Study about the Virtuous Women in Proverbs 31:10-31

Study about the Virtuous Women in Proverbs 31:10-31

       A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies. (Proverbs 31:10)
In many Bible translations, it is given as noble, virtuous & capable, excellent, worthy, valiant are used for the description of this women.

This woman is beautiful both inward and outward. She is like a rare gemstone which is more precious.
In Proverbs 19:14, it says, ‘A prudent wife is from the Lord.’  A prudent wife is from God so to find such a woman you have to seek God. She is godly and she is precious.

She earns her husband’s confidence by doing good and not to harm him. So he lacks nothing. She does this all through her life. This earns her the confidence of her husband.

She selects wool, flax and works with eager hands. She gets wool and makes winter clothes. Flax is a fiber crop and also used in food. She makes use of everything in flax. She makes linens out of flax. She works with an eager hand and not with a dull hand.

She is compared to the merchant ships which bring only fine food. Yes she establishes her trade and brings home only the best things for her households.
When you read psalm 107:23-32, it says about the merchants who set for sail in the sea. Their ship was tossed by the roaring waters. They cried for help to the Lord in their trouble, He stilled the storm and made the sea calm. They were led to their destination safely.

This woman knows whom to approach and put her trust. She puts her trust in the Lord and remains calm for His answers. She knows very well in her heart that Lord will help her to safety.

Her wonderful quality is getting early in the morning preparing food for the family and also feeding her servants.
In psalm 107:37,it says, ‘They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest.’ She sets to work vigorously and her arms are strong for her tasks so she buys a field with her earnings, she plants a vineyard. God blesses her, her vineyard yielded a fruitful harvest. She gathers her fruitful harvest as she worked vigorously in her field and accomplishes her tasks. She sows good deeds to reap a fruitful harvest.
She makes profit out of her trade. Her lamp does not go at night. Proverbs 6:23 says, ‘The commands are a lamp.’ She always keeps God’s command as her lamp.

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She does not waste her time in gossiping or day dreaming. She works whenever she can. She also knows the Lord who trains her hand that holds distaff for war and her fingers that grasps spindle for battle (Psalm 144:1). She believes the Lord as her Rock.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Her arms are always open feeding the poor. Her hands always reach out for the people in need. She not alone cares for her family but also as God commanded for the poor and needy. What a wonderful woman! She makes her covering for her bed and also all the winter clothing; this shows her she is good in needle work. She helps her family to dress appropriately for the seasons and the places.

As she takes care of the family well, her husband is able to do his work with ease. So he is respected among the elders. Today women ask lots of questions about their husbands’ work and annoy them a lot. She never interferes in his business and thus helps him to achieve his goal.

She is a great business woman who makes garment and sells them. She sells the sashes to the merchants. She is not alone clothed with the finest linen but also with strength and dignity. Many women lose their strength when they face problems or lose their dignity when they face the toughest situation. This woman who is like a merchant ship knows how to react to the problems and keep herself clothed with strength and dignity. She knows that the joy of the Lord is her strength and not to grieve (Nehemiah 8:10). So she is happy and full of joy all her days.

She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. In James chapter 3 it is told that the tongue is a fire and also an evil one. Tongue cannot be tamed. In Proverbs 14: 1, it says,” The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down”. This woman knows about the power of the tongue and she wants to build, create or give life and not to destroy. She knows that the soothing tongue is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4) and a gentle tongue can break a bone (Proverbs 25:15). In Proverbs 18:21, ‘The tongue has the power of life and death.’ So she opens her mouth only to build, inspire and encourage others but not to condemn. She is not idle but works to eat her food and take care of her households.
Her Children call her ‘blessed’ and her husband praises her. He finds her to be the noblest woman among all the noble women.

‘Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise.’
Proverbs 31:30,31 ..

Shared by: Sylvia Sankar
6/5/2014