Think with me a moment about some of the heroines of the Bible. There's Esther, Ruth, Mary, Deborah, Rahab, Elizabeth,a Sarah, just to name a few.
What is the common thread that weaves through the lives of these women? Each one feared the Lord and placed their faith in Him.
A reminder from Proverbs 31:30 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Let's put the microscope on a few of these women.
Esther- she delivered the Jews from annihilation
"Go and gather all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die." Esther 4:16
Ruth- she became the ancestor of Jesus
But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!' Ruth1:16-17
Mary- she was favored by God and became the mother of Jesus
Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her. Luke 1:28&38
Elizabeth- she was the mother of John the Baptist
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. Luke 1:6
Rahab- she was a prostitute who helped the spies and feared God
"I know the Lord has given you this land," Joshua 2:9a For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Joshua 2:11b
It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Hebrews 11:31
Sarah- she was the mother of Isaac
It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. Hebrews 11:11
We do not read about these women and learn from their lives by mere coincidence. Perhaps Proverbs 22:4 can sum them up for us- True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.
If there is one lesson to be learned from the description King Lemuel gives us of a wife of noble character, it is that she fears the Lord and is greatly praised because of it.
