We find in these verses in Proverbs 31 a list of virtues. A description of a woman that a mom wants her son to marry (check the first verse of the chapter). And yes, even back then, the mom's standards were impossibly high for the wife of her son. But at the same time, we discover here the description of a very modern woman. She is industrious. She buys and sells property, she makes clothes and sells them, she propels her husband to roles of leadership, she rises early, and goes to bed late. She is tired! And SHE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!!!Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.The husband lacks nothing of value (she is of upmost value) as long as he has her, he has all he will every need.Adam and Eve in the garden - AT LAST!! God has finally given me the one I have been looking for. This is not to dimish single people, God has different plans for all of us. But in the story of Adam and Eve we discover that God has made husband and wife to complete one another, to help one another. And jumping ahead to Proverbs, we see what that looks like when the two work together, and we see it from the viewpoint of the woman. And it is an amazing description. The husband has full confidence in her!! Listen to the way her day unfolds...13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.While this part of the story is told from early morning to late at night, keep in mind this is not "one woman" but rather the descriptions of many "idealized" women. These are the type of woman that this mom wants her son to find. Look for someone who possesses this kind of drive and ambition.Next we get her role in society...20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.I should mention that this is an acrostic, with each phrase starting with another letter of the alphabet. It is like those kids books we read. A is for Ambitious. B is for Baker, C is for the Cookies she makes, D is for Developer, as she develops the urban landscape, buying and selling land... 28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”Ah, the favorite quote of my mother. "Oh to have children like this. If only they would rise and call me blessed." :)30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. This final piece is the capstone. It is not her work that makes her ultimately worthy of praise (although that would be enough). Ultimately it is the fact that she fears the Lord that makes her worthy of praise. Not her charm, not her beauty, it is her fear of God. She understands that their is a God, and that she is not HIM. Therefore, honor her works, for they come from a heart of worship! Today we gather to tell our mom's thank you. Thank you to the stay at home moms, the go to work moms, the single moms, the divorced moms, and we say thank you to those who are moms in the way they bring up the girls around them, though they may not be biological moms, they are spiritual moms. To all the mom's - thank you!!Dear Mom, I know I do not say it often enough, and I know that I should do more to reflect my gratitude.
I just want you to know I love you. I really appreciate all the work you have done through the years to make it possible for each of us to do the things we wanted to do. To live in a great house. To eat together and enjoy great food and laughter. You created a place where we could be individuals. Where we could try and fail, and not be shamed or diminished. Thank you. mark
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.The husband lacks nothing of value (she is of upmost value) as long as he has her, he has all he will every need.Adam and Eve in the garden - AT LAST!! God has finally given me the one I have been looking for. This is not to dimish single people, God has different plans for all of us. But in the story of Adam and Eve we discover that God has made husband and wife to complete one another, to help one another. And jumping ahead to Proverbs, we see what that looks like when the two work together, and we see it from the viewpoint of the woman. And it is an amazing description. The husband has full confidence in her!! Listen to the way her day unfolds...13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.While this part of the story is told from early morning to late at night, keep in mind this is not "one woman" but rather the descriptions of many "idealized" women. These are the type of woman that this mom wants her son to find. Look for someone who possesses this kind of drive and ambition.Next we get her role in society...20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.I should mention that this is an acrostic, with each phrase starting with another letter of the alphabet. It is like those kids books we read. A is for Ambitious. B is for Baker, C is for the Cookies she makes, D is for Developer, as she develops the urban landscape, buying and selling land... 28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”Ah, the favorite quote of my mother. "Oh to have children like this. If only they would rise and call me blessed." :)30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. This final piece is the capstone. It is not her work that makes her ultimately worthy of praise (although that would be enough). Ultimately it is the fact that she fears the Lord that makes her worthy of praise. Not her charm, not her beauty, it is her fear of God. She understands that their is a God, and that she is not HIM. Therefore, honor her works, for they come from a heart of worship! Today we gather to tell our mom's thank you. Thank you to the stay at home moms, the go to work moms, the single moms, the divorced moms, and we say thank you to those who are moms in the way they bring up the girls around them, though they may not be biological moms, they are spiritual moms. To all the mom's - thank you!!Dear Mom, I know I do not say it often enough, and I know that I should do more to reflect my gratitude.
I just want you to know I love you. I really appreciate all the work you have done through the years to make it possible for each of us to do the things we wanted to do. To live in a great house. To eat together and enjoy great food and laughter. You created a place where we could be individuals. Where we could try and fail, and not be shamed or diminished. Thank you. mark
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