A Wise Woman

Intro; This Mother’s Day morning as we open our hearts to God’s Word, I want you to look with me for just a moment at a scripture concerning creation;

Genesis 2:20–24 NKJV

20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Now ladies I want you to turn to your husband, look him in the eyes, and with a loving attitude tell him that you are the best gift God has ever given him besides Jesus! Amen!

Now being that best gift carries great responsibility, because you are to be a “helper comparable” to your husband. What does that really mean?

It means that a husband and wife are to work together to make their marriage a reflection of their Creator.

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

And when you become parents, that responsibility increases in the family unit, because you are now given the opportunity to train your child to know your Creator, and that that child will influence others to know Christ.

Psalm 127:3–5 NKJV

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Arrows are weapons used against the enemy. If your child is an arrow of righteousness they are the power of God with the gospel that can be shot into the enemy of sin so others can come to salvation in Christ!

This morning I want us to look at the words of wisdom from “A Wise Mother.”

Text; Proverbs 31:1-9

Proverbs 31:1–9 NKJV

1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Prayer

No one knows for certain who King Lemuel is, but most believe this is a conversation between Solomon and his mother Bathsheba. There is no King Lemuel who ever sat on the throne of Judah or Israel; nor any surrounding nations.

Solomon/Jedediah means “Beloved of Jehovah”

Lemuel means “Unto God or Devoted to the Lord”

J. Vernon McGee believes this is a nickname or pet name given to Solomon by his mother. [Most have one that mom’s call us/favorite]

These words of advice are given to Solomon, a young prince before he ascends the throne as king, from a Wise Mother on how to live a godly life and choose a godly wife.

1. Watch Out for Wayward Women; 2-3

Verse two opens with three “what’s”, reinforcing the importance of her words that she going to speak to her son.

What can I say to you, so you will listen and learn?

“Son of my womb” goes deeper than just a child being born. It speaks of a son who has reached adulthood, after the loss of her first child with David. How precious you are to me!

“Son of my vows” speaks of the change in Bathsheba’s life. Repentant after the death of her first child, she no doubt prayed for another child before and after his birth. The vow would be similar as Hannah’s, she would give this child to God.

Wayward Women- be careful of who you hang out with, especially women.

Don’t give your strength- don’t give in to your temptations, sexual desires, like your father David did. [If ever there was a burden on Bathsheba’s heart it would be that Solomon not to make the same mistake that her and David did, adultery/murder]

Bathsheba was part of a kings harem. David had eight wives we know of named in scripture, and concubines. She knew what it was like for the women; jealousy, spitefulness and resentment.

She also knew what it meant for a king; divided loyalty, deteriorated character and a distraction from God. She wanted better for Solomon.

Proverbs 5:1–9 NKJV

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, 2 That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell. 6 Lest you ponder her path of life— Her ways are unstable; You do not know them. 7 Therefore hear me now, my children, And do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, 9 Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one;

The wrong kind of woman can ruin your life. If you want a virtuous wife, seek one who fears the Lord!

2. Lay Off the Liquor; 4-7

Wine is like the wayward woman, it will drain your strength and make you stupid!

As a king who has the responsibility of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government, he needed to be sharp and sober minded because his actions affect everyone in his kingdom. It is the same for parents and people! Our actions affect others!!

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV

1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 23:19–21 NKJV

19 Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way. 20 Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 23:29–35 NKJV

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: 35 “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

Alcohol is an addictive drug that will destroy your life!

[6-7] These verses seem to contradict what was said in verses [4-5]. But the implication is strong drink may have been acceptable as anesthetics or drugs to deaden physical pain or deep emotional bitterness of those who were dying.

Matthew 27:34 NKJV

34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.

Do not drown your sorrows or burdens in the bottle, bring them to the Lord.

3. Weigh Our Words Carefully; 8-9

Moms not only teach us how to speak properly, but how to use our words wisely.

[v.8] Speak up for the speechless, those who don’t have a voice in society.

A good king will treat all people fairly regardless of how big or small their contribution is to his the kingdom.

Job 29:14–17 NKJV

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know. 17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.

James 1:27 NKJV

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

[v.9] Judge righteously- treating people justly doesn’t mean all are treated equally!

Justly-morally right and fair

Equally- the same amount

If a person has broken the law they need to be judged righteously according to the law, without prejudice. But all crime doesn’t carry the same amount/equal consequences

You are to judge the rich the same as you would the poor. But we are not to allow the rich to take advantage of the poor either.

Deuteronomy 10:17 NKJV

17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

Acts 10:34 NKJV

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Our words should be seasoned with salt to win people to the Lord!

1 Corinthians 9:19–22 NKJV

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

When Jesus was confronted with the woman caught in adultery, He spoke up for the speechless and judged righteously so both parties knew the error of their way but also had an opportunity to get right with God!

Close;

The Book of Proverbs begins with the wise words of a father and ends with the wise words of a mother. The most important ministry mothers and fathers have is the spiritual training of their children. The home is the stronghold of the family and it’s nation. As the home goes, so goes the nation.

The biblical ideal for womanhood is completely counter-cultural to what is taught today. Our society is trying to obliterate the distinctions between men and women, Proverbs 31 describes a wife whose life is centered on serving the Lord by being a helper to her husband and a godly guide for her children.

Wives and moms, do you love the Lord?

Then help your husband help your children love Jesus!