THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

In Proverbs 31:10-31 we find what is termed the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman. This passage says, “Who can find a virtuous wife: For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax. And willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships. She brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen, and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her; ‘Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.’ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.” The amazing thing about this passage is the subject who inspired the author to write it. Solomon wrote this about his mother Bathsheba. Bathsheba made quite an entrance onto the national stage of Israel through her affair with King David! Time healed the moral failure and proved her real character. By honor, by integrity, by her words and her service, she put God first and built an exemplary life! She taught Solomon the wisdom that was on her tongue. How did Solomon know to ask God for wisdom? He likely got it from his mother. Solomon is telling all of us, ‘I became who I am because of who my mother was.’ This is quite a statement. God loves to take people with spots, wrinkles and blemishes and infuse them with faith and walk them out into a great future of change and transformation. Why don’t we accept what the Blood has done for us and start building on it? It is obvious from the people God chose for His family that He loves flawed characters so that He can redeem their failures. Bathsheba was one such example!