“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet…” (Isa. 3:16).
Goals, priorities, and norms are often reflected in the women who make up the various strata within a given society. In Isaiah’s day, the daughters of Zion were proud, immodest, covetous, seductive, shameless, immoral, and presumptuous. Isaiah’s condemnation was only of those wanton women; instead, he showed how they highlighted the failures of civic and spiritual leadership and the nation as a whole. Men and women were contributors to the sinful condition of Judah and Jerusalem.
Even a casual observation of our society shows that we do not embody piety, morality, modesty, humility, or righteousness. And this can be observed in the women of our society. Like Jerusalem of old, their walking and talking, their dress and dignity, their attitudes and actions reflect a sensual society that prioritizes the things of the flesh over things of the spirit. This is no surprise. This is not new.
On the other side, women often also reflect the best of society. Their attentiveness and kindness are inclusive. Their strength and beauty are quiet. Godly women are to be praised. Wise women are worth their weight in gold. Women of faith are examples that echo across ages.
Women are very important to God. They have a place in society (Acts 17:12), a place in marriage (Eph. 5:22-33), a place in child rearing (1 Tim. 5:14), a place in teaching (Tit. 2:3-4), a place in the church (Rom. 16:1-4), a place in God’s promise (Gal. 3:16-29), a place in Jesus’ heart (Luke 7:13), and a place in eternity (1 Pet. 3:7).
SWSBS is unique among preaching schools. While some schools remain committed to training faithful men to preach, they only allow male students. Since its inception, the SW elders have wanted the school to be open to women. Female students will go through the same rigorous academic training as males. Of course, ladies will not preach in front of a mixed audience. They will not have authority over men in teaching capacities. There is no desire to “re-study womens roles” or “push the envelope.” Relevant Scriptures that we find in 1 Timothy 2 & 3 and 1 Corinthians 14 have not and will not change. Instead, the invitation to women to study the full program at SWSBS is because we recognize that women will train their own children and others, they will participate in church works, they will speak at ladies’ days, they will teach ladies’ Bible classes, they will evangelize, and they will make up the bulk of our children Bible class teachers. What a great opportunity to invest in the church and in society by helping Christian women be rooted firmly in the Word of God. Women have a place at SWSBS.
-Trent Kennedy