She is Virtuous

1. Virtuous

a. Defined:
• Brown; Driver; Briggs: The first dictionary meaning is strength; ability, vigor.
• It is the term translated “strength” in Prov. 31:3 (Don’t give your youthful vigor unto immoral women.)
• It also has a related, secondary meaning of moral strength; moral worth.

b. Usage:
• Joel 2:22 – Used of the strength of a vine.
• Ex. 18:25 – Used of “able” men.
• Josh. 1:14 – Used of men of “valor” – valiant men (also mighty men of valor).
• Judges 6:12 – Gideon was described: “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”
• Psalm 18:32 – David acknowledged that his “strength” came from the Lord: “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”
• Hab. 3:19 – “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”

c. The Hebrew term translated “virtuous” is not a perfect parallel to our English word virtuous.
• The most immediate thought that comes to mind when we hear the English word virtuous is “full of virtue.”
• The Hebrew word may imply that, but only secondarily.
• Primarily the term speaks of strength and vitality.
• It speaks of a woman who is strong, fruitful, vibrant, active, full of life and vigor. This is seen throughout the rest of the chapter.
• But it also implies that she is strong morally and spiritually. This too is seen in the description to follow.

d. This is an interesting thought in that so often the world thinks that the Bible’s concept of a woman’s role of submission means that she is to be weak, mindless, spineless doormat, object of pity.
• The world hates the concept of women submitting to their husbands… and view it is a weakness.
• In reality, the Bible’s concept of a godly woman is just the opposite.
• The very first description of the godly woman in THE section in the Bible on that subject is that she is first and foremost STRONG… able… capable… vibrant… skillful… fruitful… accomplished… courageous… valiant…
• She is strong in character and morals and firm in her convictions.
• The picture the Bible actually paints of a godly woman is far different from what many might think.
• This is not a weak lady who sits in a corner, with no mind of her own, doesn’t dare to speak a word, as a second class citizen. That’s what the world thinks of a woman’s role.
• We are going to spend several weeks to consider what the BIBLE says about the exemplary or ideal woman.
• The very first description is that she is a STRONG lady.
• Yes, the New Testament speaks of the woman as a “weaker vessel”—and the emphasis there is physical… and that by way of contrast to a man. This is not a newsflash that women are generally physically weaker than men.
• But women are NOT weaker in other areas – spiritually, morally, mentally, etc.

2. Ruth 3:11 – Ruth is the only woman in the Bible called a “virtuous woman.”

a. Ruth certainly was a virtuous woman. She was a strong woman in every way.

b. She was strong physically. She worked in the fields gathering grain all day long.

c. She was strong spiritually—she was willing to leave her family and her country behind in order to follow Naomi to the land and the god of Israel. God came first.

d. She was strong morally—she followed the Jewish protocol of laying at the feet of her husband to be… but there was no contact.

e. She was strong minded—her sister in law turned back to Moab. That was the most natural thing to do. But Ruth determined to head in a completely different direction. She followed Naomi.

f. She was strong in her loyalty to Naomi. She wouldn’t let her return alone.

g. She was strong in her courage. She lost her husband and now was facing the unknown, traveling to a foreign country. She was no shrinking violet. She was brave. In Judah she walked right into a field full of strangers—and strange men—and went to work. That took some bravery on her part.

h. Clearly Ruth was a virtuous, strong, brave, woman of valor.

i. Ruth 4:11 – Once again the word translated “virtuous” is used as an adverb in this passage and is translated “worthily.”
• It comes as an exhortation from the elders and the people at the gate to Ruth.
• This usage of the term defines or describes HOW she was to “do” – live her life in her new homeland: worthily… strong… vibrant… strong in virtue and morals…
• This usage is similar to its usage in Prov. 31:10.
• It still means strong – and emphasizes being strong in doing WELL…
• Notice that the testimony of this woman. Her strength of character was well known throughout the city. Many were probably the recipients of her worthy life.

3. This is the kind of woman Lemuel’s mother encouraged her son to seek out and find.

a. She says, “Who can find” such a woman?
• That implied that they are not easy to find. Abraham had to send a servant to a faraway land to find a wife for his son.
• They are hard to find, but such women do exist; and they are worth waiting for—worth seeking out—worth finding.

b. She gave her son good advice. “Don’t waste your virtue and strength on wine and immoral women; instead find a virtuous woman!”