READING FOR OCTORBER 2, 2025: PROVERBS 31, ACTS 19, PSALM 105:1-6 PROVERBS 31 It has been noted that this writer isn’t a woman and tends to take the Bible too literally. In order to bring more balance, below is a brilliant analysis from Shobana Vetrivel, who includes a metaphorical layer which is undeniably appropriate while summing up the entire book. This a longer piece, BUT WORTH IT!
“Since I began growing in faith, I was the classic good girl eager to do all the right things. In most women’s meetings, Proverbs 31 was the key passage to study. But I had a very complicated relationship with this passage. Proverbs 31 was presented as the yardstick to measure all Christian women. It was the standard for being a good, godly, woman, which meant being a devoted wife and mother, who is also a domestic goddess, as well as active and enterprising outside the home.”
“I was all set to be this woman and translate this to whatever modern equivalency I could. But as it happened, I turned out to be single, without any children, and very far from being a domestic goddess. It was very difficult to relate to this expectation and to this passage. Even for women who are married, or married with children, this passage can be intimidating. It feels like a burden that weighs them down with unrealistic expectations and makes them feel ‘less than.’”
“It is possible for men in India to neglect this passage as something that applies exclusively to women. Single men may see it as a guide for what to look for in a wife. A married man may use it to describe what his wife should be like. But as I studied the book of Proverbs, I discovered that this chapter has something to say to all of us. Proverbs 31 is truly for everyone, irrespective of our situation.”
“I loved the first Top Gun movie, and I recently watched the sequel Top Gun: Maverick and I loved it. If you have seen the first movie, you immediately understand and identify the references it makes to the first movie. Proverbs 31 is a bit like that.”
“In Proverbs 1-9, wisdom and folly are personified as two women. Both have prepared a meal and are calling out to the simple man and inviting him to come in and eat with them (Prov. 9:4-6; 9:16-18). The reward for finding wisdom is life but the consequence of choosing folly is death. The Lord lays out this choice between wisdom and folly throughout the book of Proverbs. He calls us to choose wisdom.”
“Wisdom is portrayed and personified as a ‘woman of valor.’ Proverbs 31:10-31 is set out as an acrostic poem in Hebrew. Each verse starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the idea is one of completion—giving us a full picture from A to Z of what wisdom looks like in action.”
“Consider this verse: ‘An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.’ (Prov. 31:10-12). The word translated ‘excellent’ (chayil) is closely associated with the term for a warrior and has military undertones. The word for ‘gain’ is the word used for ‘plunder’ (Prov. 31:11). She rises up like a lioness and provides food for her household, where the word for food is ‘prey’ (Prov. 31:15). She ‘girds her loins,’ as if dressing herself for battle (Prov. 31:17). She is far more precious than jewels and, in Proverbs 3:15, the same words are used to describe wisdom.”
READING FOR OCTORBER 2, 2025 CONTINUED: PROVERBS 31, ACTS 19, PSALM 105:1-6 “More than portraying a to-do list for women, this passage reveals wisdom in action. It paints a picture of what it looks like when wisdom rules our life. This ancient poem, written thousands of years ago, breaks modern stereotypes of women. Wisdom is portrayed and personified as a ‘woman of valor.’”
“Wisdom in the book of Proverbs and in the Bible is not head knowledge and just words, wisdom is always seen in actions and in right living. Wisdom is active, not passive and it is relational, not individualistic. So, what does wisdom look like in practice? This ‘woman of valor’ puts into practice all the themes from the book of Proverbs.”
“The woman of valor works hard, and she is in direct contrast to the sluggard. There is an interesting word- play using ‘hands.’ The sluggard ‘buries his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to even bring it back to his mouth’ (Prov. 19:24, 21:25). The woman of valor does not generate wealth through exploitation but through diligent hard work. In contrast, the woman of valor works with willing hands (Prov. 31:13), she plants a vineyard with her hands (Prov. 31:16), she makes her arms strong (Prov. 31:17), she puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle (Prov. 31:19). She does not eat the bread of idleness, and she is a resourceful woman.”
“The woman of valor generates wealth. She is an entrepreneur, who is living out the wisdom of God: ‘Who- ever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense’ (Prov. 12:11). She considers a field and buys it and plants a vineyard (Prov. 31:16), she perceives her merchandise is pro- fitable (Prov. 31:18), she makes linen garments and sells them, and she delivers sashes to the merchants (Prov. 31:24). The woman of valor does not generate wealth through exploitation but through diligent hard work.”
“The sluggard is told to go and consider the ways of the ant (Prov. 6:6-11). He is told to see how the ant prepares for winter by gathering in the summer. The woman of valor prepares for the future just like the ant. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is covered in scarlet (Prov. 31:21). The word used here for scarlet also means double thickness, so they are warm in winter. Wisdom says of herself, ‘whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster’ (Prov. 1:33). The woman of valor laughs at the days to come because she is well prepared for the future (Prov. 31:25).”
“Woman Folly persuades the young man lacking the sense to commit adultery with her and brings about his destruction (Prov. 7:19). In contrast, the woman of valor brings flourishing to those around her. The fruit of her works and her beneficiaries are, first and foremost, those in her home—her husband and her children. She provides for her household (Prov. 31:15), who are clothed in scarlet (Prov. 31:21).”
“This ode to the woman of valor is an ode to wisdom itself. Everyone at the city gates knows her husband (Prov. 31:23) and she looks well to the ways of her household (Prov. 31:27). The ones closest to her reap the benefits of her work. The woman of valor is not a doormat, dancing to everyone’s tunes. But she is using all her strength to bring out the best in those around her.”
