Thursday, June 12, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 31:10-12


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Proverbs Of King Lemuel: A Godly “Woman Of Influence”: Proverbs 31:10-12
10) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

King Lemuel now turns our attention to advice, given from His mother, to help us understand the preciousness and importance of Godly “virtuous” women. 

What does “virtuous” mean?  This is a term that carries with it the idea of “force” or “influence”.  It is translated in the Bible as: “army”, “company”, “force”, “might”, “strength”, “valor”, among others.  The main thrust of this term is teaching us that this type of woman is a tremendous force for good in society.  Not only does she bring profit to herself and her family, but she is profitable to all those around her.  This is why she is described as “virtuous”.


EXPOSITION:
10) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
1.  Who can locate a “woman of influence”?
2.  Her value excels precious stones (or pearls)

Here, we can see that a truly virtuous woman is a very rare in our world.  That is why she is said to be hard to find and of great value.   

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.  (Ecclesiastes 7:28)




We now begin a list of the many qualities that can be found in this rare “woman of influence”…

11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
1.  Her husband willingly, confidently relies upon her (as steward of his family and possessions)
2.  so that he will have no need to forcibly take from take from others to meet his physical needs.

A.  A virtuous woman will faithfully care for her family and make certain their needs are supplied.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  (Proverbs 31:27)



12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
1.  The virtuous woman will always be beneficial to her husband
2.  never bringing harm to his reputation, or his physical, mental or spiritual well-being.

B.  A virtuous woman will always work for the benefit of her husband’s and family’s reputation and well-being.  She understands that by being supportive of her husband and family, she is being supportive of herself as well. 

(Please note, this is not saying that she “puts up with” or keeps hidden abuse or mistreatment from her husband or family.  In actuality, by working to see the abuser is punished, she is working for their welfare.  In many cases, the conviction and punishment of an abuser brings to them recognition of their wrongdoing and need to change their ways.  Being a virtuous woman involves taking a course that leads to the ultimate good of her family no matter how difficult the course may be.)      

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched [corn], and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid [them] on asses.  And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.  And it was [so, as] she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.  Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this [fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.  So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.   (1 Samuel 25:18-22)


SUMMARY:
In a study, so far, these are the qualities that are possessed by a Godly “woman of influence”:

A.  A virtuous woman will faithfully care for her family and make certain their needs are supplied.
B.  A virtuous woman will always work for the benefit of her husband’s and family’s reputation and well-being.  She understands that by being supportive of her husband and family, she is being supportive of herself as well. 


By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.


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