PROVERBS 31
Word of King Lemuel’s mother verse 1- 9
The words of king Lemuel
the prophecy that his mother taught him
What, my son? – and what – the son of my womb?
and what, the son of my vows?
Give not your strength unto women
nor your ways to that which destroys kings
It is not for kings – O Lemuel- it is not for kings to drink wine
nor for princes strong drink – lest they drink
and forget the law – and pervert the judgment of
any of the afflicted
Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish
and wine to those that be of heavy hearts
let him drink – and forget his poverty
and remember his misery no more
Open your mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are
appointed to destruction
Open thy mouth – judge righteously
and plead the cause of the poor and needy
Virtuous Woman verse 10- 31
Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies
the heart of her husband does safely trust in her
so that he shall have no need of spoil
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life
she seeks wool – and flax
and works willingly with her hands
she is like the merchants’ ships
she brings her food from afar
she rises also while it is yet night
and gives meat to her household
and a portion to her maidens
she considers a field – and buys it
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard
she girds her loins with strength
and strengthens her arms
she perceives that her merchandise is good
her candle goes not out by night
she lays her hands to the spindle
and her hand hold the distaff
she stretches out her hand to the poor
YEA – she reaches forth her hands to the needy
she is not afraid of the snow for her household
for all her household are clothed with scarlet
she makes herself coverings of tapestry
her clothing is silk and purple
her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land
she makes fine linen – and sells it
and delivers girdles to the merchant
strength and honor are her clothing
she shall rejoice in time to come
she opens her mouth with wisdom
and in her tongue is the law of kindness
she looks well to the ways of her household
and she eats not the bread of idleness
her children arise up and call her blessed
her husband also – and he praises her
Many daughters have done virtuously – BUT you excel them all
favor is deceitful – and beauty is vain
BUT a woman that FEARS THE LORD
she shall be praised – give her of the fruit of her hands
and let her own works praise her in the gates
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:1 “The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
Utterance – 4853 מַשָּׂא, מַשָּׂא [massaʾ /mas·saw/] n m pr (BDB). From 5375; TWOT 1421d, 1421e; GK 5362 and 5363; 66 occurrences; AV translates as “burden” 57 times, “song” three times, “prophecy” twice, “set” once, “exaction” once, “carry away” once, and “tribute” once. 1 load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting. 1A load, burden. 1B lifting, uplifting, that to which the soul lifts itself up. 1C bearing, carrying. 1D tribute, that which is carried or brought or borne. 2 utterance, oracle, burden. 3 a son of Ishmael. Additional Information: Massa = “burden”. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995).
DEVOTION: In our culture mothers do a lot of the teaching to children that historically was delegated to the father. As more families are being led by single parents it is important that the mothers have a clear and balanced approach in their teaching methodology. Godliness and biblical training carries a heavy burden and the teacher is reminded of that responsibility by the word usage of utterance. This burden was real and occurred in every facet of life. Regardless of who the teacher is, they are challenged to train up the next generation for the Lord! Like Timothy in the New Testament (2 Timothy 1:5) Lemuel is acknowledging the role that women played in his development. Each parent or adult can impact us in our growth and maturity! May we recognize and honor those that teach us how to live.
CHALLENGE: Write a note to a special person that has taught you and helped you to mature in your walk today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. (6664 “righteously” [tsedeq] means accuracy, what is correct, what is honest, adherence to what is required according to a standard, straightness, or what is right and just.)
DEVOTION: Our standard for making judgment has to be according to the standard that the LORD lays down in the Bible. HE wants us to go to the Bible when we have to make a decision regarding our own actions and the actions of others.
If we can study the Word of God and pray regarding an issue we will find that we will be keeping the standard the LORD wants in our life and in the lives of those around us. Even if, those around us are not listening or reading the Bible we are not allowed to change the way that we judge others.
One group of people needs us to judge righteously more than any other group and that is those who are poor. It seems that they are not given proper respect because of their financial status.
They have more needs than most and so sometimes even believers look down on them but the LORD doesn’t look down on the poor and neither should anyone who is a genuine believer.
If we can help those who are in need, we need to do our best to help them without judging them because of their status.
We know that some people like to take advantage of their poor status to do things that are not pleasing to God and they will have to answer to HIM regarding this matter. We will be judged for our treatment of those who have genuine needs that we can fulfill.
CHALLENGE: As the LORD to give you wisdom regarding your help of those around you that are poor and in need.
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: 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. (1984 “praises” [halal] means to cheer, to brag on, extol, and to rave.)
DEVOTION: The final chapter is attributed to king Lemuel. What is the responsibility of children toward their parents? What is the responsibility of parents regarding their children? The Bible doesn’t leave us without any answers. This book has been dedicated to the relationship between parents and children. Parents have the responsibility to train their children for adulthood. Children have the responsibility to honor their parents. This is not happening today in most homes, even Christian homes.
The first part of the chapter deals with a mother’s advice to her son regarding drinking and strange women. The final part of the chapter is an acrostic poem. Each of the twenty-two verses starts with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These verses show that a virtuous woman is a blessing to her family and all those around her.
In this verse her children are calling her happy. She is a positive influence on her children. She trains them right. Her husband also brags on her to all those he meets. He is able to be a leader in the community because of her care of the home. He has no worries regarding his home life. She is a good manager of the home. She handles his finances. She handles the servants. She is quite the businesswoman. The most important characteristic of her is that she FEARS the LORD.
