You have heard of "surprise endings.” Today's reading has a two-fold "surprise beginning.”  (1)  In Proverbs Chapter 31, the name of Solomon’s mother is not revealed.  Solomon was conceived in sin as the offspring of David and Bathsheba. The Scriptures reveal in 2 Samuel Chapter 11 how King David saw Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop, and how he lusted after her. He had her brought unto him, and they conceived a child. That child was Solomon. To cover up his sinful deed, King David had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed on the battlefield, so he could say the child was conceived by Uriah while he was on furlough. Bathsheba knew King David’s character was shaky, and she later saw the same iniquity in her son, Solomon. Merriam Webster defines "Iniquity” as, "a wicked act or thing.” Iniquity can become a generational weakness or a generational curse to the third and fourth generations (Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18).  But in the Name of Jesus Christ, we can overcome all iniquity and generational curses because Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).

(2) We may have mistakenly believed that Proverbs 31 was written only for women.  But, it was written by a man (Solomon) to men and women alike.  It was written for men so they can understand how to find and marry a "virtuous woman.”  It was written for women so they can understand and follow God’s model and pattern for the "virtuous woman.”  The meaning of "virtuous,” (from the original Hebrew root word) is "a force, whether of men, of means, or of other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength, able, (soldiers), might, power, riches, worthy(-ily).”  Now, that’s a shocker!  The virtuous woman, then, is a STRONG woman of God. 

When Solomon questions: "Who can find a virtuous woman?”  he was issuing a challenge to both men and women.  (1) To the man, the challenge is "to look, seek, and find”  the virtuous woman.  (2) To the woman, the challenge is "to be found a strong, virtuous woman of God.”  Solomon goes on to say, her "price” is far above rubies.  "Price” is not the same as "value.”  Only the maker of a thing has the right to establish its "price.”  Price is calculated by "the investment of time and resources that it takes to make something and to bring it to a certain standard of quality.”  (Bishop I. V. Hilliard)   We saw earlier that "value” is determined by the buyer.  Value has nothing to do with the price or the quality.  It's a personal assessment.   

GEM FOR TODAY:  I cast down all generationaI curses, in the Name of Jesus.   I am God’s creation:  therefore, only He has the right to establish my price.  (Men say) I AM A MAN OF VALOR, AND I VALUE GOD'S PRICELESS WOMAN!!!  (Women say)  I AM GOD'S PRICELESS WOMAN!!!  In Jesus' Name, Amen