A WOMAN OF STRENGTH
I amazed by the descriptions about women in the Bible. If you want to feel good about being woman, read God’s Word. God lifts women to a high status. We haven’t yet mentioned the other description in Proverbs 31:25 which says she is a woman of strength: "Strength and honor are her clothing" (Check the two posts below).
Two different words are used to describe a woman’s strength. The Hebrew word in Proverbs 31:25 is “oz” and means “majesty, might, power, and strength.” Proverbs 31:10 gives us another picture of a woman’s strength: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” The word virtuous is “chayil” and means “might, strength, power, valor, and wealth. It is used mainly in the context of an army or war.” “Chayil” is used to describe men of valor. Here’s an example in 1 Chronicles 12:8 where the Gadites are described as: “Men of might (chayil), and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as roes upon the mountains.”
It’s interesting that translators used the word “valor” for men, but the word “virtuous” for women, and yet it is the same Hebrew word. That doesn’t mean that we go out to fight in an army. I believe that is the place for men, not women. But God also wants us to be strong. Strong to fight, not flesh and blood, but principalities and powers. Because God ordained marriage and family, Satan hates it. He is out to destroy it. Therefore, we are in the fight against the enemy. We fight against all his temptations to destroy our marriage or fragment our family life.
We need to be strong in the Lord, strong in faith, strong in truth, strong in our convictions, strong in embracing our femininity in a deceived world, strong in commitment to our marriage and to our family, and strong in faithfulness. We need to be strong spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Who knows that motherhood is not for wimps? We need to be strong in every aspect of our lives for this high and noble calling. No wonder God pictures women clothed with strength.
Proverbs 31:17 says: “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” Have you found that you have become stronger the longer you mother? Your arms certainly get stronger holding babies and toddlers. You become more mature and stronger in every aspect of your life.
Of course, we know our strength comes from the Lord. We can confess “I am clothed with strength,” knowing that we walk in His strength.
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
Painting: “Climbing Mother” by Brian Kershisnik
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