10aWho can find a virtuous woman?
Since our quest is to become more like the Proverbs 31 woman……we can’t become that which we don’t have insight into its identity. We must know who she is and the Word of God tells us that she is virtuous. Virtuous is defined as having or exhibiting virtue or being morally excellent according to Webster. A definition for virtue is strength or courage, valor. In Proverbs 31:10a, virtuous in the Hebrew means strength, power, might, to show oneself strong, a force such as an army.
Often times we spend so much time on the portion of the Scripture, “Who can find” instead of focusing on being virtuous. So what happens? Yes, we are discovered for someone finds us or comes upon us or falls in with us (the original Hebrew word “Qal” for “find” covers all of these meanings in verse 10a) but what they find is empty because there is no virtue. King Lemuel’s instruction is illuminating that finding this woman possessing the virtue is not so common….not about finding any woman but a virtuous woman. I would venture to say……it is like an archaeological excavation without revelation!!!!!
Well, since the essence of my name “virtuous woman” means that I am strong, possess ability and I am a force such as an army, being especially warlike then I must be about the business of warfare. I am not a pristine non-confrontational princess but I am a warrior princess. I need to be about fighting the enemy. This woman is resolved and brave not because of anything external but because of the internal power of God. I know someone is thinking are you skirting around the virtuous woman being morally excellent? No, for morally excellent for the virtuous woman means she is at warfare against the tricks of the enemy that attempts to distract us from holy living. I don’t expect to get an Amen.
Too often we are in the business as sistahs of attacking each other instead of our enemies. The enemies we need to be fighting are poverty, racism, sexism, classism, churchism [somebody will get that around bedtime], educational/employment disparities in our communities and injustices of all kind in the world, the list goes on and on regarding our specific enemies. So, I am not virtuous for the cause of sitting on anyone’s mantle as a piece of unbreakable art but my virtue says that I am a force to be reckoned with and I am a warrior.
We often equate virtue in this context as some lofty idea/some self-righteous portrait attainable by some and unattainable by others based on outward appearance or pedigree or we diminish it to something tangible such as wearing lap scarves, communion head-pieces, Kasper ASL suits, involvement in civic and church affiliations but the Hebrew doesn’t lend to any of that as a definition of virtuous. Yes, I will become active in my community and my conduct should be a reflection of my virtue but my affiliation without warfare against the wiles of the devil doesn’t equate to virtue. The Holy Spirit just spoke and said it is like a powder puff with no powder. But on the other hand, you can be dressed to the nine and looking good when you go out and be a confident Proverbs 31 woman because you have spent time on your face before the Lord in prayer and actively engaged in warfare……we can’t judge a book by its cover……so sistah, don’t hate on another sistah!!!!!
As we look at the rest of Proverbs 31, the woman possesses all of the characteristics and accomplishes everything outlined in the Scripture because of her strength, courage and warfare ability. It is her virtue that sets her apart from the rest. She stands out in the crowd not because she is lashing out at everything in sight but because she is disciplined and about the business of being at war against the enemy and with mediocrity. She is striving to be a reflection of the True and Living God because she knows that she wouldn’t exist if it had not been for the Lord who is on her side!!!!!
Walk It Out Application:
This week as Virtuous Sistahs, we are like CeCe Winans and we are waging war against the enemy. Spend more time in prayer and fasting. Speak to yourself constantly reminding yourself each day that you are a Warrior Princess, a force to be reckoned with and you have the strength of the living God to attack the enemy. There is a war going on and if you’re going to win you better make sure that you have Jesus deep down within for this battle can’t be fought with bullets and guns…Sistahs, wake-up, smell the coffee, take off your toot-toot skirt and put on your military apparel for there is a war going on!!!! When you feel discouraged, pray Warrior Princess, when you see injustice, pray and do something to combat that injustice Warrior Princess. When you are mistreated, I KNOW IT’S HARD, but remember you are duty-bound to show the love of Christ so pray and show love Warrior Princess. I hear CeCe saying:
We are waging war, were taking territory, fighting unseen enemies, like never before were waging war
We’re going into battle, as we claim the victory, over the enemy, I’m tired of principalities messing with me and the devil stealing from me
I’m ready to win, my weapon of power lives within. I can’t be defeated!!!!
In Jesus’ name, He rules and reigns!!!!!!!!
In Jesus’ name, He rules and reigns!!!!!!!!
Never being defeated, anymore……..Were waging war!!!!
Go Forth, Meditate on Ephesians 6:10-18 for you need the Full Armour of God…Warrior Princess!!!!!
Next Week’s Topic: The Woman’s Worth (Proverbs 31:10b)
God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin
