“Take heart, daughter.  Cause if Jesus did it for her, He’s doing it for us.“

Kristi McLelland, Jesus and Women study

Let’s recap…

• Women during Old Testament times were seen with honor and respect. 
• Four hundred years of influential teachings lead to women in the New Testament becoming anchored in their shame. 
• Mishpat (justice) refers to biblical justice, which happens anytime the honorable reaches down to the shameful, lifts them out of their shame, and restores their honor. 
• Tzedakah (righteousness) means generosity or giving. 
• Jesus always had mishpat and tzedakah in his interactions with women
• Jesus will meet you in the midst of your story and provide generous restoration.

Today we learned:
– Women during Old Testament times were seen with honor and respect
– Four hundred years of influential teachings lead to women in the New Testament becoming anchored in their shame
– Mishpat (justice) refers to biblical justice which happens anytime the honorable reaches down to the shameful, lifts them out of their shame and restores their honor
– Tzedakah (righteousness) means generosity or giving
– Jesus always had mishpat and tzedakah in his interactions with women
– Jesus will meet you in the midst of your story and provide generous restoration

ANSWER THIS IN THE COMMENTS:
Is there a difficult situation, circumstance, or relationship in your life right now, one that is hard to believe God could ever change?  How has Jesus brought mishpat (justice) and tzedakah (righteousness) into your life?  How has the past story of struggle and remembering God’s provision encourage you in the difficult situation you’re currently facing?