Mother's Day 2021
Notes
Transcript
10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above 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 evil All the days of her life. 13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. 14 She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. 15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. 18 She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes 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, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. 26 She opens her mouth in 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 bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: 29 “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
(v. 10) “wife” means “woman”. Depending on context, the woman could be a wife, a mother, a widow or woman that has never been married. In the context of our passage in Proverbs, it primarily means a wife and a mother but it applies to all godly women.
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 802 אִשָּׁה (ishshah)
802. אִשָּׁה ishshah (61a); from an unused word; woman, wife, female:—adulteress*(2), any woman(1), childbearing*(1), each(3), each one(1), each woman(1), every(1), everyone(1), female(3), girls*(1), harem*(5), harlot’s*(2), harlot*(3), marriage(9), married(3), married*(6), marry*(3), none*(1), one(8), widow(7), wife(274), wife and his wives(2), wife and the wives(1), wife or a woman(1), wife’s(8), wives(100), woman(203), woman of the wives(1), woman’s(6), women(104), women as wives(1).
The Characteristics of a Godly Woman
She is a RARE GIFT.
She is a RARE GIFT.
(v. 10) “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.”
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
She has REVERENCE for GOD.
She has REVERENCE for GOD.
(v. 30) “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
She is RESPONSIBLE and GRACIOUS.
She is RESPONSIBLE and GRACIOUS.
(v. 13-27) “13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. 14 She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. 15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. 18 She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes 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, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. 26 She opens her mouth in 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.”
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
She will be REWARDED with GOOD.
She will be REWARDED with GOOD.
(v. 28-31) “28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: 29 “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.”
6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
*We are going to sing “Make Me a Servant”
[Pray]
Memory Verse of the Week:
27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
Discussion Questions: (Proverbs 31:10-31)
Why do you think it is hard to find an “excellent wife/woman”? (v. 10) Do you believe this is true for both men and women? Why?
Why do you think faithfulness is a rare character trait? (v. 12)
How would you describe this woman’s heart and service? (v. 14-19) In contrast, how would others describe your heart and service?
What part does generosity play when it comes to godly character? (v. 20)
Why do you think the people know her husband? (v. 23) How are other people viewed when they associate themselves with you?
What would you say about her outlook regarding the future? (v. 25) When you think about the future, are you are peace? Why do you think that is?
Look at how her speech is described. (v. 26) How do you think your speech would be described?
Why does character count more than “charm” or “beauty”? (v. 30) How should you live according to this truth?
What else does this passage tell us about God? Why does it matter?
What else does the text teach us about ourselves?
Did anything else stick out to you?
How do you believe God leading you to respond to His word?