A WOMAN OF WORTH
[p. 279] A WOMAN OF WORTH
Judges 1: 12 - 15; Judges 3: 9, 10
The Old Testament makes little of the idea of celebration in connection with marriage; it is not a question of how it is done but of necessity.
What comes out in the scriptures I have read is that the wife is considered of value. Her father considered her of such value as to be an incentive to the man to make a sacrifice. A similar incitement is seen in Jacob, of whom it is said that he “served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep”. It is a side of the subject that brings in Christ in a touching manner, for He regarded the church as worth having, as worthy of sacrifice. It was no small matter in His mind, nothing common, but an object worthy of Himself. “He gave himself”, a side that is touching, oft-repeated but most touching. He regarded the assembly as worthy of that. Caleb regards Achsah as worthy of the sacrifice of someone. This service to be rendered, the capture of Kirjath-sepher, was a matter of great importance to Caleb; that city represented an element of the world he knew to be very damaging, a book town (Kirjathsepher means ‘City of books’ ). It must be removed, being an element his spirituality discerned would interfere with the working out of his desires among the people of God, and which must be overthrown.
It is most important for a brother in his position as head of a house to refuse to allow in his house books containing the evil which is developing in the world. There can be no spiritual life in any household where such books are allowed. One could give a list of them. Kirjath-sepher must be overthrown and it was. Othniel secured his object. Achsah is placed in a position which enhances her; not to be a slave, not merely a worker, but an object worthy of sacrifice.
[p. 280] Chapter 3 shows how he persevered, marked by military energy, the sequel to his capture of Kirjathsepher. The secret is his not allowing books to hinder. This calls for brothers who are heads of houses to stand against the evil of books. “He judged Israel; and he went out to war”. It shows how valuable such a brother would be, one who as head of a house would not allow this evil, a thing that cuts at the root of spiritual growth. He goes out to war and the king of Mesopotamia is given into his hands. Mesopotamia means ‘two rivers’. It speaks of the resourcefulness of the world; the king had immense influence in the way of fruitfulness in his power-he attacks. The man who has taken Kirjathsepher can meet this attack; it has to be met in the power of the Spirit of God.
God sympathises with such unions as this. They are the result of legitimate desires. The establishing of a household is a matter of great importance with Him; a union formed in the Lord and, as such, a pattern of Christ and the assembly. These features are in the mind of God. The military features seen in Othniel are not taken on in natural energy, but in the power of the Spirit of God. A brother cannot judge Israel unless he can judge his own house.
The wife here was obviously a worthy object, a woman of great worth, and Othniel sacrifices for her. The thing is, can she continue? A woman usually instinctively begins well, but can she continue? Achsah’s instincts were right. First she moves Othniel to ask of her father a field. Then, we are told, she sprang off her ass, a comely thing, respectfulness before her father, but it also shows she is marked by spiritual energy which is always attractive. She had been given a south land, given an advantage. These young people have been given an advantage, the prayers that have been uttered for them have touched my heart and, I hope, have touched theirs, but that will not hold them.
[p. 281] The springs of water, for which Achsah asked, are necessary, freshness, particularly for the wife. Then Othniel goes on; first judging his own house, then the house of God; then in conflict for the saints. “The Spirit of Jehovah was upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war”.