God's Wonderful Design of a Biblical Mother

Main text:

Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV

10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Introduction

Happy Mother’s Day to all and especially to my loving and caring wife, I love you and thank you for your life and worth to me personally and to our family. Happy Mother’s day.

Today is a special day to all our hard working mothers and I thank God for all our Mother (Mama, Mommy, Nanay, Inay, Lola) that are present here today. God loves you.

Since today is a special day for our mothers, God’s message today of course will be related to them as this is a once in a year celebration and I believe it is a very good timing to study this relevant message of God for the following:

For young people men - who are looking forward to find a biblical women (wife material) of their lives

For young people women - who are looking for a pattern and biblical principles of how to be a biblical Mother

For young married women - this is the biblical pattern for you to follow as biblical Mother

For our old married women - it is not too late to have a change of heart as we learn about biblical Mother

We are still in our theme: That I May Know Him with a goal of knowing God with our heart, soul, and mind. Just like what we have studied last Sunday through Pastor Hans. We learned that spiritual wisdom is inseparable to spiritual understanding. Spiritual wisdom is the biblical “Hows” of life, and understanding is the biblical “walk” of life based on the “hows” of life.

Because if we look at the definition of biblical wisdom:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

If you could observe, wisdom and knowledge are inseparable.

Here’s the few verses that support this:

Proverbs 2:6 (ESV)

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Isaiah 11:2 (ESV)

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

For us to know God with our heart, soul, and mind, it requires a spiritual wisdom and understading. And today, we have a very important topic:

God’s Wonderful Design of a Biblical Mother

With the aim to help us look to the biblical pattern God has given us (specific audience), for us to follow and obey.

Historical Background

Author: (Some believe that Lemuel (king) was really Solomon himself, and that vv 1-9 were words of advice that Bathsheba, his mother gave to him, while the rest were Solomon’s own tribute to her.)

Type: Wisdom Poem and Acrostic (each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, two lines per letter.

It is like the ABC of a Biblical Mother

An awesome wife, who can find her?

A blessed lady, her husband trusts her.

A caring woman, she does him good all her life.

A diligent worker, she is skillful with her hands.

There are other acrostic verses in the Bible like:

Ps. 111(After the initial “Praise the Lord” in verse 1 are twenty-two lines to correspond with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each line of the poetry begins with a letter of the alphabet, in order.)

Ps. 119 (entire chapter) This psalm is divided into twenty-two sections, one for each Hebrew letter.

Lamentations 1-4:

and more

Now, let us dive in to our study about:

God’s Wonderful Design of a Biblical Mother

First: Her Invaluable Worth

The verse begins with a question: “An excellent wife who can find?” then following with a statement: “She is far more precious than jewels”, showing her invaluable worth, meaning cannot be measured or replaced by anything. “Hindi kayang paltan ng anuman”. “Hindi kayang bayaran ng anuman”.

Proverbs 31:10 ESV

10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

I. Her Invaluable Worth

In her invaluable worth: she is priceless and precious in the sight of her son.

A. Priceless and Precious (Proverbs 31:10)

In verse 10. She was compared as more precious than jewels.

jewels refer to valuable and precious gemstones or ornaments.

Just as jewels are highly treasured and sought after for their beauty and rarity, an excellent wife is considered far more precious and valuable than material possessions.

In a later study we will find out the reason of her invaluable worth.

Not only that she was priceless and precious.

Secondly: She was also the Foundation of her husband’s trust.

B. The Foundation of Her Husband's Trust (Proverbs 31:11-12)

In verse: “The heart of her husband trusts in her”

Proverbs 31:11–12 (ESV)

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

Verse 11 in tagalog: “Lubos ang tiwala ng kanyang asawa, at saganang pakinabang ang makakamit niya.”

Illustation

A husband who fully trusts his wife is like a sailor who relies on a well-built ship to carry him safely through turbulent waters. A mother's trustworthiness and support become the foundation of her husband's confidence, creating a strong and harmonious partnership.

