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“Who can find a virtuous woman?” is the question of Proverbs 31. With this query God points out that His kind of woman is extraordinary – indeed, a rare treasure – when it comes to her inner strength and outward accomplishments. Last time we discovered that this description was originally told in a nursery rhyme to a young prince. Yet, God intended another memorable correlation when He used the word virtuous.
The Hebrew word virtuous is used 200-plus times in the Bible to describe an army. This Old Testament word is used in reference to soldiers and men prepared for war. It describes both an individual and a force that is able, capable, mighty, strong, valiant, powerful, efficient, wealthy, and worthy. Apply this to the feminine case and you begin to grasp the power at the core of the woman described in Proverbs 31. Just as mental toughness and physical energy are the primary traits of an army, they also mark God’s beautiful woman.
These internal qualities enable God’s beautiful woman to manage well her life, her time, her money, her mouth, her home, her relationships, and her self.
And how, we wonder, does the Proverbs 31 woman do all that God desires of her? We clearly see that her life requires physical energy and vigor. This virtuous and very industrious woman needs physical strength and ability to do the work of her life, the work of love. Observe the strong — and beautiful—Proverbs 31 woman at work:
As you read this description you may feel somewhat tentative (as I do), fearful of failure, and sober (a life of virtue is not easy). And at moments I even wonder, “What difference will it make if I try to live such a virtuous life?” But that kind of thinking ends when you and I remember that the description of this special woman is in God’s Word: she is God’s portrait, and she reflects God’s idea of beauty and God’s design for excellence.
He knows the value of the work He has given us and what it takes mentally and physically to accomplish it. Perhaps we are beginning to realize why this woman of strength is not a threat to be compared to, but “a rare treasure” for us to follow!
A Prayer to Pray: I know you want the same thing I want—to truly be a woman who is beautiful in God’s eyes, to enjoy His approval, His “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). So, join me in whispering a plea to God for strength…
“Lord, I desire to become a woman who, like and army, moves through the challenges and duties of life with virtue, kindness, stamina, endurance, and power—Your power.”
For more encouragement your daily life, check out my book new, Moments of Grace for a Woman’s Heart.
Read An Army of Virtue on Elizabeth & Jim George.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Not long after I accepted a position at the seminary where I received my own training, I attended a conference of professors from around the country. One of the speakers had a Ph.D. in religion and theology. It wasn’t long before it became apparent that, while this person knew a lot about God, he did not have a personal relationship with God through Christ. During a lunch break, I sat with him and initiated a conversation about salvation and the gospel message.
Sometimes the accounts of the faithful in the Bible can feel a bit intimidating. You may wonder if you will ever transform into a man or woman with godly influence. Maybe you feel that way when you read about the woman in Proverbs 31, or when you read about the life of Paul. Paul was Jesus’ “chosen vessel” to spread the Savior’s name “before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).