I shared last week that many theologians believe that the Proverbs 31 woman isn’t a list of qualities for a man to look for in a wife! Nor is it a list to be lived “up to” by a woman (WHEW!).
Nope, most theologians believe that the woman of Proverbs 31 is actually an example of what the church, God’s people, should be look like (OUCH!) and the first thing she should be is virtuous.
Naturally, we might define virtuous as one having high moral standards– and that is one of its meanings. However, the Hebrew word being used here has other connotations that really give the Proverbs 31 woman some extra depth!
In other areas of scripture the Hebrew for virtuous in directly tied to military might. It is also used to describe people who are capable of ruling over large numbers of people and flocks.
So, the woman of Proverbs 31 is virtuous alright, but she is also a force to be reckoned with! Capable, smart, strong, and valiant.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10
Those words may not be exactly comforting, whether in regard to me as a woman or as a member of the body of God!
I am just so human that it seems impossible to uphold the character trait of virtue that this woman possesses!
Guess what, it is impossible!
If I try to achieve this by myself, in all my humanness, I will fail!
Thankfully, with Jesus I don’t have to try to achieve this level of perfection on my own! I have his perfection at my disposal!
Let’s take a look at Romans 3:22-24 in the Message translation
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The-God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For their is no ans of difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve complied this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. he got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
What beautiful words of assurance Paul gives us who are trying to obtain the perfection of the woman of Proverbs 31.
We can’t, but Jesus can!
By a miracle we can’t understand, He looks at our messy, and utterly non-virtuous selves, and sets us right by giving Himself.
We have only to reach out and accept his gifts and, suddenly, the woman on Proverbs 31:10 is attainable. Through Him!
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