The Woman Who Fears the Lord

1 - Mother’s Day Video

2 - Blank Slide

3 - Title Slide

INTRODUCTION

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Pew Research Center - Traits or Characteristics do people in our society value most in men and women?

Valued most in men - 33% Honesty/Morality (Least 5% Politeness/Respectfulness)

Valued most in women - 35% Physical Attractiveness (Least 5% Ability to Multitask)

These to not reflect God’s values for women.

And yet, oftentimes men and women both find themselves striving for society’s values more than God’s values.

Being Mother’s Day, great passage for women’s character that upends society’s values.

We’ll see many character traits all derived from one Master Expression.

Caveats:

Women (unmarried, w/o kids, or elderly): Healthy to look beyond the specifics of ‘wife’ and ‘motherhood’ and ‘skillset’ and instead look at the bigger picture of womanhood.

Men (married or unmarried, young or otherwise): Healthy to understand a passage that uplifts women so we can disciple our wives to become the women God designed them to be. Also, for unmarried men still looking for a bride, these are the qualities to look for.

SCRIPTURE

4-25 Scripture

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

26 - Title

So much in here - can’t cover it all…but!

An Alphabet of Womanly Excellence.

This wisdom poem is an acrostic, in which each verse begins with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

The poem begins and ends with mention of the woman’s “excellence” (vv. 10, 29–31).

The probable intention of putting this together with the acrostic pattern is to show that this woman’s character runs the whole range of excellence.

The woman is married (as expected in that culture).

She is devoted to the well-being of her household, to which she contributes by her participation in outside economic concerns (vv. 14, 16, 18, 24).

At the same time she makes her home the center of ministry by giving generously to the poor.

She instructs her children and household workers in true kindness.

So her husband and children benefit from her honor in the community.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 31

This lofty portrait of excellence sets such a high standard that it can be depressing to godly women today until its purpose is understood. First, the woman embodies in all areas of life the full character of wisdom commended throughout this book. This shows that even though the concrete situations up to now have generally envisioned a cast of males, the teaching of the entire book is intended for all of God’s people (see the discussion of “concreteness” in Introduction: Literary Features). Second, as with other character types, this profile is an ideal: a particular example of full-scale virtue and wisdom toward which the faithful are willing to be molded (see Introduction: Character Types in Proverbs). It is not expected that any one woman will look exactly like this in every respect.

This lofty portrait of excellence sets such a high standard that it can be depressing to godly women today until its purpose is understood.

First, the woman embodies in all areas of life the full character of wisdom commended throughout this book.

This shows that even though the concrete situations up to now have generally envisioned a cast of males, the teaching of the entire book is intended for all of God’s people.

Second, as with other character types, this profile is an ideal: a particular example of full-scale virtue and wisdom toward which the faithful are willing to be molded. It is not expected that any one woman will look exactly like this in every respect. She doesn’t exist.

What is the master expression, what is the overarching character trait or virtue or state of mind this all points to?

Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

What is fear of the Lord?

While “fear” can describe terror or dread (), the OT use of “fear” often indicates awe or reverence.

To fear God is to express loyalty to Him and faithfulness to His covenant. Those who fear God exhibit trust in Him and obedience to His commandments. According to the OT, those who fear God obtain God’s protection, wisdom, and blessing.

Response to God’s Holiness

To be in Awe:

Psalm 111:9 ESV

He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!

Fear the Lord

The mention of a woman who fears the LORD at the end of this long list of excellent qualities brings back the theme of the book of Proverbs stated in 1:7.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It reminds readers that this woman excels in her fear of the Lord, and therefore that she is a model of the character traits and wisdom taught throughout the book’s 31 chapters.

The appearance of this woman’s fear of the Lord at the end of this list is also a reminder that this quality is more important than even great skill and talent, and is foundational to the wise and right use of all activities and skills.

A godly woman may well have outward charm and beauty, but these are of secondary importance to her godliness.

All the wisdom that manifests itself through character traits are founded on FEAR OF THE LORD.

Faithlife Study Bible Fearing God in the Old Testament

While “fear” can describe terror or dread (Gen 3:10), the OT use of “fear” often indicates awe or reverence. To fear God is to express loyalty to Him and faithfulness to His covenant. Those who fear God exhibit trust in Him and obedience to His commandments. According to the OT, those who fear God obtain God’s protection, wisdom, and blessing.

While “fear” can describe terror or dread (), the OT use of “fear” often indicates awe or reverence.

To fear God is to express loyalty to Him and faithfulness to His covenant. Those who fear God exhibit trust in Him and obedience to His commandments. According to the OT, those who fear God obtain God’s protection, wisdom, and blessing.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord is:

Obedient

Loyal

Faithful

Faithlife Study Bible Fearing God in the Old Testament

Fear of God in Prophetic Literature and Psalms

The prophets equate fearing God with a pious attitude toward Him; fearing God is linked to honoring God (Isa 8:13) and obeying His commands (Isa 50:10). The prophets often criticize the Israelites for forsaking the fear of God (Jer 2:19; 3:8; Mal 3:5); when speaking of restoration, they include a restoration of the fear of God among God’s people (Isa 59:19; Jer 32:39–40; Hos 3:5).

Fear of God in Prophetic Literature and Psalms

The prophets equate fearing God with a pious attitude toward Him; fearing God is linked to honoring God () and obeying His commands (). The prophets often criticize the Israelites for forsaking the fear of God (; ; ); when speaking of restoration, they include a restoration of the fear of God among God’s people (; ; ).

In our world today fear of God is a lost practice by many.

Chuck Colson is quoted saying, “Without ultimate justice, people’s sense of moral obligation dissolves; social bonds are broken. People who have no fear of God soon have no fear of man, and no respect for human laws and authority.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.