The virtuous wife of Proverbs 31 is one inspiring lady! Look at all she accomplished — spinning, weaving, sewing, real estate, farming, shopping, ministering to the poor, managing her household.
But she can also be a bit discouraging. How in the world did she ever manage to do all those things? I can remember days when it was a challenge to even get out of my bathrobe before my husband came home from work!
If you’re tempted to feel like a failure every time you think about the woman described in Proverbs 31, I think you’re going to feel a whole lot better by the time we’ve spent thirty days getting to know her better. She shouldn’t intimidate us. We should admire and emulate her!
Before we start looking at all the fruit of this amazing woman’s life, we’re going to take a look at the roots that nourish this fruitful tree!
Assignment: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you begin your study today. Then read all of Proverbs 31. Today is the only day we will be reading the first nine verses of the chapter. After this, we’ll be focusing on just verses 10-31, where we learn about the virtuous wife.
As you read Proverbs 31, look for the following information::
- Who wrote this chapter of Proverbs?
- Whose words is the author sharing?
- Who is being spoken to?
When you have finished reading, take our your notebook and record what you have found.
- Then look in the chapter for the words praise and bless, or any synonyms of these words (words that have a similar meaning).
- Highlight each appearance of those words with a yellow marker or colored pencil.
- Make a simple chart to organize your observations.
- Divide your page into three columns.
- At the top of the left-hand column, write the word “Verse reference”.
- Label the next column to the right, “Who or what is doing the praising”
- Label the third column “Who is being praised”
- Reread the verses that include the words praise and bless, and use your chart to organize what you find. (At least one verse will not directly state who is doing the praising, so don’t let that worry you.)
- Pray about what you have found. What is the main characteristic of the woman who is praised in this chapter?
- Is this a trait that you and the Proverbs 31 woman can share, even if you don’t know how to spin yarn or plant vineyards like she did?
As we continue to study this chapter, we should keep this truth in mind. This is the root that produces all the beautiful fruit of the virtuous wife’s life.
For your children:
You will need paper, and pencils or crayons for this activity.
- After choosing a translation of Proverbs 31 that your children will understand, read verses 10-31 aloud, asking the children to each listen for one verse that they would like to illustrate. They should not tell anyone which verse they have chosen.
- When you have finished reading, have them each draw a picture to represent one verse from the passage.
- When they are done with their drawings, have them hold them out where everyone can see them, and read the chapter again.
- As the children hear a verse that they believe has been illustrated, they should raise their hands and point to the appropriate drawing.
- When all the children’s drawings have been identified, read verses 30 and 31 one more time. Ask the children to tell you what kind of woman is being praised in these verses. Discuss what that means.
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