Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO— (31.10, 23, 30-31)

The original point to this passage…instructions King Lemuel remembered from his mother.

Thus, we begin with the question (; charge, challenge to wind a woman/wife of noble character), end with the statement (; regarding the status of a wise woman, before God and people), and the stated importance of all of this for Lemuel’s life (; having a blessed, God-honoring life involves finding the right woman).

This emphasis doesn’t negate the instructive importance of the description of a wise woman for our ladies here today…and for the men here today to either wake up and step up to being as worthy as possible (if only) or preparing to also be the husband this wonderful woman deserves.

A Wise Woman is...

INDUSTRIOUS (31.13-19, 27)

INDUSTRIOUS (31.13-19, 27)

Well, reading vv.

13-19, I’m worn out!

Some ladies might say, I can’t literally do all that.

The bottom line is not in the specifics of industrious in that culture and time, but the timeless principle...

Which is clearly & beautifully brought home for us in v. 27--”She…never ‘eats the bread of idleness.’”

This phrase is a Hebrew idiom expressing that she is not lazy.

Now, guys, before you elbow your wife and say, “Get in the kitchen and make me a sammich.”…let

me just say that this call to industriousness is to be matched with our own industriousness as well!

GENEROUS (31.20, 26)

In the same way a wise woman extends her hands in industry, she also puts the same effort in to generosity—v.

20.

A giving, care-taking attitude is repeatedly encouraged in the Wisdom Lit, especially Proverbs.

That’s why a fitting summation to generosity is the proclaiming and instruction of wisdom.

CERTAIN (31.21a, 25b)

The characteristic we’ll discuss next establishes the reason for her certainty (assuredness, not afraid)…sufficient for now is that she is not afraid (v.

21a)—even laughing (v.

25b) at the time to come.

Rom 8

PREPARED (31.

21b, 25a)

So, like I said, this wise woman has good reason to be certain, confident, not afraid, laughing at/about the future…she is prepared.

I have no doubt that she fully trusts God with her life and family, AND that she takes seriously the responsibility we have to ‘be prepared’ for life (the seasons and the future)!

ENGAGING (31.22,

24)

She connects with people…whether selling her goods or at special events/times, etc.

She has a winsomeness about her.

CONCL— (31.11-12, 28-29)

A woman who desires to be like this…blesses herself (vv.

11-12)…& others (vv.28-29)

Proverbs 31.30