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Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
King Lemuel’s mother, the author.
As we consider chapter 31 of Proverbs, we immediately come to understand that this chapter is written by King Lemuel but, at least the first 9 verses are an oracle of his mother.
Therefore, as an interesting side note, this then is one passage of Scripture that we can confidently say is ascribed to a woman.
Acrostic.
As we read from verse 10 to the end of the chapter, a mosaic of the excellent wife is formed for us.
This is done in a beautifully poetic manner in that each the poem is an acrostic.
Each verse, starting with verse 10, starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
In keeping with the spirit of the original poet, we are going to consider the different characteristics of this woman by using an acrostic as well.
To do so, we will go out of order just a little bit and even need to get a little creative with our wording.
Acrostic.
As we read from verse 10 to the end of the chapter, a mosiac of the excellent wife is formed for us.
This is done in a beautifully poetic manner in that each the poem is an acrostic.
Each verse, starting with verse 10, starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
In keeping with the spirit of the original poet, we are going to consider the different characteristics of this woman by using an acrostic as well.
To do so, we will go out of order just a little bit and even need to get a little creative with our wording.
Primary recipient.
Before we start let’s consider the primary recipient.
Some may think that these attributes are offered for a woman to consider and aspire.
While there may be great advantage in a woman doing just that, it appears more likely that this passage is intended to be an outline for a young man to use as he considers who to marry.
“Although the object of praise is the virtuous woman, the original audience of the piece was again the young man.
The opening question in 31:10 implies that the reader ought to find such a wife for himself.”
[1] “In short, the original intended audience was not young women (“this is what kind of wife you should be”) but young men (“this is what kind of wife you should get”).”[2]
An Excellent Wife (31:10a)
“An excellent wife, who can find?”
().
Sadly some have taken a rather pessimistic view of this view and conclude that the question is rhetorical and demands the answer of, “No one!
No one can find an excellent wife.”
It is true that there are questions such as this that imply a “no” as the answer.
For instance, consider .
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know! ( ESV).
Similarly, there is a verse asking a similar question of a trustworthy man.
“Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?” ( ESV).
The implied answer seems to be that no one can find a faithful man.
And yet it cannot be the point of the author that no one will ever find an excellent wife, therefore concluding that we must resign ourselves to whatever we can best find.
He’s not intending to crush the hopes of young or older men looking for an excellent wife.
But by using hyperbole, he does establish a few points.
(1) An excellent wife may not be easy to come by.
(2) It will take some diligent work to find one.
(3) It will as well take hard work to become the excellent woman spoken of here, but it is possible.
(4) When you find one, you realize you have truly been blessed.
Beyond Price (31:10b)
Beyond Price (31:10b)
“She is far more precious than jewels” ().
Let’s first acknowledge the culture in which this verse would have been written.
There was a cost associated with a bride.
(1) There was the “bride price” that the soon to be husband would pay for his bride, and (2) there was a dowry that would come with the bride.
The wealthier the bride’s family, the larger the dowry.
The “higher quality” the bride the higher the bride price.
On the other hand, a slave would have had no bride price.
An older widow would have had a bride price of 5 shekels whereas a young virgin would have had a bride price of ten shekels.
The dowry was as well less for a slave and more for a young virgin.
Yet, is the actual expense of the woman what is being spoken of in this verse?
Well maybe, just a little.
The point is that an excellent wife is of far more value than any price that might be connected to her.
Her value goes well beyond any income or dowry that she might bring.
Her immense value is in her worth as a person and spouse.
The young virgin of a rich man may produce precious jewels, but if she isn’t an excellent woman, then she would be better left alone.
On the other hand, a poor servant girl who offers nothing to her future husband is worth everything if she is an excellent woman.
An excellent woman is worth far beyond some precious jewel.
Cares well for her husband (31:12)
“She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” ( ESV).
We’ll look at verse 11 in just a moment (trying to be alphabetical was challenging at this point 😊 ), but this statement flows from the idea in verse 11 that her husband implicitly trusts her.
As a result, her husband’s trust in her is recompensed well.
She doesn’t take advantage of his trust, but instead brings great benefit to the home due to the freedom and trust extended to her.
In contrast a woman can as well treat her husband poorly and make life miserable.
“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife” ( ESV; Cf. 25:24).
“It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman” ( ESV).
Dependable (31:11)
Dependable (31:11)
Now back to verse 11. “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain” ( ESV).
Because of his trust in her, he will have much gain.
This gain speaks of what comes because of her work, not his.
(1) From the woman’s perspective, because she is trustworthy, she reaped a great gain.
Therefore, woman be trustworthy.
(2) From the husbands’ perspective, his trust in her is liberating.
He does not oppress her with a lack of trust.
Therefore, husbands, release your wives by trusting them.
Enhances Her Husband (31:23)
“Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land” ( ESV).
Her husband is well known in the gates.
The reason that he is often in the gates is not that he’s regularly brought before the elders, but because he sits among the elders.
He is well known for his character and counsel.
Yet, the focus in these verses is not on the man, so what about this verse points to the excellent wife?
Roughly put, she makes her husband look good.
It’s not that he looks bad without her, but her virtue and achievement have positively impacted other’s view of him.
This concept is mentioned earlier in Proverbs.
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones” ( ESV).
Both the verse before and after this statement discuss how this excellent wife makes fine linen clothes and bed coverings.
Some have argued that it is these fine clothes that have made him look good.
That may be true, but I would be hard pressed to think that is the intent of the passage.
Two verses later we are told that “strength and dignity are her clothing” ().
She is so well respected that people’s opinion of her husband is enhanced.
Focused on Future Challenges (31:21)
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