Day 18 The Good Woman | Proverbs 3:13-14

The Good Woman

In Proverbs 1:20-33, Solomon describes wisdom as a woman, the good woman. This happens again in Proverbs 3:13-18. There is a difference. In Proverbs 1, Wisdom is angry with evil people. They have refused her advice. In Proverbs 3, we read about the people who love Wisdom. Wisdom brings good things to them; long life, wealth and honour (verse 16). When we walk with Wisdom, our life is pleasant and beautiful (verse 17).

These verses compare Wisdom to valuable objects. She is worth more than precious stones. Her value is more than silver or gold. She is the good woman.

In this verse Solomon describes the one who finds wisdom as "blessed." The word "blessed" means happy. Psalm 1:1 identifies the "blessed" [happy] person as the one who rejects the lifestyle of the wicked but delights in God's Word and the good woman.

In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus identified the blessed as the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, and those who are reviled falsely for His sake (Matthew 5:2–11).

Solomon describes wisdom and understanding in Proverbs, but does not explicitly supply definitions. As used across the text, however, wisdom is the ability to act according to accurate knowledge. Understanding, in Proverbs, is insight or intelligence—the ability to know something well enough to pass its value along to others. The acquisition of both wisdom and understanding produces happiness. Believers find life's greatest happiness in knowing and doing God's will and having the insight to determine how they should respond to a godless culture.

Wisdom is a possession whose value far outweighs that of silver and gold. The reference to "her" continues the pattern of imagining wisdom as a woman (Proverbs 1:20). As used in the book of Proverbs, wisdom is the ability to act on knowledge. It implies the opportunity—but not the guarantee—for someone to make godly choices. A person can possess wisdom, but fail to follow it. The book of Ecclesiastes demonstrates that Solomon did not always act according to wisdom.

Like Solomon, many individuals have pursued wealth only to find unhappiness. Paul told Timothy to warn his congregation about the folly of lusting after riches. He said, "those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9). He explained, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils" (1 Timothy 6:10).

Proverbs 23:4–5 counsels: "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven." Jesus told a story about a prosperous farmer who thought an abundant harvest could satisfy his soul far into the future. Jesus called him a fool, because he was not rich toward God, and before the light of the following day God demanded his soul. He died, leaving all his wealth behind (Luke 12:13–21).

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