20 Preaching/Teaching: Proverbs 31
Notes
Transcript
Women?
Women?
Introduction:
I have been blessed to be around some great women in my life starting with my mom. My mom was the back bone of our family. ONe of my fondest memories of her was running 3 miles with my mom and my dog Pongo.
Today we are in a society that at some point is arguing if men are women, women are men, but when we get back to the Bible we see clearly that God has an amazing plan for women. He also has an amazing standard.
Our society also holds up certain type of woman:
Beautiful, powerful
But the Bible holds up another kind of woman and she is found in Proverbs.
Today I want us to look at this amazing woman from Proverbs 31. If you are a lady whether married or not, this is a picture of what you are striving to become. If you are a man who is not married this is who you should be looking for. Michael Hughes actually heard a sermon on Proverbs 31 and it changed his life, and he married Danni. If you are a mom or dad this is who you should be raising your daughters to be. If you are a married man, this is who you should be helping your wife to become.
An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The kind of woman described in this chapter is not non-existent, but they are rare.
When I found Heather I won something greater than the lottery.
And if you find a Proverbs 31 wife you have won the lottery.
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible 3. The wise woman 31:10–31
Jewish husbands and children traditionally recited this poem at the Sabbath table on Friday evenings.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary VIII. The Noble Wife (31:10–31)
This final section of Proverbs is an acrostic poem exalting a noble wife. Each of the 22 verses begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These verses were written by Lemuel, Lemuel’s mother, Solomon, or someone whose name is unknown. This last view is probably correct.
Not only was this a beautiful form since they followed the alphabet, it also made easier to memorize.
As we look at these verses let’s keep in mind this is probably not one specific individual.
The first Characteristic an excellent woman PURSUES is she is:
Trustworthy (11-12)
Trustworthy (11-12)
Are you trustworthy?
What about in the small things?
One of the acronyms I have used before of someone who wants to grow in their faith is that they must be FAT.
The F stands for faithful.
This woman was faithful.
Faithfulness starts in the family.
Faithfulness starts in the family.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
Heather and I when we got married made a commitment to never bring up divorce as an option.
But this is not the way of the world.
I saw a billboard the other day while driving and it was about catching people cheating on their spouses.
Our world encourages and celebrates people cheating on their spouse. This wife is trustworthy.
Listen to some of the TV shows that we have:
Desperate housewives
Caught in the Act-Unfaithful
Cheaters
Throughout all of Proverbs we see this picture of the opposite of the trustworthy wife:
For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,
And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.
Remember Solomon wrote a lot of the proverbs. Solomon also had a lot of wives and one of the major reasons his heart turned away from God is that he married women who were not this proverbs 31 woman.
An unfaithful woman can reduce a person to a loaf of bread.
For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.
How many marriages are messed up today because of cheating and unfaithfulness and then we see this picture of a woman who’s husband trusts in her.
Not only is this wife faithful but she also brings value to the home.
31:11. The noble wife’s husband is mentioned three times (vv. 11, 23, 28) and is referred to as “him” in verse 12. His confidence in her is complete. He trusts her. Her careful household management enhances their family’s wealth. He lacks nothing of value by way of household goods.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
After God created man he said in Genesis 1, it was very good.
Genesis 2 gives us a more detailed view of the creation.
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
Do you remember the day you got married and God brought you your spouse. This was a good thing.
God’s plan for marriage is lifelong oneness.
Are you trustworthy?
One of the reasons this lady was faithful to her husband is because she was faithful to God.
Are you faithful in the big and small things.
The NEXT Characteristic an excellent woman POSSESSES is:
She Works unto the Lord (13-25)
She Works unto the Lord (13-25)
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
How is her work described
a. Delightful
a. Delightful
Most of us do not get up out of bed in the morning and say I am so happy to go to work.
We were created to delight in God and his creation, and this excellent wife did that to the point that she did even a menial task for God.
There are so many menial tasks in life: think about changing the diapers. This is menial.
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
Mike Tyson said Discipline is doing what you hate acting like you love it.
Mike Tyson said Discipline is doing what you hate acting like you love it.
13- She enjoys her work-Why because she works unto the Lord.
But as a christian we can have joy even in the menial things. We can have joy in our work and in the small things.
It sounds like she is sowing and she is finding delight in that.
Is your work a delight for you?
Proverbs shows the opposite of a excellent wife
A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;
How is her work described?
Resourceful (14 & 16)
Resourceful (14 & 16)
14-I can tell when Heather has just left the house, there is a certain smell to it.
I can also tell the difference going to the grocery store, when I do it, painful. This lady is like a merchant ship, she brings her food from afar.
When I shop it is very basic, but when heather shops I know exactly what this is talking about.
How is her work described?