In verse 12 - “She does him good,… all the days of her life”

Her husband trust her fully without a bit of a doubt.

Secondly: Her exemplary character

II. Her Exemplary Character

A. Diligent and Hardworking (Proverbs 31:13-19)

Proverbs 31:13–19 (ESV)

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

Proverbs 31:13–19 (MBBTAG)

13 Wala siyang tigil sa paggawa, hindi na halos nagpapahinga, humahabi ng kanyang telang lino at lana.

14 Tulad ng isang barkong puno ng kalakal, siya ay nag-uuwi ng pagkain mula sa malayong lugar.

15 Bago pa sumikat ang araw ay inihahanda na ang pagkain ng buo niyang sambahayan, pati na ang gawain ng mga katulong sa bahay.

16 Mataman niyang tinitingnan ang bukid bago siya magbayad, ang kanyang naiimpok ay ipinagpapatanim ng ubas.

17 Gayunma'y naiingatan ang kamay at katawan upang matupad ang lahat ng kanyang tungkulin araw-araw.

18 Sa kanya'y mahalaga ang bawat ginagawa, hanggang hatinggabi'y makikitang nagtitiyaga.

19 Siya'y gumagawa ng mga sinulid, at humahabi ng sariling damit.

“Walang tigil sa paggawa” (works with willing hands)

“Bago pa sumikat ang araw”

Naghahanda ng pagkain (naguuwi galing kalakal)

Nagtatahi ng damit (sa paghahanda sa taglamig)

Nagbabantay sa mga gumagawa sa bukid

Nagtatanim ng ubas

“Hanggang hating gabi ay nagtitiyaga”

B. Generous and Compassionate (Proverbs 31:20)

Proverbs 31:20 (ESV)

20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20 (ESV)

20 Matulungin siya sa mahirap, at sa nangangailanga'y bukás ang palad.

C. Wise, Strong, Joyous, and Kind (Proverbs 31:25-26)

Proverbs 31:25–26 (ESV)

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:25–26 (ESV)

25 Marangal at kapita-pitagan ang kanyang kaanyuan at wala siyang pangamba sa bukas na darating.

26 Ang mga salita niya ay puspos ng karunungan at ang turo niya ay pawang katapatan.

“Strength and dignity”

“she laughs” (joyous)

“wise”

Paul to Timothy

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 (ESV)

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Third: Her Dignity in various roles

III. Her Dignity in Various Roles

First:

A. In the Public Sphere (Proverbs 31:23)

Proverbs 31:23 (ESV)

23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

“Contextually believed to be King Samuel”

She is not a shame to her husband.

B. In Relationship with Her Husband (Proverbs 31:28-29)

“her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all”

Proverbs 31:28–29 (ESV)

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Proverbs 31:29 (ESV)

29 “Maraming babae na mabuting asawa, ngunit sa kanila'y nakahihigit ka.”

C. In Relationship with Her Children (Proverbs 31:28-29)

Proverbs 31:28 (ESV)

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

Proverbs 31:28 (ESV)

28 Iginagalang siya ng kanyang mga anak at pinupuri ng kanyang kabiyak:

Finally: Her lasting legacy

IV. Her Lasting Legacy

A. Her Faith (Proverbs 31:30)

Proverbs 31:30 (ESV)

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Her faith is the foundation of her worth, her character, her dignity, and legacy.

B. Her Works (Proverbs 31:31)

Proverbs 31:31 (ESV)

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

The final two verses of this proverb comes with faith before works.

Because works without faith is nothing and in vain.

Now so what?

This might be a challenge to our time. I know you might say, “Pastor, mahirap yan!” “Pastor, impossible ata yan”, “Pastor, di ko kaya yan!”

Yes, this seems impossible just like our salvation, impossible without faith.

Now how?

Trust God

Believe in Him

Do a one step at a time, and let Him guide your all through out.

You need a gasoline: Pray and meditate on His word everyday.

God’s Wonderful Design of a Biblical Mother

Her Invaluable Worth

Her Exemplary Character

Her Dignity

Her Lasting Legacy