So we come to the end of the book of Proverbs. And what an ending it is! After spending 30 chapters pouring out life-changing wisdom for the ages, this book ends on the topic that is more mysterious to men than any other.
Women.
After setting incredibly high standards for people of all ages and all races, Proverbs closes by setting the bar incredibly high for women.
It is critical to note that chapter 31 may be as much about men as it is about women. Because we can't make it without each other. I've always been fascinated by the phrase, "the weaker sex." Sure never has seemed that way to me! But in a good way.
God put us here to compliment each other. We can't have morning without evening. We can't have daylight without twilight.
And so as the virtues of women are outlined, man's role becomes clear. We are to complement (and compliment) women. When the bar is raised high for them, it is raised equally high for us.
What seems profound to you in your reading of chapter 31?
Fear and Focus are the two words that characterize this final chapter for me:
ReplyDeleteFor the King - Focus
Mom gives advice: "Don't lose focus! Don't even let it be divided.
Don't divide it between ruling and women, or ruling and wine.
Your job is JUSTICE, and don't be distracted by things that can turn
into LONG-TERM distractions.
For the woman - Fear
"The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
Fear of God would lead her into all of the other actions and
behaviors.
You see her focus on herself ONLY in ways that bless her family or
those with less. She wants to be the best she can be for THEM
and for GOD. And God is the giver of her reward.
The begining of Proverbs 31 is a warning about the dangers that are out there in the world just like the mother of King Lemuel gave to him in verse 3(stay away from harems and indulgence). Verses 8 and 9 are more of a responsibility to me because God defends those who can't defend themselves. We, as Christians, are called to stand up for those who can't defend themselves(the poor, the needy, etc.) with God's help of course because every person is valuable in God's eyesight. Verses 10-31, a.k.a. the Wife of Noble Character section, really show just how valuable she is and should be treasured as such. She is a hard worker, an entrepreneur, very humble, an excellent provider, very wise and diligent, holds court really well, always gives sound counsel, great teacher, and is a great helper to man. I saw something really interesting in my notes, the Wife of Noble Character section of Proverbs 31 is an acrostic with each verse beginning with a a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. very good stuff.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
ReplyDeleteBy way of full disclosure, I have long had a "love-hate relationship" with the portrait of a virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. I am amazed... blown away... inspired... intimidated... overwhelmed by all she does. I would dearly love to think I could become like her if I just practiced long enough or hard enough, but candidly, my imagination isn't quite that good! Realistically, I know she didn't get to be like that overnight or by accident. Perhaps she even did all those things at different seasons in her life rather than all at the same time. The incremental approach does make it seem a bit more do-able, and in recent years, these words from a friend have been my encouragement not to throw in the towel in my pursuit of virtue: "Anything I do is better than doing nothing at all."
Not too long ago I started making a mental list of the most beautiful women I know. You know what? They're all -- 100% of them -- over 50 years old. Most are over 70! None would consider herself particularly photogenic, and though I might disagree, physical beauty isn't what attracts me to these ladies. Rather, it is what Peter calls their "unfading inner beauty." That's what I want to be like when I grow up. On the day I look into the mirror and finally admit to myself that I've lost the battle against wrinkles, gray hair, glasses, hearing aids and achy bones, I want to retain something that is of worth to God, and inspiring to others. So here is my prayer today: ♪♫♪♫
“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me;
All His wonderful passion and purity.
May His Spirit divine all my being refine.
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”