Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman
Mother's Day • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsAt the end of the book of Proverbs, King Solomon writes a beautiful poem about the traits of a "Virtuous Woman." It has been a joy to many woman and a thorn in the flesh to try and measure up to such a woman. But, there is another meaning to this passage that most people don't stop to consider. The wife of virtue in this passage also speaks of the Bride of Christ, the Church. As the bride, the church should have these same characteristics toward our Husband, Jesus Christ.
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introduction
At the end of the book of Proverbs, King Solomon writes a beautiful poem about the traits of a “Virtuous Woman.” It has been a joy to many women and a thorn in the flesh to try and measure up to such a woman. But this passage has another meaning that most people don’t stop to consider. The wife of virtue in this passage also speaks of the Bride of Christ, the Church. As the bride, the church should have these characteristics toward our Husband, Jesus Christ.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
Defining Virtue: Virtue is a military word used to denote strength and efficiency. A virtuous person has the strength to accomplish the task and the efficiency to do it promptly.
Before we look at the virtuous woman of Proverbs, we must understand who the virtuous woman is in scripture.
The virtuous Woman is the Church.
The virtuous Woman is the Church.
Pictured in Ruth and Boaz, The kinsman redeemer.
Pictured in Ruth and Boaz, The kinsman redeemer.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
Illustrated in Christ and the Church
Illustrated in Christ and the Church
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
She is connected with the first woman Eve.
She is connected with the first woman Eve.
22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Who can find a virtuous woman? Mothers, I’m going to let you off the hook today.
Proverbs 31 10-31 is an acrostic poem with every verse starting with the following letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
This morning I want to focus on 5 Characteristics of the virtuous woman that apply directly to us as a church.
1. The Trust of a Virtuous Woman.
1. The Trust of a Virtuous Woman.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
The Lord can trust her with his heart.
The Lord can trust her with his heart.
Can the Lord trust us with his heart?
Can the Lord trust us with his heart?
Do we know what the heart of the Lord is?
Do we know what the heart of the Lord is?
His message of love and redemption would spread throughout the world.
That none would perish, but all would come to repentance.
The holy sanctification of the saints
The Lord’s will is her will.
The Lord’s will is her will.
She is 100% invested in the heart of her husband.
She is 100% invested in the heart of her husband.
Her whole desire is to accomplish the Lord’s will.
Her whole desire is to accomplish the Lord’s will.
2. The Work of a Virtuous Woman
2. The Work of a Virtuous Woman
Now that she has the heart of the Lord and her heart is in the right place, it’s time to go to work. The work is a manifestation of the heart.
She works willingly with her hands.
She works willingly with her hands.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She is not doing it out of obligation but of love and joy.
She is not doing it out of obligation but of love and joy.
She builds her life around the work of the Lord.
She builds her life around the work of the Lord.
Are we serving our Husbands with willing hands?
Are we serving our Husbands with willing hands?
Willingness is a good thing, but willingness only goes so far if you don’t have the strength to do the work.
Willingness is a good thing, but willingness only goes so far if you don’t have the strength to do the work.
Her discipline produces strength.
Her discipline produces strength.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She has set her schedule to accomplish the task of the Lord.
She has set her schedule to accomplish the task of the Lord.
Her strength is giving to the needs of the house.
Her strength is giving to the needs of the house.
Are we disciplining our lives to bring our strength to the house?
Are we disciplining our lives to bring our strength to the house?
3. The Charity of a Virtuous Woman
3. The Charity of a Virtuous Woman
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
She provides for the needs of the house.
She provides for the needs of the house.
We are commanded to provide for the needs of each other.
We are commanded to provide for the needs of each other.
We give to each other for each other.
We give to each other for each other.
She has an open hand of charity to those outside the house.
She has an open hand of charity to those outside the house.
4. The Wisdom of a Virtuous Woman
4. The Wisdom of a Virtuous Woman
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Walking in wisdom causes her not to worry.
Walking in wisdom causes her not to worry.
She passes on the teaching of wisdom and kindness to the next generation.
She passes on the teaching of wisdom and kindness to the next generation.
5. The Praise of a Virtuous Woman
5. The Praise of a Virtuous Woman
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Praised by her children
Praised by her children
Praised by her husband
Praised by her husband
Praised for her respect of the Lord
Praised for her respect of the Lord
The Lord gives her the fruit of her hands.
The Lord gives her the fruit of her hands.
Praised for her work by her community
Praised for her work by her community