by tascha |
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Proverbs 31:25
I so enjoy simply breaking things down into the definitions of words to understand what is going on.
Strength: “the quality of being strong; physical strength; mental or emotional qualities necessary to deal with stressful situations; the capacity to withstand great force or pressure”
Honor: “high respect; adherence to what is right; fulfill and obligation” …also called an “ornament”
There were a couple other phrases, but these were the gist of them all.
I think we might all agree that “clothing” is something we wear. My husband once preached about putting on our spiritual ‘underclothes’–that was quite interesting.
But we ARE to put on things that are not just physical. So “the mental qualities necessary to deal with stressful situations” could be something we are to actually, consciously wear… spiritually.
And since we’ve already talked about what she might wear physically, I think I’ll focus on the spiritual dressing here.
I must put on strength. Clothing is not usually something worn for days on end without changing out of an old and into a new item. So, applying that spiritually, we need to put ON a new “strength” every day.
I must put on honor. We’ve talked a little about respect. We must show respect towards our husband, as this is God’s plan for marriage. And when we “adhere to right and fulfill obligations” in our daily lives, we show the respect we have towards God and His plans.
Each day this “ornament” must be renewed. We must choose this fulfillment of obligations, this adherence to what we know is right. This becomes an ornament of our spirit.
These thoughts are rather weighty. This is purely a heart issue, but it will manifest itself in actions and deeds, in our speech and dress, in our attitude and reactions.
And as the verse continues… our rejoicing will come.
It may not happen the same day we chose to do right when it is the most difficult thing to do.
But it will come. {Remember that God specializes in the impossible.}
It may be a year or even a decade later. Or it may not happen until our own children are fully grown and we see them making right choices, because we did.
There may even be sometimes that our rejoicing does not come until heaven, with eternal rejoicing!
But our hearts will know rejoicing in time to come, because God tells us it will be so. So, let us put on strength {His strength!} and put on honor, daily… even hourly, and expect the rejoicing to come later.
by tpiatt
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverbs 31: 26
Again we are looking at heart issues.
This is also literally about how she has learned to communicate with those around her.
This becoming like the Proverbs 31 woman includes more than just our chores and financial transactions. It encompasses even our speech.
Wisdom. How do I have wisdom come out of my mouth? It must be in my heart:
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
I must listen to the commandments of God. I must take heed to the counsel of those I know study and obey Scripture. Wisdom is THE PRINCIPAL THING.
In Job we read: With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. It goes on to describe things only God can do… We can have wisdom from time with God. Ancient and length of days seems to imply MUCH time is needed. But what if we are young? …new wives and mothers without much experience? This is when we seek the counsel of aged women….
In Titus 2 we read: The aged women likewise… teachers of good things… That they may teach the young women…
The likewise refers to the description of Godly men in the previous verse. I encourage you to read and study that out!
The Law of Kindness: Kindness is defined as goodness and mercy.
My tongue should speak goodness and mercy. As I typed that, Psalm 23 jumped into my head: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life… This comes at the end of proclaiming God to be my leader, my strength, my courage, my comfort. Then goodness and mercy will be with me, and I CAN speak them.
I am encouraged by this thought… speaking wisdom and kindness comes from time with God and those who’ve known Him longer than us. And it is a LEARNED behavior, not an innate quality. We can ALL learn, but we must be open to the change in our heart.
by tpiatt
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31: 27
The further we get into this woman’s life, the more we see how she was learning to be like Christ… just as we are.
Several places in Scripture we learn that part of keeping God’s commandments means loving our neighbour. And we learn from the story of The Good Samaritan that our neighbour includes all around us that need our assistance. This most definitely includes our household!
[Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5: 43′ 19:19; 22: 39; Mark 12: 31; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8] [Luke 10:25-37]
Immediately, every single day, my household is my neighbour and needs me to look to their wellness.
What does looking to another’s wellness look like? I gather it looks like the areas covered in many previous verses:
she does good for her husband
she worketh willingly
she gathers food for everyone
she clothes everyone
she helps the poor and needy
she is hospitable
she is a light to those around her
and the city officials recognize her worth to her husband’s reputation
This brings us to the last phrase… eateth not the bread of idleness.
She is never lazy, always productive. [ouch]
But before I overwhelm even myself… let us look at another example of what productivity can look like:
…he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. [Matthew 14:23]
…he departed into a mountain to pray. [Mark 6:46]
…he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. [Luke 6:12]
…went up into a mountain to pray. [Luke 9:28]
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint… [Luke 18:1]
A recurring theme is that Jesus went away from the people, even the disciples on occasion, to speak privately with His Father.
With Jesus being our ultimate example of good works and doing right, my take-away is that it is not idleness to stop the busyness of life to just be quiet, to allow God to minister to your heart. This can look like many different things: reading Scripture; praying in secret; listening to worship music; just being absolutely quiet and still-in private, away from those who crowd around, even in your own home.
Idlness is not when it appears we are “doing nothing.” Idleness is not being willing to do what is needed. It is being lazy and just choosing not to press forward with the day-to-day activities that can bog us down.
This is definitely an area in which I struggle. Some days are completely overwhelming… but I can be encouraged that taking time to spend with God is not idleness. And whatever He helps me accomplish that day is enough! Even if I still have laundry to fold when I go to bed.
by tpiatt
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Proverbs 31:28
What a wonderful encouragement to have your own children and husband notice and proclaim the goodness they see!
I have been called blessed by others, who see my children and know God sees children as a blessing. But the best is when my children tell me they are glad I am their mom! {This is most definitely NOT an every day occurrence. hehe}
I am definitely not the example I ought to be, but occasionally my husband tells me he is glad he married me. That brings a joy to my heart that tells me any all the overwhelming days and sometimes over-thinking nights do count for something… the “doing good” for my husband.
I, and you, may never receive public accolades in the market or wherever; but if our people are happy and tell us they like being around us… well, I would say we’re on the right path.
[one caveat: This is not something that happens daily in the life of a woman striving to please God. This one verse is not the goal of a Godly woman’s life. It is merely the occasional by-product. There are wonderful women of God who never see these praises. That does not mean her life is a waste! This one verse is not the goal of a Godly woman’s life. It is merely an occasional by-product.]
If you have ever heard kind words from your husband or children, you are indeed blessed! If you have not, keep pressing on… God sees and ultimately, HIS glory and heavenly rewards are what will matter one day.
by tpiatt
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Proverbs 31: 29
When I read this verse, my initial thought is that at this praise culminates her life. In the next verse we will see the woman that is praised first fears the Lord.
The writer [we know is God, but through Solomon, here praising the woman his mother taught him to seek out] says that many woman strive for this and do virtuously: have strength and honor and valor in their daily life; but he felt his mother excelled above them all! I would venture to say that this is Solomon calling his mother blessed, as the previous verse speaks. Do you remember who his mother was? This just reminds us that, while others may define us by a single act in sin, God can see the goodness of His Son wiping our blotted record away.
This is not to say we cannot excell because “this” woman excelled above all!
This is to encourage us to continue pressing on so that our own family will see God’s love in our life and know that any goodness is from HIM working in us… as He will in them.
