Portrait of the Woman

A portrait is generally defined as a painting, photograph or drawing of someone….a picture of a person.  A portrait can also be defined as a description of something or someone.  Today’s topic is centered on the latter definition of portrait as we look at the overall description and background regarding the Proverbs 31 woman.

The book of Proverbs mainly authored by King Solomon is known as the book of wisdom or wisdom literature.  I love Matthew Henry’s statement regarding the book of Proverbs, “The scope of all is one and the same, to direct us so to order our conversation aright as that in the end we may see the salvation of the Lord.”

Proverbs 31 is authored by King Lemuel based on the words of wisdom from his mother.  So you see sistahs, it was a sistah who gave the King insight on the portrait of a Godly sistah!!!

Proverbs 31 draws an exquisite moral portrait of a Godly woman.  This portrait serves as instruction to us sistahs as to how we should pattern ourselves and it also points out the desirable characteristics that others should seek from us.

What proof is there that the Proverbs 31 description is complete for us sistahs?  I am glad you asked…..for the answer to the question in case you haven’t heard…It’s All in the Word!!!!  In Hebrew poetry there is a literary style known as alphabetical acrostics where each line or stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order.  It is a poetic expression to let the reader know that the subject is being covered in totality in other words everything from A to Z.  In Proverbs 31:10-31, we find the initial letters of each verse go through the Hebrew alphabet in order. So sistahs, as I think about Chaka Khan, Proverbs 31 gives to us everything we need to know for our womanhood…..everything from A to Z…after following Proverbs 31 I can truly join in with Chaka and say… “I’m Every Woman”!!!!!

Matthew Henry also says of the book of Proverbs, “The best comment on these rules is to be ruled by them.”  As we dive deeper sistahs’s into the intricacies of this Proverbs 31 woman may our lives be ruled by the pearls of wisdom we find in the description of her so that we emerge as new portraits.  I believe I hear the Apostle Paul say, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Walk It Out Application:

For this week’s application…I invite you to search your hearts and ask God to remove anything that is not like Him.  During this week you may be challenged in the area of your struggle but humbly submit yourself to God, keep striving to resist the devil and he will flee.  Keep saying to yourself……..I don’t want Satan in my portrait!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m Every Woman!!!!!

Next Week’s Topic:  “The Virtuous Woman” (Proverbs 31:10a)

God Bless You Sistah!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin