EP 21: The Proverbs 31 Woman
This week, we are wrapping up our short series on Women in the Word by taking an in-depth look at the Proverbs 31 woman and her many virtues. Praying it blesses you!
Welcome
Well hey there, and welcome to the Daughter of Delight podcast. I am so glad you are tuning in to this episode! Today we are wrapping up our short, three-week series on Women in the Word. If you missed the last two episodes of this series, I want to encourage you to check them out. We kicked things off two weeks ago by taking a look at the lives of two unlikely women that God used in the Old Testament for His sovereign plan. And last week, we took a look at the lives of four influential and God-honoring women in the New Testament. Today, we are wrapping up this fun little series by taking an in-depth look at the Proverbs 31 woman. Wow, I am SO excited for this one! I feel like I say this about every episode, but it’s true! The excitement is flowing through my veins. In this episode, we will be talking about the purpose of Proverbs, the authorship and date of proverbs, I will provide a brief overview of Proverbs 31, then we will read verses 10-31 and go over the 12 different virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman.
Review of the Week
Before we get started, I want to shine light on the review of the week! If you have not yet left a review for the podcast, please do. Reviews are so meaningful because they are what help the show grow. It would mean so much to me if you were to take the time to leave one. That being said, if you leave a review between now and next Wednesday, be sure to screenshot it and email it to me at hello@daughterofdelight.com so that I can give you a special thank you! And it may or may not have something to do with a nice discount for the Daughter of Delight shop. Wink wink!Anyway, our review of the week comes to us from Beeerios and it says, “Elle is incredible! She is so wise and has such a gift of exhortation and teaching. These podcasts help get me through the day!” Thank you so much, precious sister of mine! Wow, I am so honored that the Lord would use this podcast to help you understand His Word all the more. That is my very prayer for this podcast and your review is a beautiful confirmation that He is indeed using me to do just that. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I am so grateful and glad you are a part of the Daughter of Delight community! Alright, let’s dive on in and see what Proverbs has in store for us today!
About Proverbs
If you have ever wondered what a proverb actually is, it’s simply a time-tested insight into real life. The book of Proverbs is a generous outpouring of God’s grace to His own. It is filled to the brim with profound wisdom and guidance for everyday living and how to live this precious gift of life well. This book is our Wonderful Counselor’s way of reminding us that wisdom is for all of His children! Colossians 2:2-3 tell us that the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ and Christ alone. So, in order to cultivate a true heart of the wisdom that is from above, we must humble ourselves before Him through His Word. In doing so, we will find ourselves changed by truth and led by wisdom from the inside-out. As Proverbs 2:10 says, “Wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” (ESV). Doesn’t that just sound so lovely?
Authorship and Date
The author and collector of the book of Proverbs was King Solomon, who reigned from 971-931 BC. Proverbs 1:1 literally says, “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel”. So there is no doubt here about his authorship. In addition, Solomon collected sayings and oracles that were placed in the book of Proverbs as well. One of the oracles came from Lemuel and you can find it in Proverbs 31:1-9, but the author of the rest of the chapter--which is all about the Woman Who Fears the Lord--remains unnamed. Interesting, right?Some people think Lemuel wrote it and that Lemuel was actually a poetic name for King Solomon due to their similar writing style.In fact, many interpreters believe it was Solomon’s mother who coined him as Lemuel, which means “for God” or “devoted to God”. Regardless of the author or who Lemuel actually was, let’s not forget that the Ultimate Author of Scripture, God, is the one who inspired and directed the words that make up His holy, infallible, all-sufficient Word. Just like us, the author was simply the pen in God’s hands.
The Proverbs 31 Woman
In Proverbs 31, Lemuel’s mother offers him a list of characteristics to look for in a Godly wife. Her hope in doing so is that he would choose a wife wisely. Let’s read verses 10-31. I will be reading from the ESV Translation.
Unattainable Perfection
Now, on the outside looking in, we just read 22 verses that seem to make up the perfect woman and wife for anyone. Like, holy cow, this woman does it all. She seems overwhelmingly perfect and incomparable to who I am as a wife and mom. If we think of the Proverbs 31 woman in a modern-day light, she comes across to me as a stay at home mom who owns and runs a wildly successful business, homeschools her 4 kids who never complain, while also having the time to maintain a spotless house AND have a warm, made from scratch home-cooked meal on the table for her family by the time her husband walks through the door. Oh, and she gets a solid eight hours of sleep each night as well. Now, we all know that’s just not how it works. You may be someone who does all of these things, but by no means are you perfect in how you show up for each role. And I know this because God didn’t create us to be perfect. If that were the case, we wouldn’t have a need for Him and there would be no need for Christ--for the salvation we have been gifted as a result of what He did on the cross for us.
