The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church
Women and the Prophetic Gift
Through the ages God has usually called men to the prophetic ministry, doubtless for the same reason that He chose men for the priesthood and for other important offices in the church of God. It has been generally recognized that the duties and responsibilities of home and the care of children have placed upon women sufficiently heavy burdens without their having to be responsible for executive or administrative work outside the home. However, there have been times in the history of the church of God when faithful women were called to give God’s people important and vital messages of warning and direction. BSPC 93.1
The following are a few who exercised the prophetic gift: BSPC 93.2
1. Miriam. Hers was particularly a singing and thanksgiving ministry. In Exodus 15:20 we read that she was a “prophetess.” She is the first woman whom the Bible honors with that title. BSPC 93.3
2. Deborah. Reference to her noble service is found in Judges 4 and 5. In chapter 4 verse 4 she is called a “prophetess.” BSPC 93.4
3. Hannah. We read the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, in 1 Samuel 1 and 2. The Bible does not expressly call her a prophetess, but it seems clear that she exercised the prophetic gift. Concerning her we read that her “hymn of thanksgiving is in the highest order of prophetic poetry.”—Smith’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the Bible, art. “Hannah.” “Hannah’s words were prophetic.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 572. BSPC 93.5
4. Huldah. From the record of the book of Kings one is impressed by the fact that Huldah must have been quite a gifted woman. The story of her ministry has called forth many favorable comments through the years, especially by those who have prepared commentaries on the Bible. Adam Clarke, for instance, refers particularly to the fact that God called this woman, even though at the time other prophets were living and exercised their prophetic ministry. BSPC 93.6
Observe the following extracts: BSPC 94.1
“Huldah is the only example of a prophetess in Israel, who seems to rank on the same footing with the prophets.... Huldah has the full prophetic afflatus, and delivers God’s oracles just as Isaiah and Jeremiah do.”—Pulpit Commentary on 2 Kings 22:15. BSPC 94.2
“Here in this narrative is a striking testimony to the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in Women. The grave Priest, the learned Scribe, the honorable Courtiers, did not disdain to knock at the door of a prophetess, but came to learn the will of God at her mouth.”—Chr. Wordsworth, The Holy Bible, vol. 3, p. 154. BSPC 94.3
5. Anna. We read concerning the ministry of Anna in Luke 2:36. In this text she is called a “prophetess.” Some of the commentators describe her as being possessed of the gift of the Spirit of prophecy. BSPC 94.4
6. Elisabeth. The story of Elisabeth is told quite briefly in Luke 1:41, 42. Although she is not designated as a prophetess, she “was filled with the Holy Ghost,” and broke forth in prophetic utterance. A good note on this experience is as follows: BSPC 94.5
“Elisabeth was herself ‘filled with the Holy Ghost,’ or a spirit of prophecy.... The welcome which Elisabeth, by the spirit of prophecy, gave to Mary, the mother of our Lord.”—Matthew Henry’s Commentary, vol. 3, p. 247. BSPC 94.6
In the light of the foregoing it need not be thought at all strange that in the last days God, in His providence, should choose a woman through whom to bear His message of warning, of instruction, and of counsel to His remnant church. BSPC 94.7
The true prophet of God was called upon, on many occasions, to perform numerous duties that covered a wide range of service. One thing must ever be borne in mind—the prophet in his ministry differs from others of God’s servants in that in a special way he receives divine enlightenment, many times in vision. In other words, he becomes divinely inspired, so that when he speaks he speaks no message of his own, but the message of his God. BSPC 94.8
This brings us once again to the important truth that a prophet who is called of God and accepted of Heaven as a mouthpiece of the Most High declares in a special way the message of Heaven. BSPC 94.9
The word most frequently used in the Hebrew Bible for prophet is nabi, and though we are told that its original meaning is somewhat obscure, it seems to convey the idea of one who “bubbles forth,” or “pours forth.” The thought is that through divine inspiration there is something within the prophet that bubbles up. There is a welling up of hidden springs of power, which manifest themselves in prophetic utterance, either of a predictive or of an interpretive character. BSPC 95.1