Proverbs 31: Week 4 | The Wolfe Notes

Our 2023 GROWTH for Today journey guides us through the description of the Proverbs 31 woman. If you haven't joined yet, we'd love to have you. Each month, we're focusing on a different trait of the Proverbs 31 woman; in January, that trait is VALUABLE. Below summarizes where our journey has taken us so far.

• Week one set the background for our study and defined valuable. 
• Week two began our examination of Proverbs 31:10. 
• Week three finished our interpretation of Proverbs 31:10 and introduced Proverbs 31:29.

In week four, we are further exploring and interpreting Proverbs 31:29. What follows are our notes and thoughts about this verse. (Our personal thoughts are denoted by an *asterisk. Please do not read them as definitive answers; we are seekers too.)

Contents:

About "Daughters" A multifaceted look at the word.
To the Top Connecting with related scriptures.
Other Versions Reading other versions and writing our own.

Look at Roles Interpreting the verse for men and women separately.
As Christ's Bride Explaining the relation of this verse to the church.
Godly Wisdom Exploring what this verse teaches us about God as the source of wisdom.
Application In our past, present, and hopes for the future.

About Daughters

A multifaceted look at the word.

• Defined at Meriam Webster
• female offspring, especially of human parents
• considered as a daughter
• product of radioactive decay of an element (Chemistry; it produces something new)
• first generation of offspring organelles or molecules produced by reproduction, division, or replication (Biology)
• Hebrew at Bible Hub: banowt - daughters, branches 
• Article: "What does the Bible say about daughters?" at Got Questions
• Daughters of Zion = Jerusalem; Israel in general
• Refers to the loving, patient relationship God has with His chosen people.
• Isaiah 62:11 VOICE: For none other than the eternal has announced for all to hear - Eternal One: Say to the daughter of Zion "See, your salvation is coming; your liberation is on the way - God's reward is with Him: His work is by His side." 
• Luke 23:28 TLB But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children." 
• God is a loving father to His people
• Guardians of family life and home in ancient Jewish and many other cultures 
• Source of a nation's continuance
• Key to fertility
• Daughters suffering, then, signifies loss of life and heightened danger
• Daughters of Philip had the gift of prophecy 
• Acts 21:9 NIV: He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
• Joel 2:28 KJV: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions.
• Sarah's Daughters 
• Wives that submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ.
• I Peter 3:6 CJB: the way Sarah obeyed Abraham, honoring him as her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not succumb to fear.
• Even More Verses about Daughters
• Personal
• Mark 5:34 MEV: He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
• Ruth 3:10 GW: Boaz replied, "May the Lord bless you, my daughter. This last kindness - that you didn't go after the younger men, whether rich or poor - is better than the first." 
• Spiritual
• 2 Corinthians 6:18 KJV: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
• Isaiah 32:9 MEV: Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you careless daughters, give ear to my speech.
• Isaiah 49:22 ESV: Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
• Relational 
• Ezekiel 16:44 TLB: "Like mother, like daughter" - that is what everyone will say of you. 
• Numbers 30:3-5 CEV: Suppose a young woman who is still living with her parents makes a promise to the Lord. If her father hears about it and says nothing, she most keep her promise. But if he hears about it and objects, then she no longer has to keep her promise. The Lord will forgive her, because her father did not agree with the promise.
• *Daughter is used in reference to human relationships, a relationship between God and His chosen people as whole, direct relationships between God and women, fruitfulness, and Godly wives.

To the Top

Connecting with related scriptures.

• Ephesians 5:26-27 KJV: That he might sanctify and cleanse her in the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
• Song of Solomon 4:7 KJV: Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
• *How do we rise to the top? How is it possible that we can be presented without spot or wrinkle? Only because of our loving husband, Jesus Christ, who leads and loves us by the word.
• Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV: For by grace are you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared before hand, so that we should walk in them.
• Casting Crowns "Who Am I": "Not because of who I am, but because of what you've done" 
  

Other Versions

Reading other versions and then writing our own.

• KJV: Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
• CEV: "There are many good women, but you are the best!"
• DRA: Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all
• NCB: "Many are the women who have done admirable things, but you outdo them all."
• EHV: "Many daughters show strong character, but you have surpassed all of them."
• *Wolfe Stew Interpretations
• In shifting perspectives of "daughter":
• Many NATIONS seem good, but you, my CHOSEN daughter, rise to the top.
• Many FRUITFUL ACTS seem good, but you, my BLESSED daughter, rise to the top.
• Many BRIDES seem good, but you, my BELOVED daughter, rise to the top.
• Many WIVES seem good, but you, my SUBMISSIVE daughter, rise to the top.
• From varying voices:
• God: "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23)
• Jesus: "Thou art all fair, my love." (Song of Solmon 4:7)
• Relational: "There may be many good fish in the sea, but you are the only one for me."
• Personal: "I am uniquely made for a specific purpose in this time, at this place, with these people."

*Look at Roles

Interpreting Proverbs 31:29 for men and women separately. 

• Helper Role
• Respect him by:
• Acknowledging his virtues.
• Submitting to (accepting) the praise he gives you.
• Learning to understand the unique way he praises you.
• Complement him by:
• Recognizing you, together, are an ideal fit.
• Resting in the belief that there is no one else better for him.
• Keeper Role
• Lead her by:
• Helping her understand her virtues and how best to use them.
• Being virtuous.
• Love her by:
• Assuring her of her security in you.
• Committing to her alone.

*As Christ's Bride

Explaining how Proverbs 31:29 relates to the church.

• We as the Church should:
• Respect Christ by giving Him the honor He is due, wisdom incarnate.
• Submit to the love and affection He has for us, His bride.
• Learn to see ourselves how He sees us, all fair.
• Accept that you were made for Him from the beginning.
• Rest knowing His desire is for you; He will never leave you for another.
• Because Christ:
• Leads us in:
• Understanding who we are and how we can serve.
• Virtue.
• Loves us by:
• Assuring us of our security in Him.
• Committing Himself to us, even unto death.

 

*Godly Wisdom

Exploring what Proverbs 31:29 teaches us about God as the source of wisdom.

• This verse is how He sees His son, wisdom incarnate, and through His son, us.
• I wonder, though what "other" daughters, God might say have done virtuously? The other things He's created - animals, plants, stars, etc.?

Application

Of Proverbs 31:29 in our past, present, and hopes for the future.

• In the past, I was doubtful that anyone could truthfully say this about me. With the bounty of good people in the world, I fall short.
• Presently, I am confident God says this about His chosen people and I know my husband would assure me he sees me this way.
• My hope for the future is that I can inspire others to realize the value God sees in them. That He cherishes them for who they are: one who rises above the rest. 

Final Thoughts

That concludes our "Wolfe Notes" for this week. Follow along with us on our GROWTH for Today calendars as we wrap up thoughts of value in January and start considering how to be uplifting in February.

This week I discovered that pairing helper with church roles and keeper with Christ roles helped me better delineate these roles.

My struggle this week came in learning to rest and act in response to the value He places on me. If He looks at me and declares, "Thou excellest them all!" who am I to walk in doubt of that declaration? I need to live in the elevated position where He placed me - not forgotten and rejected, but a chosen daughter who rises above the rest.

I hope you, too, are grappling to accept the incredible value God places on each of us. Let's remain in prayer that the Holy Spirit guides us to an understanding of our value, teaches us to use that understanding to uplift others, and keeps our minds open to accepting Truth.

Growing with You,

Ready for Week 5?

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