Juanita
Now, the Proverbs 31 woman reminds me of a song that I used to be obsessed with. As someone who was born, raised and still lives in the south, you should know that I really love me some Shania Twain. If you do not know she is, Shania is a country music legend. I have such vivid memories of walking around the house in cowgirl boots with a hairbrush, AKA microphone, singing her songs at the top of my lungs. A few summers ago, she came to Nashville and you better believe I was there. It was so fun to finally see her perform in person after having been a fan for so long. Anyway! She has a song called Juanita. And Juanita is literally the epitome of a go-getter. She’s the woman everyone wants to be because she just does it all. And the purpose of the song is to reveal that Juanita actually lives inside of every woman. Let me read you a few of the lyrics: She is the restless river running through my veinsShe rides without the reins, her name's JuanitaShe lives in the heart of every woman in the worldWithin' the reach of every girl who wants to meet her
We Are Nothing Without Christ’s Saving Grace
Now, as empowering as this song may be, the truth of the matter is we are nothing without Jesus and His saving grace. As Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (ESV). Sis, it’s not our inner-Juanita that makes us capable of leaving a mark in this world. It’s Christ in us. In Him, there’s no room for Juanita to reside in our hearts because, thanks be to God, the power of His Spirit lives in us. And the mark we are called to leave in this world is His. In Him, we have the opportunity to make an eternal impact for the benefit of God’s Kingdom. Talk about a dream come true. What a gift it is to be able to participate in the greatest mission of all- in God’s redemptive work for this lost and broken world. Amen?
The Proverbs 31 Woman Fears the Lord
Again, the Proverbs 31 woman can feel like a call to unattainable perfection- which results in nothing but unhealthy comparison, am I right or am I right? But then we get to verse 30, which tells us that this woman is a woman who fears the Lord. Meaning, she recognizes her need for Him in all that she does, which allows her to bring honor to His name in all that she does. She knows that her wisdom and sustainment is a gift from her all-sufficient Father. And because she lives in recognition of her identity as a daughter of the Most High, she is able to serve and love those around her in incredibly meaningful, memorable and impactful ways. In ways that result in her family admiring her for who she is and all she does for them. Are you getting this?
The Proverbs 31 Woman Should Be Celebrated
Proverbs 31 isn’t about what this woman did. It’s about who this woman was! This Proverb is not about striving for a certain image, but embracing the grace that is yours through Christ, shining His light into the dark and desolate places of this world and honoring Him in all that you do. This Proverb is not something we should ever feel condemned or threatened by. And I’m sorry if you have been taught otherwise, but that’s just not the truth. Instead, this Proverb is one we should celebrate! Because as verse 31 tells us, the fruits produced by the hands of this woman were produced from the gospel at work in her heart. And the same is true for us! Now, what I want to do with the rest of our time together today is take a look at the twelve virtues that Lemuel’s mother used to describe the Proverbs 31 woman. By the end of our time together today, I think and I hope the Proverbs 31 woman will feel like someone you can indeed relate to, right now, just as you are.
VIRTUE 1: TRUSTWORTHY
First off, the Proverbs 31 Woman is trustworthy. Take a look at verse 11 with me: “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain” (ESV). This means the husband is so secure in his marriage and wife’s love for him that he trusts her judgment. He trusts that she will make wise decisions for their family. Trust is one of the many beautiful fruits of a God-honoring marriage.
VIRTUE 2: A BLESSING
The second virtue we read of the Proverbs 31 Woman is that she is a blessing to her husband. Verse 12 tells us, “She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (ESV). Meaning, she is fulfilling her role as his helpmeet. She doesn’t compete with him or tear him down while out at coffee with her girlfriends. She is respectful of his reputation and genuinely longs to support him however she can.
VIRTUE 3: SHE DELIGHTS IN WORK
Next up, we learn in verse 13 that the Proverbs 31 Woman “works with eager hands”. What a beautiful depiction of this woman’s heart we have here. She delights in the working of her hands. She does what needs to be done instead of wasting time complaining about such things.
VIRTUE 4: RESOURCEFUL
The fourth virtue we read about is found in verse 14, which says, “She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar” (ESV)Put simply, the Proverbs 31 Woman is resourceful. She knows how to get what she needs, when she needs it.
VIRTUE 5: DRIVEN
In verse 15, we learn that the Proverbs 31 Woman is driven. It says, “She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens” (ESV).We just learned that the woman described here in Proverbs 31 had maidens, yet she still got up before them in order to prepare and provide food for both her family and her maidens. She was driven to serve, so that’s exactly what she did. I love that. And I think this virtue has more to do with the principle here rather than waking up before everyone else, so do keep that in mind as you continue to reflect and ponder on it.
