Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Wisdom from Proverbs”
Our Bible verse for today: “A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman – who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.” Proverbs 31:10 (Amplified Bible)
Our thought for today: “Thank God for wise women!”
How appropriate it is that God concludes the book of Proverbs, this book about wisdom, by giving us a beautiful description of a wise, virtuous, and godly woman. Such women have a tremendous positive impact on all of us!
Most English translations of this verse use the word “wife” rather than “woman” and I believe they do so because the rest of the poem describes the impact this woman has on her husband and household. But the Hebrew word can actually mean either wife or woman. Either descriptive term is an equally valid translation of the word.
Along with the translators of the Amplified Bible I personally believe “woman” is the better translation because although a wise and godly wife is certainly a blessing to her husband and children, wise and godly single women bring the same blessings to those in their world. Therefore this poem is about them too.
Proverbs 31:10-31 is intended by God to provide us with a picture of the ideal woman. She is virtuous, wise, godly, industrious, and dependable. She is a blessing to all those who are close to her.
The image given to us here is a reflection of Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall, and of the woman portrayed by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33. There we find a woman who has been redeemed by Christ and who is confident and comfortable in her role within a Christian marriage. (If you would like an expanded teaching on Paul’s lesson about marriage please go to my website at www.JimMersereauBooks.com and download the free article “A Biblical Model for Marriage).
Personally I’m very grateful for the Proverbs 31 women that God has put into my life. I’m thinking first and foremost of my mother and my wife, and then I’m also thinking about some of the women who have been members of the three churches I’ve been the pastor of over the last twenty years. Currently I have the good fortune to be the pastor of a church that is filled with Proverbs 31 women. Lucky me!
I began this message by saying that I believe it’s perfect for God to conclude this Biblical book of wisdom with the example of a wise and godly woman. That’s because such women are vital to our homes, communities, and churches. Take a moment today to thank God for the Proverbs 31 women He has put into your life. And then take a moment to thank those women for being who they are.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 