“The woman of valor brings flourishing not only to those closest to her but also to those outside—to those who are vulnerable, poor and, needy. She provides for her maidens, opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy (Prov. 31:15, 20). This woman works hard with her hands and generates wealth. She is not close-fisted to the needy but uses the same hard-working hands to give generously to the poor. ‘Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him’ (Prov. READING FOR OCTORBER 2, 2025 CONTINUED: PROVERBS 31, ACTS 19, PSALM 105:1-6 14:31).’ A life of wisdom is a life that acts justly and seeks mercy.”
“Wisdom says of herself, ‘All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them’ (Prov. 8:8). The woman of valor opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on tongue (Prov. 31:26). The word for teaching here is torah—the law and instruction. The writer uses the word chesed for kindness, which is the steadfast, loyal, covenant love of God.”
“The woman of valour does not use sugar-coated flattery. She speaks God’s truth in love. This is wisdom based on God’s word that instructs kindly, gently, and consistently. Everyone, near and far, praises the ‘woman of valor.’ Her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband praises her (Prov. 31:28). Those who know her intimately praise her. Her work calls for praise in the city gates, not just from her family (Prov. 31:31)
“Ultimately this poem, and the book of Proverbs, lead us to gaze at Jesus, who is the wisdom of God. More than anything, the woman of valor embodies the key theme of the book of Proverbs—the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7). ‘Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised’ (Prov. 31:30).”
“The book of Proverbs consistently places wisdom in relation to our relationship with the Lord (Prov. 9:10). This is what sets her apart from others. Charm and beauty are fine in their own right but they are not foundations on which to build your life. But they are like vapor or mist, which is fleeting. You can try to grasp it, but it is impossible to grip. The woman of valor is wisdom in action. This ode to the woman of valor is an ode to wisdom itself.”
At the beginning of the book of Proverbs, Woman Wisdom sounds out an invitation to the simple man to enter her house and find life. The book ends with a picture of what it looks like when the man chooses to enter her house, to metaphorically take wisdom as his wife. God calls us to choose wisdom—to marry her. Ultimately this poem, and the book of Proverbs, lead us to gaze at Jesus, who is the wisdom of God. The ‘woman of valor’ is a metaphor. But we have a living, flesh and blood, embodiment of the wisdom of God in Christ (1 Cor. 1:24, Col. 2:2-3).”
“The real challenge of Proverbs 31 is to choose Jesus—to pursue him, to gaze at his beauty, to learn from him, to rest in his perfect, complete, finished work on the cross, and to live out the life of wisdom through his Spirit, who empowers and strengthens us. This invitation is for all of us—women, men, married and sin- gle. MAY WE FIND IN JESUS ALL THE RICHES OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING, AND IN SEEKING HIM, FIND OUR REWARD.”
ACTS 19 These first verses raise tricky questions about the normal Christian experience: 1. Must Christians be indwelt by the Holy Spirit? On the “no” side, the 12 men were disciples. (It doesn’t say of whom.) On the “yes” side, Rom. 8:9: “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Writer’s Opinion: Possibly the 12 were John’s or Apollos’s disciples or didn’t realize they had the Spirit. 2. Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. Can Christians know they have the Spirit? On the “yes” side, we can trust Rom. 8:9 is true, there are signs/gifts of the Spirit (such as tongues) and fruit of the Spirit (such as joy). On the “no” side there may be no experiential awareness. Writer’s Opinion: We can trust God’s Biblical promise of the Holy Spirit and likely there will be some experiential confirmation at some time.
READING FOR OCTOBER 2, 2025: ACTS 19, PSALM 105:1-6 CONTINUED 3. Should the laying on of hands be a practice in today’s church? On the “yes” side, this is associated with healing (Acts 10:12), imparting spiritual gifts (2 Tim.1:6), commissioning for new ministry (Acts: 6:6), blessing children (Matt 19:13), imparting the Holy Spirit (Act. 19:6). On the “no” side, it’s not often taught today, and the above verses are descriptive not prescriptive. Writer’s Opinion: According to Heb.6:1, it should be done.
Once again, despite his previous difficulties, Paul starts his ministry in a synagogue. He usually runs into opposition there, but it does seem to be key in gaining a strong foothold in a city. When the inevitable opposition arises, he again moves the location and stays for two full years giving daily instruction. In addition, he performed some spectacular miracles, even through his handkerchiefs. The question of whether such miracles are still possible today is a controversial one. A scholar who has written most convincingly about this is Craig Keener (Google him). We see some Jews interested in doing exorcisms in Jesus’s name but apparently weren’t Christians themselves. The demon turned on them rather dramatically. Do individuals today ever use the name of Jesus for their own political or business purposes? This led to believers burning their magic/demon-related books. Avoid such books and sites! Recycle rather than burn, though.
Evangelism was so successful in Ephesus that the people making money off idol worshipping started a riot against Christians. Ephesus was the home of the Temple of Goddess Artimus, which created good business in tourism and idol making. Wouldn’t it be great to upset local drug dealers and sex traffickers? To our shame, they likely don’t worry about us. The town clerk, not a Christian but an exemplary public official, resolved the situation. Vote for Him.
PSALM 105:1-6 Lots of active verbs in these first verses. Lights, Cameras, ACTION: Give thanks; OK, let’s do that now. Call on His name; say together, “Our Father who art in Heaven.” Make his deeds known; before going to bed tonight, tell or email about what God has done. Sing praises to God; try to do it when no one is around, because it’s just to Him—plus others might think we are weird. Tell of His wonders; email this person about at least two wonders of God: (rsloan1112@gmail.com). Based on verses 3-4, pray that some sad and discouraged non-believer in your family will seek the Lord and find joy and strength. Finally, remember who we are at our very core being: descendants of Abraham, sons of Jacob, and God’s chosen ones.
