Wisdom of a Virtuous Woman
“She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” — Prov 31:16
The Amplified Bible reads, “She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.
Today we conclude our study of the virtuous woman. I pray you have found inspiration as we have visited the stories of some amazing women.
Proverbs 31:16 speaks of the wisdom a woman needs in taking care of her responsibilities. There is a wisdom that comes from man and there is a godly wisdom.
I can think of several examples of women in the Bible who exemplified an uncommon wisdom, some of whom are well known, but others who are not.
I immediately think of Rahab, whose story is found in Joshua 2. Rahab had heard of the Hebrews’ successful conquest and knew her only chance of survival was to align with the Hebrew spies. Her decision saved her and her family.
Consider the story of Jael found in Judges 4, whose husband, Hever, was an ally of the Canaanite army. Sisera, the General of the army, had led 900 chariots into battle, and one by one they were destroyed.
Only Sisera remained, and he ran for cover toward Hever’s encampment, where Jael met him and invited him to her tent. There he believed he would be safe.
Sisera fell exhausted on the ground and Jael covered him with a rug. She gave him warm milk and when he was asleep she took a tent peg and drove it through his skull.
Why? God had given Deborah, the only female judge, a glimpse into the outcome of the battle with the Canaanite army, and she knew a woman would win the battle. That woman was Jael.
I am sure Jael did not awaken that morning, thinking she would kill the leader of the Canaanite army. But obedience led her accomplish God’s will.
Esther, a Queen to Artexerxes, learned of a plot to exterminate all Jews in Babylon. Esther cleverly trapped Haman, the perpetrator of the plan, and rather than the Jews being killed Haman was executed.
Miriam, the sister of Moses, saved her brother from the infant slaughter that had been ordered by Pharaoh. She orchestrated his rescue by Pharaoh’s own daughter, who raised the child as her own.
Women who may not have lived as Proverbs 31 women, through their obedience to God, attained righteousness. These women did not work their way to salvation, since salvation is a free gift. Rather, God shaped them into virtuous women, and He can accomplish the same thing in us today.
May we allow the God of the Universe to mold us into the people of virtue He called us to be.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Posted in: Blogs
Seeking Holiness 