The Wife Who Is Celebrated

Introduction:

The advice from a mother to son extends to a recommendation for how he should go about finding a wife. Her counsel provides a prototype for men to value in godly women, and to which Spiritual women should aspire.

A. The Writer: Probably Solomon using a different pen name or a name of affection given to him by his mother.

B. The Writing: 1) Proverbs - Foolishness 2) Ecclesiastes - Frailty 3) Songs of Solomon - Feelings

C. The Proverbs Series: More than 100 sermons beginning in July 2017.

This text begins an alphabetical poem using each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

The qualities listed are all about her character and not just her physical beauty.

D. Proverbs 31 Outline:

Three Words of Caution (31:1-9)

The Wife Who Is Capable (31:10-25)

The Wife Who is Celebrated (31:26-31)

Luther’s Marriage: During the early years of the Protestant Reformation in Europe, Katharina Von Bora, a former nun, married Martin Luther (1525). By all accounts, the two had a joyous married life. Luther said, “There is no bond on earth so sweet, nor any separation so bitter, as that which occurs in a good marriage.” Luther referred to her as the “morning star of Wittenberg.” She was industrious administering the family business and managed the Luthers’ home and property.

Persuasive in Her Communications (31:26-27)

Communication with Counsel (31:26) - “26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.”

Ephesians 4:29 (HCSB) - “29 No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear.”

1 Peter 3:1 (HCSB) - “1 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the [Christian] message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live,”

Communicates by Concern (31:27) - “27 She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.”

1 Timothy 5:10 (HCSB) - “10 and is well known for good works-that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.”

Unparalleled in Her Capability (31:28-29)

Capabilities Are Recognized by the Family (31:28) - “28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:”

2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT) - “5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

Isaiah 62:5 (NLT) - “5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.”

Capabilities Are Renowned Beyond Others (31:29) - “29 "Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!"

Praised for Her Commitment (31:30-31)

Committed to the Lord (31:30) - “30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.”

The Deception of Beauty: I often take a moment as I wait at our grocery store checkout stand to scan the covers of the magazines displayed there. It seems that if they aren’t about sex and money, they’re about diet, fitness, health, and outward beauty. There’s nothing there for the soul.

The problem is that people read the wrong magazines—those that are full of lies that fixate on the beauty of face and form as though that’s all there is. This can lead to comparison and terrible despair.

1 Peter 1:7 (HCSB) - “7 so that the genuineness of your faith-more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 3:1-7 (NLT) - “1 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Committed to Her Labors (31:31) - “31 Give her the reward of her labor, and let her works praise her at the city gates.”

Psalm 128:1-2 (HCSB) - “1 How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! 2 You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you.

Acts 9:39 (HCSB) - “39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.”

Romans 16:1-4 (GNT) - “1 I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who serves the church at Cenchreae. 2 Receive her in the Lord's name, as God's people should, and give her any help she may need from you; for she herself has been a good friend to many people and also to me. 3 I send greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in the service of Christ Jesus; 4 they risked their lives for me. I am grateful to them - not only I, but all the Gentile churches as well.