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A Bible Study about the Proverbs 31 woman.
She is a superwoman and makes other women feel inferior with guilt because they can't measure up. I've heard people say on the internet that God wouldn't put something in the bible that can't be obtained and with that I disagree. Of course God tells us His Holy and Good Law that we should follow and yet, we cannot be perfectly obedient to it. That's why Jesus had to come to earth, live the perfectly obedient life we could not and then die on the cross for our sins. We are forgiven.
Some background on the proverb is that it's an acrostic which means that each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in proper order.
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: The name Lemuel means “for God” or “devoted to God.”
So what about this Proverbs 31 woman?? Well, here's the thing about her, she's focused on God!
sheridanlutheran.org
(adapted from Melissa Ringstaff, on her blog “A Virtuous Woman“).
1. Faith – serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul.
2. Marriage – trustworthy and a helpmate.
3. Mothering – nurtures all children with the love of Christ, disciplines them with care and wisdom, and trains them in the way they should go.
4. Health – cares for her body and prepares healthy food for her family.
5. Service – serves with a gentle and loving spirit.
6. Finances – makes purchases and spends money wisely.
7. Industry – works willingly with her hands and does not grumble while completing her tasks.
8. Homemaking – creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her.
9. Time – works diligently to complete her daily tasks, not dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord.
10. Beauty – has the inner beauty that only comes from Christ to use her creativity and sense of style to create beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones.
www.concordialutheranconf.com
If you are a wife and mother and are reading about this “virtuous” Christian woman, you may be comparing yourself unfavorably to this Scriptural ideal. Do you feel guilty that you are not measuring up to the ideal Christian wife and mother, the perfect homemaker described in Proverbs 31? This is not at all out of order; “for there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). No one, not even the Christian in his life of sanctification, achieves perfection according to the rule of God’s Law and attains to the goal for which he is to strive (Isaiah 64:6; cf. Philippians 3:12), for how things should be. Since her calling demands a 24-hour schedule and an astounding array of diverse skills and responsibilities, a wife, mother and homemaker may see her failures more pointedly than a single woman; for her job has a way of revealing shortcomings by its very nature. A truly Christian (and therefore “virtuous”) wife, mother and homemaker should therefore humbly recognize and confess her numerous sins and shortcomings, many of which are shared by her Christian sisters in the world, sincerely repent of them, and flee in confidence to God’s mercy in Christ Jesus for forgiveness (Luke 18:13), as well as for the strength to live better day by day unto her Savior (II Corinthians 5:15).
www.wlchapel.org
A good outline of the themes for “The Heroic Wife” comes from the Africa Bible Commentary, p. 1769:
The Blessings of a Good Wife (31:10-12)
She provides clothing and food for her family and servants (31:13-15, 19, 21-22)
She manages the estate (31:16-18, 27)
She cares for the poor (31:20)
She sells her own handwork (31:24)
She secures a future for her family (31:25)
She is engaged in teaching (31:26)
Her husband is well respected (31:23)
Her children respect and bless her (31:28)
She surpasses all other women (31:29)
All of these things that she does, as we are about to see, come from faith. A good work, even a Commandment kept, apart from faith, is no good work at all. The only good works acceptable to God are those done out of faith in Christ (Psalm 101:3; 2 Corinthians 8:3-4,12).
We are not all called to every vocation that the proverb states. Here is a podcast on the Proverbs 31 woman:
www.kfuo.org
Luther writes:
lutheransandcontraception.blogspot.com
The parallels between the Proverbs 31 woman and the Church seem almost endless. After all, should we not consider that the Bride of Christ would be the fullest embodiment of the virtuous wife? Earthly marriage is but a shadow of the greater mystery of Christ and the Church. In all her virtues, the Bride of Christ is the perfect help meet of her bridegroom, and He will present her spotless to His Father.
"Who can find such a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." She, the Church, is the pearl of great price, and Christ gave up everything He has to purchase her.
