Rise Up, Man, and Praise the Virtuous Woman!

Turning again to God’s Word, we learn the makeup of a virtuous woman. This woman is to receive praise from the Church and the state, for “her works praise her in the gates” (cf. Romans 13:3). In Proverbs 31, Christ teaches us the characteristics he deems praiseworthy. Through Bathsheba, he outlines the characteristics husbands, children, Church and state ought to honor, and which I summarize in six attributes:

Chaste (Trustworthy)

“Excellent” and “woman” are only combined in one other place, the Book of Ruth. Boaz praised Ruth because she had not “gone after young men, whether rich or poor” (Ruth 3:10). Because of her chastity, “the heart of her husband trusts in her” (Proverbs 31:11). Because she did not chase men in her youth, her husband trusts she won’t do it in maturity.

Lover of Home/Family

The excellent woman “does [her husband] good” and “provides food for her household” (12, 15). Here, Christ’s value system is distinctly different from Marxism. She is not made for a career, but for home. Although she works hard, very hard, she does so to support her home and family, not instead of it.

Diligent

“She rises while it is yet night” (v. 15). The excellent woman is up early to seek the welfare of her family. By her labor, “she dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong” (v. 17). We might even say she is “crafty,” for she makes bed coverings, clothing, linen garments, and sashes (vv. 22, 24).

Shrewd

“She considers a field and buys it” (v. 16). She is an adept manager of household resources, and prepares for the future, for “she is not afraid of snow for her household” (21).

Charitable

Not forgetting all she has is from God, the excellent woman “opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (20).

Wise

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (26). In her home, the excellent woman teaches her sons and daughters the ways of Christ. In the church, she sacrifices her time to “train the young women to love their husbands and children” (Titus 2:3).

Conclusion

In the Church, state and home, we must praise godly women. God appointed them to bring forth the raw materials of the growth and good of each. He has equipped them to nurture and nourish children at their most vulnerable state. They sing over them the lullabies of the kingdom when they are still too young to express faith themselves.

No doubt each woman will express these qualities uniquely, as God sanctifies by his grace. Ultimately, only redeemed women will pursue them. Where these women are found, they must receive hearty praise from Church, state, husband and children. They are a rare jewel and must be valued as such!

Precious sister in Christ, we delight in you! “May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!” (Psalm 128:5).