Women of Wisdom

A wise woman :

1. Has True Beauty

Proverbs 11:22 NASB95

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary Beauty—And the Beast (11:22)

Where we (to whom the outward is the impressive part) would have spoken of the lady as a little disappointing, Scripture sees her as a monstrosity.

beauty and the beast

Commentary on the Old Testament Chapter 11

Prov. 11:22. This is the first instance of an emblematical proverb in which the first and second lines are related to each other as figure and its import, vid., p. 8. The LXX translates rhythmically, but by its ὥσπερ … οὕτως it destroys the character of this picture-book proverbial form. The nose-ring, נֶזֶם, generally attached to the right nostril and hanging down over the mouth (vid., Lane’s Manners, etc.) is a female ornament that has been in use since the time of the patriarchs (Gen. 24:47).

Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Wilson) Comment

It may be a gold ring,11 but it cannot make a defective character any more winsome than the snout of a pig emerging from a feeding trough.

Abigail (Nabal)

1 Samuel 25:33 NASB95

33 and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

1 Peter 3:3–4 NASB95

3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

2. Is Virtuous

Proverbs 12:4 NASB95

4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.

Excellent=virtuous Hayil also the word used for an army

Same as in Proverbs 31:10 “10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.”

a Crown-bestows honor, so a wife bring honor to her husband.

Ephesians 5:22–24 NASB95

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

3. Is Constructive

Proverbs 14:1 NASB95

1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

Not physically building a house out of wood (but if you are good at that sort of thing, great!)

She lays a firm foundation of obeying God’s word so that marriage won’t be shaken. She builds strong walls and a roof of respect for her husband (Ephesians 5) which encourages him and insulates the marriage even when events outside the marriage try ing to cool it down or letting rain ruin the inside of the home . She is continuously building on the marriage with diligence.

4. Is Not Contentious

Proverbs 21:9 NASB95

9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

contentious=being judgmental or pointing out faults.

Proverbs 21:19 NASB95

19 It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

Proverbs 27:15–16 NASB95

15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; 16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

Gertrude Slaubach

For starters, let’s set some ground rules. Recognize what makes you want to nag. 1. It is wrong to defend or support a spouse when he is wrong, because that’s living a lie. Nagging sometimes happens because what we have supported in public, we want to be different in private.

2. It is wrong to bash a spouse in front of others. Nagging sometimes occurs because bashing in public has not gotten us what we want.

3. A woman worth her weight in gold will not manipulate, badger, or bargain with her spouse. Manipulation, badgering, and bargaining is nagging.

4. It is unfair to not express your needs or desires to your spouse. There is a time and a way to do it, and there are ways it should not be done which, of course, includes nagging..

Ways we become a dripping faucet: I can think of specific ways women nag. I know, because I’ve seen it. 1. telling him how to dress or what to wear – he ends up acquiescing because it’s not worth the hassle to fight you

2. giving instructions on how to drive or which way to go when he already knows – there’s something in us that makes us think we have to help him when he does not need any help

3. telling him how to act around your friends – the part where we don’t want to be embarrassed, so we try to prep and coach him continually

4. telling him what needs to be done at the house until he’s tired of hearing about it – you know, the continual grating and grinding until he has no schedule or mind of his own

5. telling him how to run his business, his class at church, or any other area of his life where we are not responsible – because we think we want to help – but in reality we are watching our own reputation based on his reputation

A wife can drive her husband away from intimate contact if she is constantly judging her husband by her own standards and constantly pointing out faults rather than peppering criticism throughout gracious words of encouragement.

Colossians 4:6 NASB95

6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

1 Peter 3:1–2 NASB95

1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

5. Is a Good Gift

Proverbs 18:22 NASB95

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord.

Marriage is good (I highly recommend it.)

Ladies, you are a good thing and having a good thing such as a godly wife, is a demonstration of God’s grace.

Proverbs 19:13–14 NASB95

13 A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. 14 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

you are a gift! one of the African pastors named his daughter Blessing.

Wives: cultivate godly beauty, by obeying God’s word, develop a godly character, build your marriage with encouraging words, avoid constantly pointing out faults,

Young ladies: develop these qualities in your character so that you will be a blessing from God to your future husband