‘These are the days of Rebekah’

My friend Natalie Collins was on Twitter tonight bemoaning a youth resource that claimed to cover the whole Biblical story in 32 sessions (!…) but that managed to mention only one woman who appears in the Bible in that survey, that woman being Eve. I don’t know the resource, and Natalie didn’t elaborate, but I’m guessing that Eve was not given a positive write-up.

I have three daughters who are in youth and children’s programmes at church; it would be nice to think that the people who write the material they will access were actually working to make sure they are aware of the many positive female role-models there are in Scripture, rather than erasing all women except Eve from the story of God.

In this spirit, I offer a parody I started to write a couple of years ago, but never did anything with. If you know modern evangelical songbooks, you may be able to find a tune that this fits quite well…

These are the days of Rebekah,

Who trusted the word of the Lord.

And these are the days of your servant Deborah,

Who led forth your people in war.

 

These are the days of Queen Esther,

Who rescued God’s people through faith.

And these are the days of your prophet Huldah,

Who renewed the temple of praise.

 

Behold God comes, in tongues of rushing flame

Opening daughters’ mouths to prophesy in God’s name

So lift your voice, sisters of the Christ

Out of Mary’s womb salvation comes.

 

These are the days of the women

Who funded the ministry of Christ.

And these are the days of the Magdalene,

Who first preached of resurrected Life.

 

These are the days of Priscilla,

Who taught male church leaders the truth,

And these are the days of your apostle, Junia,

Before whom Paul was just a youth.

 

Behold God comes, in tongues of rushing flame

Opening daughters’ mouths to prophesy in God’s name

So lift your voice, sisters of the Christ

Out of Mary’s womb salvation comes.

17 Comments

  1. steve
    Nov 1, 2015

    Natalie tells me I misunderstood the resource, which was not so extensive as I had thought – more a 32 point timeline. And Delilah got a mention as well as Eve. So if I was unfair to somebody I apologise, but I think the general point probably stands.

    • Andrew
      Nov 2, 2015

      Doubt Delilah’s write up is much better. Prefer your song to the original.

    • Bekah Legg
      Nov 2, 2015

      I think two is hardly overdoing it. I love this not to mention the great first line!

  2. Gail
    Nov 1, 2015

    Thank you for this, Steve. It is amazing to see these women all together in this context. Incredible moving!

  3. Ann Jones
    Nov 2, 2015

    Oh oh!! TEARS!! Can I borrow it forever??

  4. Mary Douglas
    Nov 2, 2015

    Great words, and I know the tune. Now we would like a YouTube rendition, please! 🙂

    • steve
      Nov 2, 2015

      I’m afraid you wouldn’t recognise the tune in a YouTube rendition from me!

  5. Sharon Arnold
    Nov 2, 2015

    Brilliant.

  6. Linda Hug
    Nov 2, 2015

    I love the poem. I am pinning this to my Women and God board on Pinterest.

  7. Vicki
    Nov 2, 2015

    Thank you for this fantastic text! I just shared it with a group of women in ministry. They are going to love it!

  8. Peggy
    Nov 2, 2015

    Great. I’m sharing this with my daughter.

  9. Retha
    Nov 2, 2015

    Beautiful. Now we need a gospel singer to record it.

  10. Catriona
    Nov 2, 2015

    Pure dead brilliant! I would gladly sing this version 🙂

  11. Jeanette
    Nov 3, 2015

    Awesome – as my niece would say. Appreciate it.

  12. Ruth Perrin
    Nov 4, 2016

    Steve, will you allow me to use this as I teach please? It is glorious – reduced me to tears and is really powerful. thankyou

    • steve
      Nov 4, 2016

      Of course! Thanks.

  13. Amy Jane
    Jul 10, 2017

    I don’t know if you’d be interested, but my husband recorded me singing my version of this (to send to an internet friend)– would you find it useful to have a copy here? It’s 3 minutes long.

    I can be reached at the email above.

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