31:10-12: "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." (NKJV)
A virtuous woman (lit. "a woman of strength") is trustworthy and would never do anything to bring dishonor to her husband's name. "All the days of her life" indicates her "forever" commitment to her husband.
Many outstanding women appear throughout the Bible, but the virtuous wife of Proverbs merits special praise (Prov. 31:29). The passage describes what kind of wife a woman should be and what kind of woman a man should choose to marry. An acrostic poem, each of the 22 verses begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, encouraging the memorization of this literary masterpiece. We are told not who she was but what she was. This woman of strength comes alive.
This rare woman was a paragon of virtue: trustworthy, industrious, organized, and loving. Yet amazingly she was able to order the priorities of her world. Her husband totally trusted her (v.11); her grown children voluntarily praised her (v.28), and her home was a model of efficiency (v.15-16; 24; 27). She still found time to reach out to her community (v.15), to help the poor (v.20), and even to increase her family's resources through wise investments and productive management of all placed in her care (v. 13-22; 24; 27). Moreover, she was as outwardly beautiful as she was inwardly wise (v. 25-26; 30).
The portrait of the virtuous wife closes the key to her success (v. 30). Illustrating the theme of wisdom found throughout Proverbs, this woman first feared and reverenced God. Therefore, relationships and responsibility were wisely balanced. She exemplifies the truth spoken by Jesus Christ, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). A close look at this woman can prove invaluable in helping every woman set her own priorities in managing time, resources, and giftedness God has given.
31:28-29: This description of the wise woman of strength ends with the testimony of those who knew her best: her husband and her children. Her children blessed her for their early training. Her husband praised her for her excellence among women. The praise from family was the most meaningful because they were the ones who had observed her in every situation and truly knew her character. Such praise should encourage every woman to follow in the steps and acquire wisdom as did this extraordinary woman.
Titus 2:3-5: "... the older woman likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderer, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (NKJV)
"Admonish" (Gk. lit. "to cause to be of sound mind") suggests training that would develop sound judgment and wisdom. The relationship between the women is not formal and structured but a nurturing, spiritual mothering. The goal of the older woman/younger woman relationship is compelling- that God's Word would not be dishonored. The behavior of Christian women plays an important part in the honor that the world gives to God's Word.
1 Pet 1:15-16: "... but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy for I am holy" (NKJV)
see also:
Lev. 11:44-45:
"For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." (NKJV)
Lev. 19:2:
"Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (NKJV)
Lev. 20:7:
"Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God." (NKJV)
"[God] certainly did not create women to conform to the wrong concept... or the backwards concept Hollywood pushes or any negative concept you might have of holiness. The behavior that 'becomes holiness' is an inner quality of consecration to God that cannot help but produce an outer beauty. The most beautiful women I've known have been those who walk in the deepest holiness" (Smith, 43).
"A woman 'whose behavior becomes holiness'- or reflects holiness- is a vibrant woman because she is continually filled to overflowing with the living water. When you meet a woman who is overflowing with the living water that Christ gives, you'll see a woman who was changed and transformed like the woman at the well (John 4)". "The woman whose behavior reflects holiness is a radiant woman because she's infused with the light of Jesus Christ". "The holy woman is peaceful because she has her mind stayed on Jesus. 'You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You' (Is. 26:3). She's unflustered because she trusts God". "They holy woman is joyful. Since she walks in obedience, she doesn't have a lot of guilt to disturb her emotions. Sin is a joy robber". "But for the woman who walks in obedience, nothing can rob her of joy" (Smith, 44).
"The holy woman is fruitful because she abides in Christ. John 15:5 says, 'If we abide in Him and His words abide in us, we will bear much fruit". "The holy woman is satisfied because she hungers and thirsts after righteousness- and Jesus promised those who do this will be blessed and fulfilled". "The holy woman is loving because she walks in prayerful communion with Jesus. She's not filled with bitterness, unforgiveness, malice, or wrath. Instead, her words are peaceful, gentle and loving" (Smith, 45).
Proverbs 4:18: "The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day" (NKJV).
The Woman's Study Bible NKJV
Reflecting God by Kay Smith, 2009.
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