VIRTUE 6: GOOD STEWARD
Next up, our sixth virtue that we learn about the Proverbs 31 Woman is found in verse 16: She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard (ESV). The Proverbs 31 Woman is a good steward. She doesn’t make rash, impulsive decisions. Notice that she considered the field before she bought it. And not just that, but she got to work and utilized what she had acquired with her very hands. She invested her time into work that made way for her to bear fruit.
VIRTUE 7: STRONG
The next virtue I get to share with you today is that the Proverbs 31 Woman is strong. Verses 17-18 tell us, “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night” (ESV).Everything this woman does is with purpose and in strength. She knows of her many giftings and capabilities, and she does not take either of these things lightly. She works diligently to provide for her family. Something to note here is that, although there is no talk of rest, Lemuel’s mother-the one who was sharing each of these virtues-was Jewish. And, as a Jew, it’s required to honor the Sabbath. That being said, this is probably why Lemuel’s mother did not mention it...because it was expected of all the Jews. So, it’s safe to assume the Proverbs 31 woman also values rest.
VIRTUE 8: GENEROUS
Alright, now on to virtue number 8. This can be found in verse 20, which says, “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (ESV). On top of everything else the Proverbs 31 Woman does, she also takes the time to serve those around her in need. What a beautiful picture of the Gospel! Instead of assuming someone else would do it since she does not have the time, she makes the time to serve.
VIRTUE 9: WELL PREPARED
Virtue number 9 comes to use from verses 21 and 25. Verse 21 says, “She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet” (ESV). And verse 25 tells us, “she laughs at the time to come” (ESV). The Proverbs 31 Woman is well-prepared. She isn’t just present-minded, but also future-minded. She thinks ahead. Because of this, she does not fear the future. She is always prepared and her family was undoubtedly blessed by it.
VIRTUE 10: BUSINESS-MINDED
Next up, we learn that the Proverbs 31 Woman is business-minded. Take a look at verse 24 with me: “She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant” (ESV). I love that! She adds to the well-being and overall wealth of her family by utilizing the gifts God has blessed her with. She is not just a homemaker. Although her family is certainly her priority, this is yet another way she serves them.
VIRTUE 11: STRONG & DIGNIFIED
In verse 25, we learn that the Proverbs 31 Woman is strong and dignified. It says,“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come” (ESV).The Proverbs 31 Woman is respected by others, but is this really a surprise? She shows up to serve right where she is at and loves people well. She has earned respect. And she “laughs at the time to come” because she is not afraid of the future because she knows Who held it. This truth alone brings the type of peace that surpasses all understanding...the type of peace only God can give. And she has it!
VIRTUE 12: SEASONED WITH SALT
And last but not least, the final virtue of the Proverbs 31 Woman comes to us from verse 26, which says: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (ESV). The speech of the Proverbs 31 Woman is seasoned with salt. This immediately brings to mind James 3, which talks all about the importance of taming the tongue. Instead of wasting time breaking others down with her words, the Proverbs 31 Woman builds people up. And the only reason she is able to do this, and to live out any of the virtues we just talked about really, is because of the power of God’s Spirit in her. Because it is His strength that has been made her own as a result of her identity in Him.
His Grace Carries Us Through
If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the virtues I just shared, don’t! I have so many examples of where I have failed within each virtue, over and over again. But the compassion and grace of Christ is what carries us through. Seriously. The Proverb 31 woman’s ultimate regard is not for her beauty or her strengths but for the One who provides her every need and her loved one’s needs as well. She embodies the truth of 2 Corinthians 3:5, which says: Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God (ESV).
Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman is a Journey
Becoming a Proverbs 31 woman is a journey. And it’s only made possible because of our good and gracious, all-sufficient Father in Heaven. As we continue to draw near and root ourselves in His Word, will we become more and more like the Proverbs 31 Woman and, most importantly, we will become more and more like Christ. And it is God’s grace that will carry us to this place, from start to finish. Sis, my prayer for us both is that we would embrace this grace and walk in it freely as we pursue ways to obtain and wear these virtues in ways that bring total honor and glory to His name. Soli deo Gloria!
Thank You!
Hey Sister! Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this episode. I pray that God used it to bless and encourage you in your walk as His beloved daughter. If you enjoyed this episode, would you do me a favor? Take a screenshot and add it to your story to help spread the word. And don’t forget to tag @daughterofdelight so that I can extend my thanks your way. OR take a screenshot of this episode and pass it along to a friend or two who could use the encouragement right now.
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