Proverbs 31
Mar 9, 2005 Print This Post
{ MOOD: Alright | ITUNES: “High Enough” – Damn Yankees }
Well, today is our last day of going through Proverbs together. This has been cool for me. It really helped keep me on task and get me to not only read through a bit of the Bible every day, but actually look for application.
I would love to hear from some of you who have been doing this with me for the last month. Was it helpful? Did you get a lot out of it? Is it something we should do again sometime? Let me know. If you are unable to comment through the comment box at the bottom of your email browser, just click here and add your comment through the site.
And now for the final time…
Proverbs 31
These are the sayings of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him.
O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my promises, do not spend your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
And it is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave liquor. For if they drink, they may forget their duties and be unable to give justice to those who are oppressed. Liquor is for the dying, and wine for those in deep depression. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life.
She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship; she brings her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth.
Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.
Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Noel’s thoughts on Proverbs 31
This is the most famous passage on women in the Bible. I remember going to my mom’s house on mother’s day once and she asked what we taught on at Riv. I told her Steve had done a message on Proverbs 31. She said “aren’t there other passages to teach on about this subject?” Sure there are, but this one paints such an awesome picture.
Think about this woman who is described. I love the fact that she is not the cliche housewife: buried under under dishes and laundry, lorded over by her husband and tormented by little hellions! She is so much more multi-faceted. She has a life outside the home, but we don’t see her sacrificing her family for that career.
What we see is a strong, talented, caring woman who runs her own business and takes care of her household, as well. She has struck a good balance. She has money to invest, servants to look after and real estate to manage. She is her husbands partner, and she is looking over their their property and all their stuff.
She not only has mad business skills but she has the compassion to care for the needs of those less fortunate.
And look at the description of her husband and kids:
Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
And with all of this said, the primary thing we see in this woman is in the last verse:
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Why is she successful? Because she fears the Lord. She has oriented her life around God as the center.
I have known some women who say they hate reading this chapter, because this woman has set the bar too high. But remember, this is wisdom literature. In addition to that, this chapter details the kind of woman a mom wants her son to marry. So realize, this is an idealistic picture. But the bottom line remains, just like any wisdom literature: Put God at the center of your life, and these things begin to pour out of you. Strive to be wise, but recognize we all fall short of the “ideal.”
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