Biblical Teaching about the Submission of Women

There is an increasing trend, particularly in America, to extend the Biblical teaching about the submission of women from the church and the home into every social setting in society. This has led some. for example, to question whether a woman could be a headteacher or a police officer.

I have been reading a book by Theodore Vandergroe (1705-1784) who has written an outstanding exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism in two volumes – The Christian’s Only Comfort in Life and Death.

In his preamble to the law of God he writes this:

When David, in anger, determined to put to death the foolish and obnoxious Nabal with all the male residents of his house, having been so greatly offended and despised by him, Abigail, a weak woman, the wife of Nabal, came to him. She brought with her the law of God and confronted David with the fact that he was not permitted to avenge himself by shedding Nabal’s blood, though he was justly angry with her husband. How did David respond to this? Did he despise Abigail because she was a woman? By no means, for though he was anointed to become king of Israel, and though he was a prophet and a valiant soldier, accompanied by four hundred well-armed soldiers, he nevertheless had to submit himself to Abigail, for she came armed with the sharp sword of the law of the Lord. Against that law, David could not prevail, and therefore he submitted himself to Abigail’s admonition and thanked her for the good counsel she had given him, praising the Lord for having sent this wise woman to communicate His precept in such a timely manner (cf. 1 Samuel 25). We must therefore not despise anyone, whoever he or she may be, who comes to us armed with the law of the Lord.

I wonder what those who argue for the subjection of women in every setting make of Vandergoe’s comments?!