HALLELUYAH! HALLELUYAH!! HALLELUYAH!!!
Topic: Women as Voices for Justice and Positive Change
WEEK 39 (Sept 27 – Oct 3)
Release Date: September 28th
WEEKLY BIBLE READING:
Proverbs 31:8-9 KJV
[8] Open thy mouth for the dumb In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
[9] Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
INTERPRETATION
A woman’s voice can do more than what people hear, it can give courage to someone who has lost theirs. It can defend the misunderstood ones, encourage the discouraged, correct what is wrong and open a door that seems permanently closed. In a world where vulnerable people are often ignored, God can position a woman to become the voice someone else desperately needs.
Advocacy begins with learning to notice what others overlook. A young girl may be struggling with rejection but keep saying, “I am fine.” A colleague may be treated unfairly but remain silent because she needs her job. An elderly neighbour may need help but feel ashamed to ask. A woman who follows Christ should not become so occupied with her own concerns that she stops seeing the pain around her. Jesus noticed people others overlooked. When He saw Zacchaeus on the tree, He stopped and called him down (Luke 19:1-10). Sometimes positive change begins simply because someone cared enough to notice.
But Proverbs does not only say “see”; it says, “Open thy mouth.” There are situations where silence allows wrong to continue. If a woman sees a younger girl being bullied, a vulnerable person being exploited, or someone being unfairly treated, she may need to speak or seek appropriate help. Proverbs 24:11 says, “Deliver them that are drawn toward death.” This does not mean becoming confrontational about everything. It means refusing to become comfortable with another person’s suffering when there is something reasonable and godly we can do. Sometimes advocacy is confronting a situation, sometimes it is reporting it, sometimes it is simply telling the hurting person, “You are not alone.”
Yet godly advocacy requires wisdom as well as courage. Proverbs 31:9 says, “Judge righteously.” A woman should not defend someone simply because she likes them or because she heard their side first. In an age where rumours can spread instantly through social media, wisdom is essential. Proverbs 18:13 warns, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” A great advocate listens before concluding, seeks facts before accusing and pursues truth before taking sides. Justice without truth can become another form of injustice.
Sometimes the person we love is wrong, and genuine love requires us to tell them the truth. This matters even in friendships and family relationships. Galatians 6:1 teaches believers to restore someone who has fallen “in the spirit of meekness.” A woman can tell her friend, “I love you, but what you did was wrong.” That is not betrayal, it is love that desires growth. A godly advocate does not protect people from every correction. She helps them become better without humiliating them.
The Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, demonstrate another dimension of advocacy. Pharaoh commanded them to kill the Hebrew boys, but “the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them” (Exodus 1:17). Their courage protected innocent lives. Today, the pressure may be different. A woman may be asked to falsify records, hide wrongdoing, spread a damaging rumour or compromise her convictions for money or acceptance. There will be moments when being a woman of God means choosing principle over popularity. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare.” A woman cannot become a true advocate for righteousness if she is controlled by people’s approval.
Esther teaches us to use our access for the benefit of others. She had access to the king when her people did not. Mordecai asked, “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Perhaps God has given a woman education, influence, a professional position, financial resources or relationships that can become opportunities for somebody else. She may recommend a qualified person, mentor a younger woman, provide an opportunity or speak to someone who has the authority to make a difference. Her success becomes more meaningful when it creates room for others to rise.
Advocacy also begins in the home. A mother may never stand before thousands of people, yet her words may shape an entire generation. When she teaches her children to respect the poor, tell the truth and treat people fairly, she is building values that can influence society. When she teaches her daughter that her worth is not determined by appearance, wealth or people’s approval, she is protecting her identity. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds parents to teach God’s ways diligently to their children. The woman who builds character at home is already contributing to positive change beyond her home.
A woman can also advocate through mentorship and encouragement. Titus 2:3-5 calls older women to guide younger women. There are women who do not need another person to remind them of their failures, they need someone who can help them see that their story is not over. A woman who teaches, counsels, encourages and opens doors for another woman is investing in a future she may never fully see. Barnabas did something similar for Saul by standing with him when others were afraid to accept him (Acts 9:26-27). Sometimes advocacy simply means standing beside someone while they rebuild.
But Christian advocacy must reflect the heart of Christ. Jesus defended the dignity of the woman caught in adultery while still calling her towards a changed life (John 8:1-11). He demonstrated truth without cruelty and compassion without compromise. This is the balance a Christian woman needs. She should be able to correct without humiliating, disagree without hatred and defend someone without pretending that wrongdoing is acceptable. Ephesians 4:15 calls believers to speak “the truth in love.”
Every woman should be conscious of those around her that need a voice and encouragement. A great advocate is not simply the loudest woman in the room. She is the woman whose presence makes the room safer, wiser and more compassionate. She speaks when someone cannot, listens when others dismiss, stands when others retreat and uses her influence without demanding applause. Proverbs 31:8-9 calls women beyond merely expressing themselves into serving others through their influence. Like Esther, they can use their access. Like the Hebrew midwives, they can stand for what is right. Like Deborah, they can lead with wisdom. Like Mary, they can point people towards Christ.
So, women of God, do not underestimate your voice. Someone may need the courage you carry, the wisdom you have gained, the opportunity you can provide or the encouragement only you can give. Speak, but speak with wisdom. Stand, but stand with love. Defend, but defend what is true. Lead, but lead people towards Christ. For a great advocate is not merely a woman who speaks when everyone is listening. She is the woman who speaks when someone else cannot, stands when someone else is afraid, and uses the influence God gave her to make life better for someone beyond herself.
PRAYER
Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael.
Heavenly Father, make our women to be a voice of courage, wisdom and compassion. Help us to use our voices to defend the vulnerable, speak truth in love, encourage others and promote justice. May our influence bring positive change and point people to Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
