The Praise of Wise and Godly Women

Last Sunday, Alan gave his last message on the book of Proverbs by taking us through Proverbs 31. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with some notes and links to verses her references. Enjoy!

The Praise of Wise and Godly Women

Proverbs 31

Big Theme: Wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs. Three significant passages in Proverbs give the full picture of Lady Wisdom (1:8-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-12). Lady Wisdom was even present at Creation (Proverbs 8:22). When you look at creation, you can see the wisdom of God.

Proverbs closes with an exhortation to praise wise and godly women, specifically wives. So the overall thrust is to give godly women the respect and authority they are due. This would involve respecting their gifts, wisdom, and voices. This is the overarching theme of scripture in relation to women. One of the things Jesus obviously stood against was the oppression of women by the male-dominated religious structures of the day.

1. An Old Testament and New Testament Review of Women in Ministry
   • Old Testament
     • Two books named after (and centered around) women:
       • Ruth
       • Esther (who saved her nation)
     • Three Prophetesses
       • Miriam (Moses’ sister)
       • Deborah (one of Israel’s judges)
       • Huldah (2 Kings 22)
     • Women were privy to angelic visitations
     • Women could take a Nazarite vow & offer the appropriate sacrifices for it (Numbers 6:1-21)
     • Women could minister at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting
     • Women could participate in music and processionals
     • The prophet Joel envisioned a time when God’s Spirit would pour out on all people, irrespective of gender and class (Joel 2:28-29).
   • New Testament
     • Acts 2 – correlates Joel’s vision with the coming of the Holy Spirit
     • Women who were followers of Jesus were engaged in both serving and speaking
       • In the book of Acts:
         • Dorcas
         • Lydia
         • Priscilla
         • Philip’s four daughters
       • Luke gives attention to several women who were important in Jesus’ ministry, including:
         • Mary, the mother of Jesus
         • Anna, the prophetess
         • A circle of women who served alongside and supported Jesus and the twelve
         • Mary, the sister of Martha
       • Paul notes a number of women who had roles in the work and ministry of the Apostle Paul:
         • Lydia and Priscilla (Acts)
         • Phoebe & Junia (Romans)
         • Chloe (Corinthians)
         • Euodia & Syntyche (Philippians)
         • Nympha (Colossians)
         • Lois & Eunice (Timothy)
         • Apphia (Philemon)
         • And others…
2. Attributes (not all) of Godly Women/Wives
   • Her Value (Proverbs 31:10-12)
     • The scarcity of competent strength (valor, noble character), trust, and seeking others’ good makes them valuable.
     • It’s a unique thing to find an excellent, godly woman.
     • A husband finds his reward in a godly wife.
   • Her Activities (Proverbs 31:13-20)
     • The picture of an industrious woman who makes things happen (v. 13-14)
     • She can be a lioness of provision and protection (v. 15)
     • She plans and executes her plan (v. 16-17)
     • She saves accordingly so as not to run out of necessities (v. 18)
     • She is philanthropic with her revenue (v. 19-20)
   • Her Achievements (Proverbs 31:21-27)
     • She is successful – richly supplies her household (v. 21-22, 24-25)
     • She is a driving force behind her husbands success (v. 23)
     • She speaks wisdom coupled with love and is continually diligent (v. 26-27)
   • Her Praiseworthiness (Proverbs 31:28-31)
     • She earns her family’s praise for her competent strength [hayil in Hebrew] (v. 28-29)
     • She has earned and deserves the praise of all because she knows the principle characteristic of wisdom (v. 30-31)
3. Practical Application to Decide Upon
   • How can a community of faith show the honor and respect that is due women is an important question to answer, not only in theory but in actual practice of the church.
   • The right for women to teach, to vote, to serve communion, what about women pastors? Are our views on these questions in line with Jesus’ treatment and respect of women?
     • The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-26)
     • The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:2-11)
     • Jesus recognized the dignity of women
   • Or are our views based on misinterpretations of a very few Pauline scriptures and our own cultural biases?
     • Women are to be silent (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
       • Paul wrote this to a specific church, at a specific time, for a specific reason – those women were causing dissension in their church. Paul didn’t write that admonition because they were women, but because they were causing problems in their sin.
   • It is a question worth thinking upon and answering.