Shalom,

We end the Book of Proverbs today with a chapter that is often quoted, many times out of context, but is most times vastly misunderstood! The picture of this most 'virtuous woman' was the example that this mother was trying to get across to her son. The very same PRINCIPLES, not exact examples, but principles, can be applied to every person! Every single person looking for a spouse should take these things into serious consideration as they listen for the leading of the LORD on their life-time marriage partner! These are qualities that every born again believer should be exhibiting as we represent JESUS as Ambassadors of Heaven! As you read through this chapter, keep this in mind and allow Holy Spirit to speak HIS Wisdom to YOU. AMEN! For today, I want to share some notes that I found on this that I believe will help you in this study! These notes were taken from the Amplified Bible footnotes:

Proverbs 31:10 It is most unfortunate that this description of God’s ideal woman is usually confined in readers’ minds merely to its literal sense—her ability as a homemaker, as in the picture of Martha of Bethany in Luke 10:38-42. But it is obvious that far more than that is meant. When the summary of what makes her value “far above rubies” is given (in Proverbs 31:30), it is her spiritual life only that is mentioned. One can almost hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Mary has chosen the good portion... which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

                                                                                                                                         

Proverbs 31:29 “Many daughters have done... nobly and well... but you excel them all.” What a glowing description here recorded of this woman in private life, this “capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31! It means she had done more than Miriam, the one who led a nation’s women in praise to God (Exododus 15:20, 21); Deborah, the patriotic military advisor (Judges 4:4-10); Ruth, the woman of constancy (Ruth 1:16); Hannah, the ideal mother (I Samuel 1:20; 2:19); the Shunammite, the hospitable woman (II Kings 4:8-10); Huldah, the woman who revealed God’s secret message to national leaders (II Kings 22:14); and even more than Queen Esther, the woman who risked sacrificing her life for her people (Esther 4:16). In what way did she “excel them all”? In her spiritual and practical devotion to God, which permeated every area and relationship of her life. All seven of the Christian virtues (II Peter 1:5) are there, like colored threads in a tapestry. Her secret, which is open to everyone, is the Holy Spirit’s climax to the story, and to this book. In Proverbs 31:30, it becomes clear that the “reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord,” which is “the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10), is put forth as the true foundation for a life which is valued by God and her husband as “far above rubies or pearls” (Proverbs 31:10-14).

With these things in mind, and as a born again child of the Living God, here is a portion of Scripture, also from today's Bible Reading Plan, that will help each one of us get closer to this standard, IF we take it to heart and make it our own 'determined purpose'! Philippians 3:10:

 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. 12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Love So Great":

Shalom in Him!