A woman of noble character captures her enemies

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” (Song of Songs 2:15)


A woman of noble character captures her enemies. She recognizes that in the midst of her relationship with Jesus, she has enemies who try to ruin her believe, her faith, her courage, and her strength (all of these are in the process of continual growth). She takes actions to put her enemies in captivity. A woman of noble character recognizes that this is her charge from God. It is an order. A challenge, in which, God calls her to be obedient through her actions. God says, “Catch ...” In other words, take action.

A woman of noble character recognizes that she benefits from the actions she takes. “Catch for us…” God didn’t say “catch for me,” He said “catch for us.” He wants her to recognize that she will benefit from her actions to contain the enemies. This reminds me of our children’s sports participation. Every time our children participate in a sport, we cheer for them, we can very well play for them, but it gets us excited just from watching them play, because they make us proud when they play well. We stand on the sideline and cheer, calling out their names, telling them to take actions that we see that can lead them to victory. Our benefit of their victory is pride of conveying the strategies for them to bring on that victory. Their benefit is the pride in recognizing the strategies that we or their coaches give to them and put them into actions to bring on the victory. Thus, we all benefit from the same victory, but from different perspectives. A woman of noble character recognizes that the benefit of victory is hers as well as God’s.

A woman of noble character recognizes her enemies in disguise, little foxes. Little foxes, Biblical terms, represent mischievous annoyances or behaviors. Thus, God is calling, charging her to take actions to keep these behaviors from disturbing her peace, spiritual growth, graces, comforts, faith, etc. In order for her relationship with God to grow progressively in the right direction, a woman of noble character must catch her little behaviors that hinder her spiritual growth. Notice, the verse says “little foxes”. Small things, small actions, or small behaviors that seem harmless can lead to dangerous and disastrous outcome.

Let me share with you my personal experience. In my early years of ministry with my husband, I became interested in horoscopes. I didn’t actually believe in them, but I liked reading them because it was fun. Sometimes, it seemed obvious that it was totally out of reach, but sometimes it was so real that it produced “wows” for me. I didn’t go out and buy them, but I read them in magazines while waiting at the doctor’s offices or in line at grocery stores, even in Penny Savers paper. While reading them, I knew that God ultimately holds the power over all things. I also knew it was sinful to believe in horoscopes and palm reading. But, I thought it would do no wrong to read just to pass the time. And, it wasn’t that I read it everyday. It was only once in awhile.

However, little by little I was taken by it. I was consumed with its skeptical view of my God’s love. I was placing my hopes in it. I read it and waited for the outcome. When it didn’t come true, I would be disappointed.

Fortunately, God loved me enough to call me back: every night when I fell into a partial sleep, a black spirit would fly in from the window (I could hear the cold swashing sound) to consumed my body, it started from my feet: my feet felt numb and it quickly passed up my body. I was totally immobile until I called on the name of Jesus, then it disappeared and I was free again. This continued more and more often until it happened even when I took naps in the day time. I was afraid and confused.

But, what finally turned me around was the fact that the enemy used my husband’s hands to choke me one night. As we were sleeping, I felt his hands clutched around my throat, choking me. As I struggled to break free and called on the name of Jesus Christ to help me, I felt his body turned completely to the other side and released my neck. I elbowed him and yelled at him for choking me, “Why were you choking me?”

“What are you talking about?” he said as he turned his head toward me. “I didn’t choke you. You must have been dreaming.”

“I was not dreaming. I felt you choked me and you just turned around right now,” I said as I struggled to catch my breath.

“I didn’t choke you. You must be crazy,” he said.

I was so puzzled by the whole deal. I couldn’t find a reason why my husband was trying to choke me. I knew we were having problems, but it was not enough to take my life. I was restless. I prayed to God to help me. He revealed to me that I was placing my hopes and faith in the wrong places. While it started as an innocent time passing action, it took my attention from God’s love to the hope that the little readings of the horoscope would come true for me, instead of believing in God’s provision for me. I kneeled down to pray and cast out the spirit of darkness in the name of Jesus. I repented and God set me free.

A woman of noble character does not practice sinful acts or believes. She does not allow the little foxes, whatever hindrances, to interfere with her spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ which is in constant growth (this is the most dangerous time). Isaiah 7:9b warns that, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” A woman of noble character captures her enemies, preventing them from disturbing her faith in Jesus.

Lord Jesus, thank for your constant love and encouragements for your children, teaching us to take the necessary actions to prevent our enemies from destroying our spiritual growth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.