The focus for today from Proverbs 31 is the second part of verse twenty-eight, to the end of the chapter:
ק 28 Her children arise; they make her happy;
her husband too, as he praises her:ר 29 “Many women have done wonderful things, but you surpass them all!”
ש 30 Charm can lie, beauty can vanish,
but a woman who fears Adonai should be praised.
ת 31 Give her a share in what she produces;
let her works speak her praises at the city gates.**
but a woman who fears Adonai should be praised.
ת 31 Give her a share in what she produces;
let her works speak her praises at the city gates.**
Every day of my life my sweet husband greets me with, "Good Morning, Gorgeous!" He says this when I look a mess - no makeup, with bed-head, stumbling toward the kitchen for my first cup of coffee. He says I don't need makeup, but my mirror tells me the truth: I go to bed looking like Elizabeth Taylor, and wake up looking like Charles DeGaulle.
I love his praises of my outward beauty, but that's not the most important thing to me. I love it more when he says, "You are a true Proverbs 31 woman." He also tells me quite often, "You are the best wife in the world." That really makes me so happy because it is the desire of my heart. That is my goal, because as the verse says, "Charm can lie, and beauty can vanish."
We live in a culture that focuses on outward beauty. Women get focused on their bodies and make physical fitness or being sexy their god. Some get focused on clothing and have to buy the best labels of clothes, shoes or handbags. Women cut their bodies through plastic surgery in order to have smaller thighs or bigger breasts. This is all wrong.
Health is important. Looking our best is important. But these things are not the most important thing. Inner beauty and wisdom and righteousness do not fade away. On the contrary, they keep a woman beautiful until she passes away from this world.
I have known several G-dly women in their eighties and nineties who radiate the beauty and joy of ADONAI. They have a glow about them because His Word and Spirit are the driving forces of their lives. I hope you have known a Proverbs 31 woman. If you have, make her your role model for the years ahead.
If you don't know a G-dly woman, be that kind of woman yourself, and teach the younger women G-d's ways. He has given you His manual for womanhood in Proverbs 31 and other Scriptures. I pray you will take His instructions to heart. You will be blessed.
Next week, I will share with you how Jewish husbands bless and praise their wives every week during Shabbat.
** from the Complete Jewish Bible
I'm sharing this post at:
Spiritual Sunday
Let's Get Social Sunday
Modest Mom Monday Link-up
A Wise Woman BuildsWhole Hearted Wednesday
Wake Up Wednesday
Hearts for Home
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