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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