I’m thrilled to announce that I’m one of the 80+ contributors in The Message Women’s Devotional Bible, which has recently published with NavPress. This Bible offers a robust selection of 320 devotionals throughout Scripture on topics that particularly matter to women, as well as 52 character profiles about women who appear in the Bible. Just as women in Scripture differ in terms of their ethnicities, callings, and flavors of faith, so do the contributors to this collection. I am grateful, however, that we contributors share a belief that women matter to God.
The timing of this Bible couldn’t be more ripe. As the Book of Judges makes clear, the treatment of women is a strong barometer of a culture’s overall health. While the Book of Judges repeatedly laments that “the People of Israel did evil in GOD’s sight,” Judges also bears witness to Israel’s neglect (and active abuse) of women.
A few miles down the road from me in the White House, a convicted and unrepentant rapist is attacking matriarchs and the marginalized. Our current President’s likely assault of underaged girls, in collusion with Jeffrey Epstein, has been known since before his first term. And yet my country again voted a sexual predator back into office; recent surveys show 40% of the US population still supports him. The United States indeed needs some miraculous medicine.
The people in the Book of Judges lived in tumultuous times. So do we. I’m therefore grateful to keep company with other women seeking to connect insights from Scripture with our contemporary days. I contributed six devotionals and two character studies to The Message Women’s Devotional Bible. Two of them directly explore the role of poetry in Scripture:
Psalm 62: Ancient Poetry with Contemporary Power
and
Zephaniah 1: How Poetry Describes “The Day of the Lord.”
For those who are interested, this exceptional Bible is available in hardcover and in leather-look (terracotta).
I’d also love to hear what questions and/or insights you have about women and the Bible. What images from Scripture feel particularly salient? How are you currently finding yourself in the ancient stories of faith?
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