Based on an unnamed biblical character who prevented the destruction of her city, Pastor Eliseu Vicente presents profound reflections on courage, limits and wisdom in The Cry of a Wise Woman. The work uses a brief passage from 2 Samuel, chapter 20, to illustrate seven principles that speak to the contemporary challenges of Christian life and value the transformative role of women in spirituality.
You revisit a little-explored biblical story, featuring an unnamed woman as the protagonist. What moved you most about this story to the point of inspiring an entire book?
The principles I present in the book are true “keys to wisdom” that lead a person to success. When a person uses these principles, they activate their spiritual intelligence and are able to turn evil into good. The wise woman used these principles to avoid a tragedy. This shows that wisdom is not a theory, but something practical. Therefore, I consider it of fundamental importance that people strengthen their faith by highlighting the virtues I presented in the book.
Throughout the book, you highlight seven principles of wisdom that emerge from this story. How do you see the importance of each of these principles in the routine of those who seek to strengthen their faith today?
In my daily devotions, I always meditate and observe what is behind the biblical message. In this case, in particular, I was drawn to the detail described in the passage from Second Samuel that, even without mentioning the woman’s name, highlighted her boldness, courage, and firmness in her position and prevented an entire city from being sacrificed. I can say that the Holy Spirit touched me with this story that shows the importance of knowing who we are and how we should act in adverse circumstances.
You highlight the character’s courage in exposing herself to save the city. In your opinion, how can we cultivate this courage in the challenges of modern life?
Courage is the fruit of dependence and trust in God. When we place ourselves before Him , we believe that we will not lack wisdom to deal with the unexpected events that life imposes. This means that courage must be based on the recognition of who we are in God and what we can do to honor Him.
In the book, the female figure — although unnamed — demonstrates great power of argument. What do you think we can learn from her about dialogue and persuasion in our daily lives?
The woman’s strategy was highly effective because, instead of complaining and arguing, she argued based on the history and importance of her people. She did not accuse David of being a genocidal, nor did she confront the army commander, Joab, nor did she wear herself out with insane attitudes. She was smart enough to make the commander reflect on the consequences that the incursion would cause and, thus, managed to reverse the situation. This teaches us a lot. If we are more cautious and less impulsive, we will certainly have more power of persuasion and conviction, without having to use force.
When discussing humility as a principle of wisdom, how do you believe the Christian public can balance humility and steadfastness in the face of adversity?
Being humble is not being weak. We can be firm and resolute, and still remain humble. I think that humility is simply the act of recognizing who we are and who our adversary is. I do not need to display arrogance, haughtiness, or presumption in the face of adversity, but I can be firm enough to face it with wisdom.
You claim that the anonymous woman turned evil into good. How can we apply this teaching in such challenging times, especially in contemporary society?
The power of words is fundamental. When we know how to use words, we can change the entire context. The Bible says that harsh words stir up anger, but gentle words turn away wrath. People who use harsh words turn friends into enemies, while gentle, balanced and assertive words can turn enemies into friends. I know that many people get into conflicts because they lack the wisdom of how to use words. If we all learn from that woman to be prudent and cautious with what we say and how we say it, we can indeed turn evil into good.
The book talks about the importance of women’s presence in the church. What advice would you give to women who want to exercise their faith with wisdom and boldness, even in an environment that is sometimes still conservative?
Women have never been denied their place in the church. On the contrary, the female presence has always been active and the membership made up of women has much more influence in ecclesiastical work. I have visited many cities in Brazil for women’s events, congresses, conferences and meetings and I can confirm that women are active and exert great influence within the church. But I also recognize that most denominations still resist the fact that women hold government positions, and this can represent a negative factor in the treatment of them. However, it in no way compromises their participation in activities and in the development of their faith.
Finally, looking at the central message of A Wise Woman’s Cry, what do you most want readers to take away with them when they close the pages of this book?
I think the content of the book highlights how wisdom positively impacts everyone’s lives. I really hope that my readers will be able to reflect on what they have done, what impact they have caused, how they have dealt with their demands, and how they should behave in all circumstances. If someone, after reading this book, decides to walk in ignorance, they will have to take responsibility for the consequences and watch the negative results of their foolishness.
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