A Good Woman

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out how God views a mother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to the goodness of God. There are numerous stories in the Bible about mothers who were good women such as Hagar, Hannah, Esther, Ruth, and Elizabeth, alongside stories of non-mothers, those spiritual good women such as Miriam, Martha, and Mary Magdalene. In this sharing, the “mother of all the living” – Eve, the Proverbs 31 woman, and Abigail will exemplify God’s perspective of “a good woman”.

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out how God views a mother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to the goodness of God.

Psalm 139:13-14

These are beautiful words to think about (as David did) of how God wove us in our mother’s womb, and we can give thanks for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Ephesians 6:1-3

There is a spiritual and physical consequence to honoring our mothers and fathers. It does not say honor your mother only on a designated day, but we are to give honor to our mothers every day.

Proverbs 31:10; 25-26; 30

This proverb of wisdom and instruction: Who can find a good woman? She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. This woman who fears the LORD shall be praised.

Genesis 1:1, 3, 10, 12;18, 21, 26, 31

Genesis 2:21-24

Genesis 3:20

Eve was very good in God’s creation and the mother of all the living.

The word “good” in the verses in Genesis are the Hebrew word tob. In the Greek, “good” is kalos agathos, chrestos and often appears in a nonmoral sense in Scripture, like in a good appearance, good land, good gold, good soil, good wine. But most of the biblical uses of the word “good” have to do with moral qualities.

Psalm 86:5   For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon You.

Psalm 34:8   O Taste and see that the LORD is good, how blessed is the man who takes refuge in him;

In Scripture, His goodness appears most clearly in His dealings with people.

Psalm 26:3   Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Romans 2:4   Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerable and patience, not knowing that the kindness (goodness) of God leads you to repentance?

In the Scripture, goodness always involves particular ways of behaving. Because God is good, He is good to His people; when people are good, they behave decently toward each other, based on God’s goodness to them.

Micah 6:8   He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

In Galatians 5:22, goodness is a fruit of the Spirit.

1 Samuel 25:3, 10, 18-19, 22-33, 39

We have the biblical record of Abigail, a good woman of understanding. She trusted and had faith in the goodness of her God, Yahweh. Abigail ended up marrying King David and gave birth to their son, Chileab.

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