We have called the woman in Proverbs 31 a virtuous woman because that is what religion has called her for many years, when all this does is sell that woman short. A virtuous woman is defined by what she does not who she is. A God fearing woman is a woman that is defined by who she is not what she does. A God fearing woamn has virtuous outward characteristics as a result of being the bride of Christ. A God fearing woman is woman with a heart for God. This is the Proverbs 31 woman. God is about starting on the inside and working outward; not starting outward and working in. Jesus said it best when he said that no one puts a new patch on an old garment. We try to patch our lives with new habits and characteristics when in fact we are still the old person on the inside. All this will do is tear us apart like a new unshrunk patch on an old garment. The woman in Proverbs is a woman that has the characteristics that we read about only because she is a woman after the heart of God; and not a woman that has patched her outward self together to make herself try to look good.
I believe this woman is the same woman that Solomon is chasing after and wooing in Song of Solomon. He had hundreds of other women that he could have fallen in love with but he chose her. He chose her because she was beautiful from the inside out (God fearing) instead of her beauty that is on the outside that is trying to cover up the inside. In short her love for God is what made her beautiful to him. In Song of Solomon, the king is only able to see the beauty of his true love and describe her outward beauty because her inward self was not mucking it up.
Proverbs begins with a seven-verse prologue that tells us the purpose of these writings. And in chapter one verse seven we get the theme of the entire book, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge and wisdom.” Throughout the rest of the book we get snippets of what it means to fear the Lord. We are even told throughout what a God fearing woman looks like. In chapter seven we are shown her antithesis. We are shown the attributes and characteristics of what a woman that does not fear God looks like and the effect this type of woman will have on others. Many times her outward beauty and her positive attributes will cover up the lack of her love for God but in the end this is always revealed.
Finally in chapter 31 we have the culmination of what outward effects and characteristics of a woman that fears God looks like. The writings in Proverbs end where they started. Chapter one verse seven gives us the command to fear the Lord and the last chapter shows a picture of a woman who fulfills this command. Chapter 31, verse 30 shows us this and also stresses the point again about it being a matter of the heart and not a matter of outward characteristics. No woman can live every day fulfilling the descriptions set forth in chapter 31. That is why the writer of Proverbs begins and ends with showing us that it is a heart for God that in turn is reflected in our lifestyle and not a lifestyle that is trying (but failing) to please God. This type of lifestyle (chapter seven woman) will never be able to convince or force that person’s heart to desire God.
Proverbs 31
Verse 10 Cannot be bought out
Verse 11 Trustworthy/Dependable
Verse 12 Consistent
Verse 13 Hard worker/Does not complain
Verse 14 Others are always glad to see her
Verse 15 Does not waste time
Verse 16 Thrifty/good steward
Verse 17 Improves herself
Verse 18 Insightful
Verse 19 Utilizes her talents
Verse 20 Giving/Generous
Verse 21 Prepared
Verse 22 Modest/Respectful
Verse 23 Makes a good name for her family/allows husband to be her leader
Verse 24 Ministers to others not just her family
Verse 25 Happy with her life
Verse 26 Quick to listen/Slow to speak
Verse 27 Rears Godly children
Verse 28 Encouraging
Verse 29 Separates her lifestyle unto God (not just her heart)
Verse 30 Not vain
Verse 31 Does good in secret