The above link also points out that there is only ONE Proverbs 31 woman...and the rest of the women do not measure up. "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou hast surpassed them all." And again, God's one holy Church, the Bride of Christ is the one that surpasses them all.
She is a superwoman and makes other women feel inferior with guilt because they can't measure up. I've heard people say on the internet that God wouldn't put something in the bible that can't be obtained and with that I disagree. Of course God tells us His Holy and Good Law that we should follow and yet, we cannot be perfectly obedient to it. That's why Jesus had to come to earth, live the perfectly obedient life we could not and then die on the cross for our sins. We are forgiven.
Some background on the proverb is that it's an acrostic which means that each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in proper order.
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: The name Lemuel means “for God” or “devoted to God.”
So what about this Proverbs 31 woman?? Well, here's the thing about her, she's focused on God!
Devotion: What Type of Godly Women Are You? - Sheridan Lutheran Church
Personality quizzes identifying us as a Hairspray character, or a resident of a certain state are very popular online distractions. I see my friends’ results on Facebook daily. Yes, they are fun and entertaining and sometimes even enlightening. In thinking about these quizzes, I did a search for...
sheridanlutheran.org
Ten Key Virtues of a Proverbs 31 Woman
(adapted from Melissa Ringstaff, on her blog “A Virtuous Woman“).
1. Faith – serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul.
2. Marriage – trustworthy and a helpmate.
3. Mothering – nurtures all children with the love of Christ, disciplines them with care and wisdom, and trains them in the way they should go.
4. Health – cares for her body and prepares healthy food for her family.
5. Service – serves with a gentle and loving spirit.
6. Finances – makes purchases and spends money wisely.
7. Industry – works willingly with her hands and does not grumble while completing her tasks.
8. Homemaking – creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her.
9. Time – works diligently to complete her daily tasks, not dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord.
10. Beauty – has the inner beauty that only comes from Christ to use her creativity and sense of style to create beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones.
“Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman?” – Concordia Lutheran Conference (CLC)
www.concordialutheranconf.com
Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel & Student Center | Daily Devotions | God's Word for You | Proverbs 31:19 The distaff and spindle
God's Word for You - A daily devotion by Pastor Tim Smith
www.wlchapel.org
The Blessings of a Good Wife (31:10-12)
She provides clothing and food for her family and servants (31:13-15, 19, 21-22)
She manages the estate (31:16-18, 27)
She cares for the poor (31:20)
She sells her own handwork (31:24)
She secures a future for her family (31:25)
She is engaged in teaching (31:26)
Her husband is well respected (31:23)
Her children respect and bless her (31:28)
She surpasses all other women (31:29)
All of these things that she does, as we are about to see, come from faith. A good work, even a Commandment kept, apart from faith, is no good work at all. The only good works acceptable to God are those done out of faith in Christ (Psalm 101:3; 2 Corinthians 8:3-4,12).
- A Mom will Comfort Her Children
- God gives us comfort…
- A Mom will Provide Security for Her Children
- God provides security…
- A Mom will Give Her Children Just What They Need
- God gives us what we need…
- A Mom will Teach Her Children and so does God
- A Mom will Love Her Children and so does God
We are not all called to every vocation that the proverb states. Here is a podcast on the Proverbs 31 woman:
Thy Strong Word - Proverbs 31: The Words of King Lemuel
Proverbs 31: "The Words of King Lemuel" with guest Rev. Joe Cox, Theology Teacher from Lutheran High School South, Saint Louis, Missouri.
www.kfuo.org
Luther writes:
Law and kindness = Law and Gospel.
The Proverbs 31 Superwoman
Confessional Lutherans addressing the issues of birth control, contraception and procreation through the theology of the cross.
lutheransandcontraception.blogspot.com
"Who can find such a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." She, the Church, is the pearl of great price, and Christ gave up everything He has to purchase her.
The above link also points out that there is only ONE Proverbs 31 woman...and the rest of the women do not measure up. "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou hast surpassed them all." And again, God's one holy Church, the Bride of Christ is the one that surpasses them all.