Structured around ten themes, this study is designed to immerse you in the virtues of the virtuous Proverbs 31 woman. Each theme, from Hard Work to Wisdom, from Compassion to Honor, is covered over three days, providing a reflective study period. You will be encouraged not only to read scriptures of the bible, but to introspect, to journal, and to apply these timeless truths.
This book was created for the hearts and minds of Black women in the Christian community.
My favorite parts of the book are the reflection questions because these allow the reader to stay accountable towards becoming a Proverbs 31 woman. The relevant bible readings also help in gaining an understanding of the character traits of study.
The P31 Black woman is honorable, and this is not about self-proclamation, but something others can see and testify to. Because of the way she carries and presents herself to the world, she is seen as an honorable woman.
An honorable person believes in truth and doing the right things and lives up to those high principles. No matter where honorable people find themselves, they live up to the standards they have set. The standards could be biblical, spiritual or moral; whatever the case may be, you can predict their response to situations because they only respond to situations based on the standards they live by. Honorable people do not compromise their standards no matter what, and that is a core trait of the P31 woman. There are different examples of honorable women in both the Old and New Testaments, and centuries after their existence, they are still relevant because of what they stood for.
Let us consider some of the honorable women in the Bible...
JEHOSHEBA
This name is not a popular one, and you are likely to be unfamiliar with it; however, this doesn't change the fact that the bearer of the name was an honorable woman worthy of accolades. Her courage and bravery ensured that the lineage of King David would survive. The story of Jehosheba is recorded in 2 Kings chapter 2.
Read 2 Kings 11:1-3.
To give more perspective to this story, it is important to spell out who Athaliah was and why Jehosheba needed to hide Joash from her. Athaliah was the granddaughter of the notorious Omri, popularly known for his evil reign as king over Israel. She was the daughter of Ahab and possibly Jezebel and took after them in their evil ways and spread the worship of Baal. Upon taking power she went after every living relative and murdered them to ensure that her rule was unchallenged. However, due to Jehosheba's heroics, there was a survivor, Joash.
The evil in Athaliah's heart is unfathomable as she decided to extinguish the entire lineage of David, after the death of her son. This meant she killed her sons and grandsons to ensure that her plan came to fruition. To truncate this evil plan, God raised a brave woman in Jehosheba, as opposed to raising an army, to preserve the lineage of David, which Christ would eventually come from. Jehosheba was an integral part of ensuring the Messiah would be born according to God's promises. Despite everything standing in her way, she did all she could to ensure that prophecy came through. She risked everything including her life to protect her brother's son and put a stop to the cycle of death in the family. She could do this because she was an honourable woman who knew what was right and stood by it against all odds. What looked like a simple moral choice turned out to be something much bigger - her obedience was instrumental in fulfilling the prophecies of the coming of Jesus.