Proverbs Women
Proverbs is a great book, probably one of my favorites. It is a book of instruction for learning God’s wisdom. Almost everyone is familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman. What about the other two prominent women in Proverbs? Do you know much about them or who they are? I have read the Proverb of the day for the past year or so, and I did this for a couple of years a few years back and as I soak it in over and over I am seeing another layer of wisdom in these two women. Today I want to focus on the two women that King Solomon spent a considerable amount of time developing. Are you interested in reading more about the Proverbs 31 Woman, here is another article for you, “Proverbs 31 Woman versus the Titus 2 Woman.”
Who are these Proverbs Women
Wisdom is the first women mentioned, she is to be sought after and those who find her have great rewards.
“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.”
Proverbs 4:5-6
The second woman is the “strange” woman, the harlot. She lures with her flattery and deceit and her ways lead to death.
“For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.”
Proverbs 5:3-5
What These Proverbs Women Represent
I have come to see that these women, while they give good instruction for life today on earth, they also represent much more. These are so much more than a list of do’s and don’ts. These choices affect more than this life on earth. These are part of the spiritual warfare that is going on in the heavenly places. Spiritual Warfare is often simply the battle within. The battle of doing what I should do versus doing what I want to do.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
Living as the Strange Woman
When I am making poor choices, I start doing what I want instead of what I know I should be doing. I find this to be a very steep and slippery slope. Soon I’ve fallen into complaining, selfishness, and then covetousness and pride are not far behind. I find that I am gradually praying and reading my Bible less and less like I used to. And when I do I am easily distracted. Then soon it becomes more about checking off one of my daily chores rather than a relationship.
When this happens, I have let Satan get a foothold and I am living for this life, this world, and this flesh. I have lost sight of the bigger picture. I have allowed myself to be so distracted and led astray by this strange woman of me, me, me, that I start to forget how awesome my God is. This is a place that I am learning to avoid, however, it is not always easy. But, through the power of Jesus, I am getting better at it.
Living as the Woman of Wisdom
While choosing wisdom will benefit my life today, in this world, the full reward won’t be received until I am in God’s presence. The first of these eternal rewards is being able to enter into eternity with Christ. Choosing wisdom today is about living with the end in mind, living my priorities, and being wisely invested in what matters spiritually. I live wisely when I remember that this life is temporary and very short. I have more peace and joy, when my faith is strong and I find it easier to obey the Lord. This is what true living is about; the abundant life of love, hope, faith, peace, and joy.
“The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them”
Proverbs 12:26
Deeper Meaning
King Solomon’s deeper meaning has less to do with how I conduct my day to day activities, although those will be affected too. It has everything to do with where my eyes are focused. When I play the fool, I am only seeing this life and I refusing to look up. When I am trying to be wise, I remember this is temporary and my hope is not based here. My hope is in Jesus and eternity. What my focus is will determine where I will spend eternity. To help me stay wise, I pray, I praise, and I put on the Armor of God daily because Satan will do anything he can to turn me back to my foolishness.
“And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.”
Ecclesiastes 7:26
Grace and Peace
Debra Jean
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It’s so easy for me to lose focus in the day to day like you said. I just recently had to regroup to make sure God wasn’t just an item on my “to-do” so that I was am doing my best to be the “right” Proverbs women.
Unfortunately, making ourrelationship with God a check list item is easy to do. We always should be checking our heart in this area. Than you for visiting Brittany! 💜
LOVE, MOM. just wanted you to know i read it and liked it!
I love you too Mom! 💜 Thank you!
I’ve never thought about the meanings of the two other women before–I think all too often men read Proverbs and starting believing that women are the root of all evil (and ignoring that wisdom is personified as a woman as well).
I didn’t think of that, you may be on to something. Many Thanks for taking the time to read.
When we have the discipline to get in the Word and obey His commands, it leads to inner peace and joy.
Life is easier when we allow ourselves to be disciplined by the Lord. When we have the discipline to get in the Word and obey His commands, it leads to inner peace and joy.
Exactly! Thank you for taking the time to talk read and comment. Blessings 💜