Reflections on the Excellent Woman in Proverbs 31

I read a book a few months back called The Excellent Woman as described in the book of Proverbs by Anne Pratt (1852).  It was enormously helpful to me and written so beautifully.  I have desired to share my reflections from my reading of the book ever since I finished it, and I am pleased to finally post them here. Please note that all text in italics are direct quotations from the text.

courageous
quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear

The excellent woman is first and foremost, courageous. She holds fast to the truth of God's word and is not swayed by every wind of unsound doctrine or cultural expectation. She strives to imitate the virtues and graces of women as described in the Bible (1 Peter 3:6), not in her own strength (Proverbs 12:10), but in the power of the Holy Spirit. In every tremendous feat and daily duty, the excellent woman trusts in the strength that God provides. Her value is greater than riches untold. He who finds her and becomes her husband, receives favor from the Lord (Proverbs 31:10).

trustworthy
reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence

The husband of a trustworthy woman does not have the pressure to constantly "keep up with the Joneses" to satisfy his wife's wants and pleasures. The trustworthy woman does not look to her own selfish ambitions in the running of the household, but to God. She recognizes that all she has come from Him (1 Peter 4:10). She is consistent in her behavior, particularly in the prudent management of financial resources.

beneficent
doing good or causing good to be done; conferring benefits; kindly in action or purpose

The marriage relationship is the strongest of all earthly influences, and the love of God guides the beneficent woman in this realm of influence. In contrast to the foolish woman of Proverbs 14:1, she does not bring shame to her household. She makes the home a contrast to the workplace for her husband: A place of "sweet converse that beguiles him of his cares and peace, and love, and order, and gentle welcome and soothing sympathy." The beneficent woman prays for her husband, gently reminds him of the promises in God's word, rejoices with him, does not listen with indifference, encourages him to holiness and virtue, and warns against sin.

enterprising
ready to undertake projects of importance or difficulty; energetic in carrying out any undertaking

The enterprising woman brings good to her household and cares to secure quality food and other items that make home life special. The work of her hands is not only a blessing to her household, but to others outside the home through bartering or selling. She gives to those who are truly needy: the poor whom sickness has prevented from labor, the little child, and others. Everyone who enters her home is benefited.

The wise and active conquer difficulties by daring to attempt them.
Sloth and Folly shiver and shrink at sight of toil and trouble.
And make the impossibilities they fear.

provident
having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future

The provident woman awakes early and manages the home. Such orderliness of the home is great help to her husband in his productivity and leading of the family. Basic areas of stewardship include cooking, cleanliness of the home, management of finances, care and training of children. Idle wives are either slothful or weary busybodies, while a woman who works diligently has freshness and energy. The energetic woman is engaged in earnestly furthering the Kingdom of God through fervent prayer and action. Anne Pratt wrote, "It should become a subject of deep and frequent thought to every woman, and especially to every Christian woman, whether her time is rightly spent."

Here is a fitting quote about the destructiveness of idleness: "Idleness is the badge of gentry, the bane of body and mind, the nurse of naughtiness, the stepmother of discipline, the chief author of all mischief, one of the seven deadly sins, the cushion upon which the devil chiefly reposes, and a great cause not only of melancholy, but of many other diseases: for the mind is naturally active; and if it be not occupied about some honest business, it rushes into mischief or sinks into melancholy." (Robert Burton, 1577 - 1640)

prudent
wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; sober

The prudent woman is one of forethought, preparedness, judgment, discretion and wisdom. For the sick, she anticipates want, bears patiently, ministers relief and love. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace, because she does not have an anxious mind, but trusts in the providence of God. The daily acts of her life are governed by the law of kindness. She guards against the evil of gossip by not dwelling on the fallacies of others.

Besides the general commands to love our poorer neighbor, we are especially to do good to them who are of the household of faith. We are told to lay down our lives for the brethren. Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need and shuteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Much like Solomon's great-great Grandmother, Ruth, the woman spoken of in Proverbs 31 was probably a person of wealth and the wife of one who "sat among the elders of the land." Nevertheless, she makes herself useful in her role, rather than basking listlessly in it, because she tasted the goodness of God. She is thankful and has a reputation of a life of strength and dignity. She rejoices at the time to come, treasuring in her heart verses like, "Even to your old age I AM, and even to hoar hairs I carry you", (Isaiah 46:4) and "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord" (Matthew 25:21).

The humble and lowly Christian, performing the simplest and commonest duties of domestic life in His fear, seeking His counsel, and earnestly striving to keep his commands, praying for guidance of the Holy Spirit and confidently trusting for the pardon of her sin in Him who died on the cross to redeem her - this is the woman on whom shall be bestowed that best, that only praise which is truly valuable, for her Lord shall say, "She hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."