“Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.”
I love the men of strength in Scripture. David, Samson, Peter, and certainly Jesus all exemplified men who carried themselves with strength of character and purpose, inspiring both men and women today. The women of Scripture also inspire, particularly through the clarity and power of the roles God created for them. The bravery of some women who served God in various ways is something I saw in my wife and see in my daughter and my granddaughters. One of my favorites in Scripture is Mary. In great contrast to the women described in this portion of Proverbs, she was obviously strong yet calm, steady, and contemplative. Imagine being an unwed teenage mother in the days of the first century. Biblical historians place her age around 14 to 16 years old. I don’t know if you’ve been around many 9th- or 10th-grade girls, but it’s hard to imagine many of them going through this experience with the same level of faith and grace. Sadly, I’ve seen too many girls in that age group go through unplanned pregnancies. Seeing how Mary handled the situation all the way though following Jesus to the foot of the cross is truly inspiring. Solomon’s description in this chapter is heartbreaking. However, I can imagine him looking down from heaven, almost 1,000 years after completing his Proverbs, and recognizing Mary that first Christmas morning as a true picture of his Proverbs 31 woman. For inspiration about her story, you might want to listen to “Mary, Did You Know?” sung by Pentatonix. Today, choose living in God’s wisdom. #BeTheEdge
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” Psalms 46:5 NIV
