Sermon Tone Analysis

*Do You Appreciate The Godly Woman?*

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a story about Helen McCarty who is married to Charles, a successful attorney.

After 18 years of marriage, they seem to have everything except happiness.

When Charles admits to an affair, he throws Helen out of their home with nothing but her clothes.

Helen turns to her mother, her grandmother, and eventually to God to help her pick up the pieces.

In this scene, Helen (Kimberly Elise) visits her mother (Cicely Tyson).

Helen admits, "I think I'm losin' my mind Momma.

He hurt me so bad.

He was my everything."

"God is your everything", says her mother.

"Don't you know he's a jealous God?

He don't want no man before him."

"I don't even know where to begin picking up the pieces of my life," Helen responds.

"Lord have mercy", says Momma. "I was 39-years-old when you were born.

I never dreamed I'd have children.

And then here you came—sweet bundle of joy.

But what did I do?

I think I shielded you way too much.

Now you gotta get out there and try to stand on your own two feet."

"Oh no, Momma, I can't do that.

I'm not strong like you."

"Sure you are," says Momma. "You got the strength God gave us women to survive.

You just ain't tapped in to it yet."

After a pause Momma says, "Come here.

Come on."

Helen kneels and places her head in her mother's bosom and Momma continues.

"Just let it go.

There's nothing wrong with shedding a few tears.

It cleanses the soul.

You know, you need to stop thinking about what you think you lost and look forward to what there is to gain.

It's a new life baby.

It's right in front of you.

All you've got to do is reach out and grab it."

"How do I do that momma?

How?" Helen asks.

"By waking up every morning and thanking God that you did.

And then ask him to help you.

Just ask the Savior to help you."

Elapsed time: 00:43:30 to 00:46:00

Content: Rated PG-13 for profanity

Proverbs 31:10-31  An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.

14 She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.

15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.

18 She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes 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.

24 She makes linen garments and sells /them,/ And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

26 She opens her mouth in 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.

28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband /also, /and he praises her, /saying:/ 29 “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, /But /a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.[1]

*1) What value do you put on excellent woman?*

Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.

*a)     **What does excellent mean?

*

·         *Definition of “Excellent”- Kittel’s Theological Word Book of the Old Testament says, “*The individual designated seems to be the elite warrior similar to the hero of the Homeric epic…When the term is used of a woman (Ruth 3:11; Prov 12:4; and 31:10) it is translated “virtuous (ASV, rsv “worthy” or “good”), but it may well be that a woman of this caliber had all the attributes of her male counterpart.

*Strongs Concordance* says - 12 times, “riches” 11 times, “wealth” 10 times, “power” nine times, “substance” eight times, “might” six times, “strong” five times, and translated miscellaneously 33 times[2]

·         *Virtuous or Excellent is way different than elite warrior isn’t it?*

/Virtuous /has the meaning of good, righteous, and honorable, but definitely not heroic or mighty warrior.

/Excellent/ has the meaning of outstanding, brilliant, exceptional, or first rate.

Why the difference?

Is it possible that a woman can be a mighty warrior?

Interpretive sexism?

Why translate it one way for a man and another for a woman?

The NIV translates it for a man, Mighty Warrior, the GNT as “brave soldier” and  The Message  as “tough soldier” but none translate as excellent or virtuous when it comes to the man.

*b)     **Paper plate or china?*

Prov.

31:1…For her worth is far above jewels

*Solomon is setting up for us the characteristics and value of this hero-woman or wife and her value.*

·         We live in a disposable society, how do you treat your hero, like china or like a paper plate?

If you had a Ferrari, would you go off roading with it?

·         We lose value when things become common.

·         We lose value when we don’t know what we have.

·         We lose value when things get tarnished.

*Solution:*

·         Imagine how life would be without your mate

·         Are you in a rut, try something new this week that you and your spouse have never done before.

·         Get away this week, just the two of you with no external interventions.

·         Learn to forgive, make the decision to walk in it, give it time, and get the heart of God.

You get the heart of God by prayer and the principal of “blessings.”

Luke 6:27-28  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

*2) What level of trust do you have with her?*

Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

Ruth 3:11  “Now, my daughter, do not fear.

I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.

*a)     **How is trust established?-*

·         First, we make the decision to rely or place confidence on someone.

·         We base our decision to trust on our instinct, our experiences, our hopes, and our intuition.

·         In the case of the Prov 31 woman,  her character is evident.