A Look at the Proverbs 31 Woman
Spring 2022
Have you ever finished reading the virtuous woman portion of Proverbs 31 and felt rather overwhelmed by all her superwoman energy? While I’ve often felt that I could never measure up to her, a closer look reveals her underlying secret. Being amazed at all she accomplished, we almost miss the one thing needful found in verse 30. “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Matthew Henry notes: “That which completes and crowns her character is that she fears the Lord…which is preferred far before beauty….The fear of God reigning in the heart is the beauty of the soul.” That she fears the Lord shows her deep and abiding relationship with Him. Both reverent awe and trusting love for the Lord are involved in fearing Him. Scripture affirms that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom; it is the fountain of life that delivers from death and a refuge for the children of God. Such an excellent and precious woman seemed a rarity during the time of King Lemuel and his mother. Yet the virtuous woman, by fearing the Lord, loves Him with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength and she loves others as she loves herself. Continuing on in God’s way day by day, she rests securely in God’s love to her own soul. She desires to know Him because she loves Him. In knowing her God, she becomes strong to do the exploits (Daniel 11:32) cataloged in verses 10-31.
The virtuous woman’s loving exploits parallels Paul’s instruction to New Testament church women in Titus 2:3-5. She loves her husband, who is blessed indeed when he can fully entrust his heart and worldly goods to her safekeeping. With such a gracious, honorable, and well-intentioned wife supporting him, his wisdom is valued at the city gates (Proverbs 31:23). She loves her children and manages her home with diligence, resourcefulness, industriousness, and preparedness. Her love for others extends to the poor and needy in her community. Her entrepreneurial gifts are used wisely. She speaks with wisdom and kindness. She rejoices in an unknown future because her hope is steadfastly anchored deeply in the Refuge of her soul, the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Christian women reading Proverbs 31:10-31 today, the virtuous woman’s life appears to be dauntingly perfect, irrelevant, and idealistic compared to current womanhood. “Life is messy,” we easily admit. I suppose, we could view Proverbs 31 more as a eulogy, a catalog of her many accomplishments over her lifetime, rather than the reality of everyday living. Notice that verses 10-31 are written about a precious, praiseworthy, and much-loved daughter (31:29). Abraham’s wife, Sarah, lived a less than perfect life; however, the New Testament writes grace and faith over Sarah’s life (Hebrews 11:11; I Peter 3:6).
What can we learn from a look at the Proverbs 31 woman? Let us remember that the Scriptures of truth were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of them might have hope (Romans 15:2). Amid life viewed from cell phones, we need gentle reminders of the power of God’s Word. Instead of being lulled by distraction, let us seize opportunities for focused attention to the reading and studying of the Word of God. Intentionally walking in the fear of the Lord with reverent awe and trusting love will grow a rare, praiseworthy beauty of soul in us that glorifies and honors the Lord.