000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

186 Proper 20 [25]/Year B
are typical of ancient women. She clothes the family (31:13) and like a ship
making arduous journeys, brings food from faraway places and arises early
to prepare meals. She manages the household servants well (31:14–15).
She exercises authority in more ways than most women in the ancient
world, buying a field without consulting her husband, operating the vineyard
herself, and engaging in negotiation and management (31:16).
Indeed, she is “girded” and “strong” like a military leader (31:17). Confident
that her work is valuable, she works late into the night (31:18–19).
She cares for the poor and needy (31:20). She prepares her husband for
challenges, represented by her making clothing for snow as well as fine
clothing for community celebrations (31:21–22). While practicing solidarity
with the poor (31:20), she enables her spouse to sit at the gates
where elders enact justice (31:23).
More important than the garments she sells outside the home (Prov.
31:24) are her strength and dignity. Moreover, she speaks wisdom and
teaches the practice of kindness (31:24–26). She is vigilant with regard to
the needs of her household so that children and spouse honor her
(31:27–29). Charm and beauty deceive, but the woman who fears God,
that is, who lives wisely, is honored, and receives a share of the work of
her own hands. Her life invites all to participate in wisdom as it is lifted
up at the city gates (31:30–31).
A preacher should avoid using this text to reinforce repressive roles for
women. A sermon could not only call for removing limitations on women
but for empowering women toward creativity, initiative, and choice. More
than that, the sermon could hold up this wise woman as a model for all to
live wisely in community.
The New Testament does not directly invoke this passage. It does, however,
put forward pictures of strong, creative, independently functioning
women in line with pictures of women in the Old Testament, and also in
the New Testament (e.g., Gen. 1:26–28; Exod. 1:15–2:10; 15:20–21; Num.
12:1–15; Josh. 2:1–21; 6:15–25; Judg. 4:1–5:31; 2 Sam. 14:1–20; 20:14–27;
2 Kgs. 22:14–20; Ruth 1:1–4:22; cf. Jer. 31:15–22; Matt. 1:18–25; 28:1–10;
Mark 5:25–34; Luke 7:11–17, 36–50; 8:1–3; 10:38–42; 24:1–11; Acts
9:32–42; 12:12; 16:12–40; 18:1–3; 21:1–10; Rom. 16:1, 3, 6, 12, 15; Gal.
3:28, though contrast Col. 3:18–19 and 1 Pet. 3:1–6).
Jeremiah 11:18–20; Wisdom of Solomon 1:16–2:1, 12–22* (Paired)
Although the readings from Jeremiah and Wisdom are offered by the lectionary
as alternate readings and come from different communities, their