Proverbs 31

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

Does a good woman give and give and give without thought to her own well-being?

Proverbs 31 used to be a standard at funerals. That was before we realized that womanly virtue meant more than giving a husband bragging rites in the city gates. I use to think it my pastoral duty to root out both masculine and feminine stereotypes in liturgy, hymnody and scripture. Now I’m not so sure.

Enough water has passed under the bridge to allow us to take a second look at the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31.