The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-07-21


Women of our day have unprece-
denied liberty Of action and almost
limitless opportunity to show their
ability to meet responsibility and to
accomplish great things. They are
measuring up to that opportunity
both In the armed services and in
the multitude Of tasks they are
creditably carrying on in civilian
life.
To those who seem surprised at
their response to the nations need,
the church could well testify that
women have always served well in
those things which count most for
God and country.
I. A Woman Can Rule wv. 1-5).
God has established an order IN
the world which places woman
where she best fits-in the home.
There, under the guidance and with
the help of her husband, she exerts
her most powerful influence in the
rearings Of children. That is her
normal, most effective and most
blessed position.
But all too often conditions in the
world are not normal, and woman,
like man, is thrown out OF the Gus
tomary orbit of existence. Deborah
faced such day. Israel had sinned
and been given over to the chas-
Using hand of the Canaanite. Then
God heard their repentant cry and
was ready to send a deliverer-as
He did in the case of each OF the
judges. Apparently no man was
ready to take up the RESPONSE
bility, or willing to thus serve God,
and so He called Deborah. She sat
under her palm tree and Israel
came to her for judgment.
+ She typifies many women who
have been the leaders of their
people, and her story has been an
inspiration to women in the church.
May many more be encouraged to
take up the weighty problems of
moral and social righteousness,
which the men of our nation (and
others) do not seem to care or dare
to attack!
III. A Woman Can Lead WV. 6-O.
T. BarAk was a man. Of ability.
Deborah gave him full credit for
his capable service (5:1, 12), but
evidently he lacked that initiative
which would send him into conflict
with his peoples enemies. Without
Deborah he would not 60 ". 81.
under her leadership he was willing
and courageous.
It Is easy to ridicule Barak, and
no doubt he deserves some measure
of censure, but let us not be too
severe on him. When the records
are all in, it will be known that
many Of the feats Of courage, the
high and noble decisions, the vic
tories In the fields Of science and
culture, and particularly those
things that have been accomplished
in and through the church, were the
result of the leadership Of some
woman.
Many are the distinguished ma
tional and spiritual leaders who
have said that all they were and
had accomplished they owed to their
mothers. Others speak with high ap-
probation Of noble and inspiring
wife.
Think also of the many social and
religious causes which have been
largely carried on by determined
and sacrificial women. Yes, wom-
an can lead, and often she must
lead out to get the men to follow.
Not all the pursuits OF life are
lived out In peace or in preparation
for war. The time comes when battle
must be Joined, and then we see
that
III. A Woman Can Fight WV. 13-
1877.
True it is that it was Barak who
led his army, but he went out at the
word Of Deborah. Hers was the re-
sponsibility for strategy, for the de-
termining Of that important D-day,
when the blow must be struck.
The courage Of women in the
battles for country makes an inspir-
ing story. Not the least Of that cour-
age has been shown by those who
| nave quietly SIoOO ny tuo SUM
at home, who have bravely parted
with their cherished loved ones,
who have borne the dark hours Of
loneliness, uncertainty and often Of
heart-piercing sorrow. They shall
not be without their reward (see
I Sam. 30:24).
This Is the place to say a further
word of appreciation of the women
Of the church who have fought such
valiant fight against liquor, social
degradation, vice, evil politics, etc.
Hats off to theml" May they be
encouraged to 60 on.
Then too, one ought to say word
Of sad and earnest admonition to
those countless women who have
used their great freedom in our day
as a license to live wicked and I'M
cody lives. They do not have the
courage to stand against the loose
moral standards, the common &C
ceptance of intoxicants, the inmod-
est apparel Of the day.
~ Chwicfiar u,ox,,an have fha rso1<3ax,