Proverbs 31:12 says that the virtuous woman will do good to her husband and not evil all the days of her life.
My original intent was to rush to “good” in my exegetical analysis of Proverbs 31:12 but the Hebrew illuminates the strong connection between do and good…..in fact as it is presented in this text “do” in the Hebrew (gamal) specifically means you are giving, shewing or dealing fully with either in a good manner or an evil manner. Perhaps not rocket science to some but the language could just define “do” as an abstract action and leave whatever follows to further explain but in the original language “do” is not a neutral action it is coupled either with goodness or evilness.
Thus the author makes a point to emphasize that this Proverbs 31 woman is giving, shewing and dealing fully with the man in her life in a good manner and the writer goes on to not leave it to chance interpretation since “do” can be coupled with good and evil and also emphasizes that she is NOT giving, shewing and dealing fully with the man in her life in an evil manner. Sistah’s the Proverbs 31 woman is clearly a Do-Good woman!!!
This is not a once in a life-time act……..she will do and continues to do the man good and not evil all the days of her life………it is an everlasting Do-Good spirit this woman possesses……….this is profoundly deep. We must therefore shy away from the tit-for-tat mentality that is so indicative of our culture today. You did it to me so I am going to get you back…….You were mean so now I am going to be mean to you. I know it’s hard but sistahs we have to make up in our mind that we are going to deal fully with all persons in a good manner and avoid evil. I hear the Apostle Paul saying as he spoke about unity in the body and exercising gifts……. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). There are countless testimonies of women who have labored in love and showed God’s love and transformed their families and communities through the love, mercy and grace of God. I am led by the Spirit just now to Mrs. Coretta Scott King who could have decided on April 4, 1968 that she had enough and that evil had prevailed in the assassination of her husband, the honorable Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. BUT she remembered that she not only married the man but she married the mission and on April 8, 1968 the day before the funeral of the love of her life she got up with the same resurrection power of Jesus and marched in honor of the Memphis Sanitation workers who were on strike. I believe it was her Do-Good spirit, strength and witness during a major life-altering season that led to a settlement that included union recognition and wage increases less than one week later.
Now don’t get it twisted or misinterpret the message, sometimes Do-Good means you have to exercise tough love and stand for what is right but remember all things work together for good…….LOL!!!! And we NEVER advocate ABUSE in any form!!!!!!!!!!
As I think about the definition of “do” meaning “dealing with fully”, I am reminded of the TV Game Show: Let’s Make a Deal!!!!!!! I want us to make a deal to be Do-Good Sistahs………..now I know someone is wondering what is behind the curtain………….well it my prayer that as we seek to be Do-Good Sistahs that we get Do-Good Brothas…….Hello Somebody!!!!!! J
Walk It Out Application:
Let’s Make a Deal Sistahs to start and continue for those already on the journey to treat the men in our lives in a good manner. They have a heavy mantle to carry as the leaders of our families, communities and the world so let’s rally together to build them up and not tear them down. From the mailman to the computer technician to the Pastor to the bus driver to the restaurant waiter to the President, let’s honor and respect the male role models in our lives. We should make it a point to speak life to them, to pray for them and support them in any way we can. It is our prayer that as we sow seeds as Do-Good Sistahs then we will yield a crop of Do-Good Brothas!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Sowing and Reaping Sistahs!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!!!!!
Next Week's Topic: "The Hard Worker: Ain't Got Time to Die"
God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin
Minister Anna P. Shanklin
