Title: Wisdom and Womanhood: Profiles from the Book of Proverbs
Text: Selected Passages from Proverbs
I. Introduction
The Book of Proverbs serves as a divine manual for living. Within its poetic and practical verses, God provides a series of contrasting profiles of women. These descriptions are not intended as personal attacks, but rather as spiritual archetypes meant to instruct us in wisdom and godly conduct.
By examining these profiles, the believer—whether male or female—can understand the profound impact of character. For the woman of God, these passages serve as a roadmap to reflect a holy, prudent, and honorable character that brings glory to the Creator.
Proposition: The various feminine profiles in Proverbs teach us that true beauty and success are rooted in the fear of the Lord and the application of divine wisdom.
II. The Wise Woman: She Who Builds Her House
Key Text: Proverbs 14:1 — "The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down."
1. Her Edifying Character: A wise woman is a master architect of her home's atmosphere. She builds with prudence and knowledge (Pr. 24:3-4). Building a "house" is not just about physical walls; it is about the spiritual and emotional foundation of her family.
2. Her Spiritual Influence: Wisdom itself is personified as a woman who prepares a banquet and invites others to life (Pr. 9:1-3). The wise woman makes her home a sanctuary of peace and a refuge from the world.
3. Her Godly Conduct: This wisdom is echoed in the New Testament, where women are encouraged to live with modesty, self-control, and a focus on "good works" (1 Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:5).
Application: Every woman makes a daily choice: will her words and attitudes build up her loved ones, or will they slowly tear them down?
III. The Virtuous Woman: She Who Fears God
Key Text: Proverbs 31:10-31
1. Her Spiritual Foundation: The "Proverbs 31 woman" is often praised for her productivity, but her secret is found in verse 30: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." The Fear of Jehovah is her true beauty.
2. Her Diligence and Responsibility: She is not idle. She manages resources, works with her hands, and has a vision for the future (Pr. 31:13-19). She is a pillar of strength and reliability.
3. Her Sacrificial Love: She provides for her household and looks to the needs of the poor (Pr. 31:15, 20). Her life is a living sacrifice of service.
Application: Biblical virtue is not found in a mirror; it is found in a heart surrendered to God.
IV. The Adulterous Woman: The Path to Ruin
Texts: Proverbs 2; 5; 7
1. Her Methods: She uses "flattering words" and an appearance of sweetness to mask a heart of bitterness and destruction. Her path is presented as a shortcut to pleasure that ends in a dead-end of pain.
2. Her Moral Failure: She "forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God" (Pr. 2:17). She represents the danger of compromising one's values for temporary gratification.
3. The Biblical Warning: We see the counter-example in Joseph (Genesis 39:7-12). When faced with this type of temptation, the only wise response is to flee.
Application: Discernment is necessary to recognize temptations that look sweet but lead to spiritual death.
V. The Folly-Driven Woman: Ignorance that Destroys
Texts: Proverbs 9:13-18; 7:11-12
1. Lack of Knowledge: In contrast to Lady Wisdom, "The woman Folly" is loud, seductive, and knows nothing. She lives in superficiality, chasing the "stolen water" of forbidden thrills.
2. Imprudent Conduct: She is restless and defiant, always seeking attention and living without self-control.
3. Her Destiny: Those who follow her lead find themselves in the "depths of Sheol" (the grave).
Application: A lack of spiritual growth always produces collateral damage in our personal and family lives.
VI. The Contentious Woman: The Danger of a Quarrelsome Spirit
Texts: Proverbs 21:9, 19; 27:15
1. Conflictive Attitude: Proverbial wisdom notes that it is better to live in a corner of a roof or in a desert than with a "quarrelsome and fretful woman."
2. Impact on the Home: She is compared to a "continual dripping on a rainy day"—an annoyance that wears down the spirit of those around her and eventually erodes the foundations of the family.
3. The Biblical Contrast: A godly woman is encouraged to cultivate a "gentle and quiet spirit," which in God’s sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:1-4).
Application: Gentleness and peace are not signs of weakness, but marks of a Christ-like character.
- What happens to those who have gone in the way of Cain?
- Five Ways to Honor God 1 Samuel 2:30
- How war occurs in the heavenly realms
VII. Conclusion
The Book of Proverbs presents us with a clear mirror. It shows us the Wise and Virtuous woman who builds and blesses, contrasted with the Strange, Folly-driven, and Contentious woman who brings ruin.
God’s desire is for every woman to be a vessel of honor, characterized by the Fear of the Lord. It is this fear that produces the wisdom to build, the strength to serve, and the gentleness to love.