Compassionate: For her Family (15)
Compassionate: For her Family (15)
Have you ever heard do not mess with a momma bear. This is true here. Her work is not just for herself it is for others and specifically for her family.
This willingness
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
How is her work described?
Resourceful (14 & 16)
Resourceful (14 & 16)
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
What this lady is could be overwhelming. This is one of the reasons why I think that it is not just one specific lady.
You may not have fields and houses: but you do have Time, Treasure and Talent.
This lady used her Time, Treasure and talent for God.
An excellent women uses her time, treasure and talent for God.
How are you using your time, treasure and talent for God right now?
How is her work described?
Healthy (17)
Healthy (17)
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
This excellent woman took care herself. She was strong.
What do they say when you get on an airplane.
Illustration:
This last semester was one of the hardest semesters of our life.
Aiden-literally started losing his hair, at first a little, then clumps, then practically all of this. It drained us in every way possible. Struggling is one thing but seeing your kid struggle and not being able to do anything about it is hard. Heather some days was on the phone non stop trying to get him into Dr. and get him medicine.
In the midst of this Heather fell and broke the ligament on her thumb.
My super woman needed help. I was reminded once again how much this amazing woman did and I could not pull the slack very well.
Any way I share all of that to say we came to a place this summer where we realized how much we had going on and now one of our focuses this fall is getting healthy.
I also share this to say we are not always healthy like we need to be.
And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
The most important place to be healthy is in our personal walk with God?
But God wants us to be healthy in our relationship with others?
Our physical lives?
Our work lives?
This proverbs 31 lady took care of herself.
What steps do you need to take towards health?
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
How is her work described?
Compassionate: For others (19-20)
Compassionate: For others (19-20)
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
How is her work described?
Practical: For her Family (21-24)
Practical: For her Family (21-24)
In a day when family is under harder attack than ever before this Lady embraces family with everything she had, she is all in. And she is not ashamed of it. Before God formed the people of God he formed the family. It was practical because it was life and death.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
31:21
She spares no cost in protecting her family from the cold.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
This last part her husband is known in the gates. To me a great leader is someone who empowers others. She is empowering her husband to be known in the gates, she is empowering her husband to be a leader in the land.
As we are reading about this woman she is always serving and taking care of others, exalting others.
How is her work described?
Resourceful (24)
Resourceful (24)
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
This woman sounds like a wealthy business woman. The way she cares for and provides for her family. But again we see her using what God has given her. As we have planted this church we have talked about using our time, treasure and talent.
As I was putting this together I thought about Michael and Danni. When COVID hit Michael company basically was on the brink of going under. During this time Danni decided went back to work. They have young kids so they were in a season were she was at home with them. But as I thought about this Proverbs 31 woman I was like what a great picture of the Proverbs 31 woman willing to do whatever she could for her family.
How is her work described?
Peaceful (25)
Peaceful (25)
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
And she smiles at the future. As a result of her work ethic she has the unspeakable peace.
Also she can laugh at the future, that is, face it with confidence (cf. v. 21). Though 27:1 cautions against boasting “about tomorrow,” that does not do away with preparing for it (as ants do, 6:6–8; 30:25).
How is her work described?
As a teacher (26)
As a teacher (26)
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
We see that she is a teacher.
Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
It is funny that this book starts with this verse from a father to a son. Then it ends with a picture of this excellent woman who fears God. I am picturing a woman who just overflows with the wisdom of God.
Many times when we think of teaching we think about a school teacher or a preacher at the front. But this proverbs 31 woman was a teacher. As a matter of fact I also thought about Paul’s #1 disciple. Paul was sure that this young man had sincere faith because his mom and grandma were his first teachers who passed down genuine faith to Timothy.
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
The virtues of a noble wife are those that are extolled throughout the Book of Proverbs: hard work, wise investments, good use of time, planning ahead, care for others, respect for one’s spouse, ability to share godly values with others, wise counsel, and godly fear (worship, trust, service, obedience). As Proverbs has stated repeatedly, these are qualities that lead to honor, praise, success, personal dignity and worth, and enjoyment of life. In the face of the adulteress’ temptations mentioned often in Proverbs, it is fitting that the book concludes by extolling a virtuous wife. Young men and others can learn from this noble woman. By fearing God, they can live wisely and righteously. That is the message of Proverbs.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
You cannot be an excellent woman if you have not embraced working unto the lord.
Conclusion
This is the kind of woman we must exalt.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
As I said at the beginning, this talk is about a woman but it is for all of us.
I also want to say this. This picture of the Proverbs 31 woman also points us to Christ, because you can easily look at this woman and feel unworthy. We are not called for perfection. The same gospel that saves us also empowers us to grow into this woman.
Appropriately here near the end of Proverbs, the book concludes the way it began, by referring to fearing the Lord (1:7).