Proverbs 31.17
“She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.”
If we want to be effective in a job or a role, we must do the work to build the required skill. The Lord does not give us the skill; rather, he gives us the power to do the work, and he motivates and moves us, and he encourages and empowers us. But we must still do the work, and it’s not easy. Often it is a great battle.
The book of Proverbs repeatedly tells us that in the kingdom of God, disciplined training is the necessary path for gaining wisdom, strength, and skill. This is the principle of musar. As we have seen throughout our study of Proverbs — as we have emphasized this week — wisdom, strength, and skill are not simply given, they are built.
Paul communicates the same message in several places in the NT. A great example is Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil …”
In order to live the life to which God calls us, we must do battle with the devil and his forces. And to win that battle, we must “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” When Paul urges us in verse 10 to draw upon the power of the Lord, he uses the same trio of words that he used earlier in Ephesians: (dunamis, kratos and ischus). The use of these three different words for “strength” is a unique way of emphasizing just how important it is for us to trust in Christ and his strength.
Dunamis is “power,” and is the origin of our English words “dynamite” and “dynamo.” Kratos is “strength” or “force.” Kratos was the Greek god of strength, and was the brother of Nike, the god of victory. Ischus is “might” and carries the idea of endowed power or ability. In all these ways the Lord empowers and equips us for the battles of life and work.
It is also an emphasis on the combination of God’s action + our action. Some Christians are so self-confident that they think they can manage by themselves without the Lord’s strength and armor. That is a mistake. Others are so self-distrustful that they don’t think they have anything to contribute to their victory in spiritual warfare. That is also a mistake.
Paul expresses the necessity for both divine empowerment and our effort. The power is indeed the Lord’s, and without the strength of his might we will stumble and fall. Nevertheless, we need to be strong in the Lord and in his power, or more accurately we need to “be strengthened.” The verb form in this verse could be rendered “Strengthen yourselves in the Lord.”
Trust God. Dress yourself with strength. Make your arms strong.
