(Part 1 of 2)
Who Was and What Describes a Prophetess?
Did you know, that we can attribute the cause of the severe decline of the universal Church to three major factors?
1) God’s plan coming to fruition;
2) Satan’s distractions, temptations, and interference; and
3) Deficiency of male influence and church meeting leadership
Prophet / Prophetess
Most prophets in the Bible were men, but there were also some women who were prompted by God, such as Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Anna, and the four daughters of Philip the evangelist. (Exodus15:20; Judges 4:4; Kings 22:14; Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9). One needs to take just a moment to see the original Hebrew and Greek meaning of the word prophetess.
Its Hebrew Definition
Looking first at the Old Testament Hebrew definition:
A prophetess or inspired woman, by impl. A poetess, by association a prophet’s wife. (1) In Ex 15:20 Miriam is called a “prophetess.” (2) Isaiah’s wife, too, is called a “prophetess” (Is 8:3) This usage may be related to the meaning “a companion and/or follower of a prophet.”
[The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, © 2001 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Hebrew Dictionary Section, p. 179 #5031]
Miriam the Prophetess
The Lord parted the waters of the Red Sea in Exodus 15:19. Right after it happened, Miriam offered a poetic phrase celebrating the triumphant crossing.
Exodus 15:20-21
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”
Deborah
Although difficult to prove, the Lord might have inspired Deborah to prophesy a future event. The Scripture labels Deborah as both a prophetess and a judge. She was in close association with Barak, a spiritually weak commander in Israel’s army.
Deborah urges Barak to obey the Lord’s command to go up with ten thousand men against the enemy Jābin king of Cānaan and his commander Sisera. The battle would take place near the head waters of River Kishon—near the Megiddo valley, in the plain of Jezreel—the same place, expected by many, to be an end times war.
It is difficult to know whether Deborah actually prophesied the Lord summoning Barak or whether Barak had received the vision from God, because Deborah asked Barak as if they’d had previously discussed the matter.
Scripture References
Judges 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
Judges 4:6a
Then she sent and called for Barak
Judges 4:6 c
and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor;
Judges 4:7
and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”
It would almost seem farfetched for God to have the woman Deborah, even though she was undoubtedly a highly respected, wise, and courageous woman, prophesy future events. However, God has established roles of responsibility for both women and men to maintain. The Lord sometimes works in mysterious ways. After Barak said in Judges 4:8: “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” Deborah responded:
Judges 4:9
So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”
Battlefield
Near the scene of the battlefield, Deborah, with a question, seems to remind Barak that the Lord has promised him directly that He will guide and protect Barak in this battle:
Judges 4:14-15
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot.
Whether Barak had previously communicated the vision to Deborah or she had received it from the Lord is not my call to make. Either way, we have an omnipotent God who gets things done with His timing and in His way.
Huldah – Prophetess
Next, the woman Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), was undoubtedly inspired by the Lord. She was highly respected and consulted by the priest Hilkiah and other delegates of King Josiah:
2 Kings 22:15-20
Then she [Huldah] said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, “Thus says the LORD:
‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
“Concerning the words which you have heard— because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king. (2 Chronicles 34:22)
Warren Henderson
In the eighth of his fourteenth volume OT commentary, Israel’s Kings, pg. 372-373, writes:
Clearly [Huldah’s] gift was highly esteemed in Judah. She also was the aunt of Jeremiah (Jer. 32:7). The Lord did not often use a woman to express His mind to His people, but sporadically did so in times of spiritual declension, usually as a means to awaken men to their lack of spiritual fortitude in fulfilling their God-given role as leaders.
To be continued in two weeks.
Blog Posts Related to this Topic:
What is the Meaning of Prophecy-Prophecies-Prophesying? (Part 1)
Prophecy Definition – Verb or Noun (Part 2)
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Resources:
Check Out these Interesting Resources:
Prophecy Articles by Dr. David Jeremiah (Turning Point Radio)
Uplook Ministry – Fireside Friday by Jabe Nicholson
Gospel Folio Press – William MacDonald – Believers Bible Commentary
Warren Henderson Publishing
Christ-centered Books and Messages to Enhance Your Spiritual Growth
Solving the Spiritual Dilemma
And check out our latest book “Solving the Spiritual Dilemma” which answers many questions about the hope believers have and how to develop a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
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All Scripture was taken from the New King James Version, unless stated otherwise. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
As always, thanks for this great educational information. I love getting an email that you have a new blog post. God bless.