Now we have to look at our wife. Does this describe our wife? Should we hold this up as an example for her to live up to today? One lesson we can learn from this part of the chapter is that we need to complement our wives more than we do.
We need to cheer our wives on in their responsibility regarding the household. We need to brag on our wife if she is one who fears the LORD. Too often we don’t appreciate our wives. Too often we don’t give them compliments. Too often we don’t bring them gifts.
Most importantly, we don’t tell them we love them. Here in this verse the children and husband are calling her happy or blessed. We need to practice this on a regular basis.
CHALLENGE: Surprise your wife with a special date in the near future. If she likes flowers give her some for just being your wife. Think of what would encourage your wife.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (1892 “vain” [hebel] means vapor, breath, vanity, nothingness, perishableness, meaninglessness, idol or futility.
DEVOTION: One of the characteristics that television, magazines and movies seem to think is necessary to get ahead in life is the idea that having a good appearance is the only acceptable way to win in life. It is because of this thought that commercials and billboards show models that have good looks to prove that if people buy the right clothes or go on the right diet, they will have no problems in life. They want us to spend our money on these products. They want to convince us that only the thin and beautiful can get ahead and the others are left behind.
There are many health issues associated with some diets. Some people try to exercise to the point of hurting their health. Some spend money they don’t have to buy the best clothes or things that can help them look thin. This can cause a real problem for the rest of the family.
King Lemuel, whether this is another name for Solomon or not, gives advice regarding this matter. He states that good looks can be deceptive. There are many products that can cause someone to look good on the outside that when they are removed the person beneath is really ugly. There are ways to dress that make people look good until they take them off. God is more interested in the inside than on outward appearance. HE wants us to be more concerned with internal beauty rather than just external beauty.
The author of this Proverb informs us that favor or good looks is deceitful. He continues by informing us that beauty is meaningless if it is on a person who is one that doesn’t honor the LORD.
The characteristic that all men should be looking for in a woman is that she fears the LORD. She is one who loves the LORD. She is one who will care for her family because that is what the LORD expects of a mother and a wife. The LORD expects a wife to honor HIM through her gift of the family. HE will honor her if she honors HIM first through a proper attitude toward her husband and children. God commands that one man should be married to one woman for life. This is broken but that is HIS standard.
This is not taught in our society. If the first husband doesn’t meet expectations get a second or third or fourth until you find one that meets your expectations. The church is allowing this to happen as they are not teaching that one man should be married to one woman for life. Some churches don’t have a problem with individuals claiming Christ and yet thinking that they don’t have to work at their marriage. It is wrong. It is sinful.
Are there marriages that should have a time of separation? YES!! Are their marriages that can be ended with divorce according to the standards set in Scripture? YES!! Do they have to end in divorce? NO!! There can be forgiveness. Is divorce the unpardonable sin? NO!!! It just causes problems for the children.
God wants us to work at our marriage. We need husbands who love their wife and a wife that submits to her husband, no matter what society teaches.
CHALLENGE: Husbands love your wife!! Wives submit to your husband as the leader of the home because he will have to answer to the LORD if he acts wrong. Husband be a leader!!)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Vows verse 2
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Law verse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 30
Fear the LORD verse 30
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
King Lemuel verse 1, 4
Mother of Lemuel verse 1
Son verse 2
Kings verse 3, 4
Princes verse 4
Afflicted verse 5
Virtuous woman verse 10
Her price is far above rubies
Her husband trusts her
She will do good and not evil
Willingly works with her hands
Brings food from afar
She rises early to feed her household
She cares for those maidens in her house
Able to evaluate a field for purchase
Her merchandise is good
She stays up late to get her work done
She cares for the poor and needy
She clothes her household
Husband known in the gates
She makes fine linen and sells it
Opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness
Not idle
Children bless her
Husband verse 11, 23, 28
Maidens verse 15
Poor verse 20
Merchant verse 24
Children verse 28
Daughters verse 29
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Destroy kings verse 3
Strong drink for leaders verse 4
Forget the law verse 5
Pervert judgment verse 5
Evil verse 12
Bread of idleness verse 27
Deceitful verse 30
Beauty is vain verse 30
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Vows verse 2
Judge righteously verse 9
Plead cause of poor and needy verse 9, 20
Virtuous verse 10, 29
Good verse 12
Work ethic verse 13- 31
Help the poor verse 20
Honor verse 25
Wisdom verse 26
Law of kindness verse 26
Blessed verse 28
Praised verse 28, 30, 31
Virtuous verse 29
Fear the LORD verse 30
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Poverty and misery verse 7
City gates verse 23
Elders verse 23
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Perish verse 6
Appointed to destruction verse 8
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QUOTES regarding passage
31:31. The writer urged his readers to recognize and reward the faithful diligence and kindness of such a woman. She along with her husband (v. 23) should be honored publicly. Honoring a woman at the … gate was not normally done in Israel. But an unusual woman called for unusual recognition.
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. (Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 973). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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31:31 product … works. See vv. 10–29. While she receives material reward (v. 22), the praise and success she labored to bring to her family and community will be her praise. The result of all her efforts is her best eulogy. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Pr 31:31). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 31. Give her of the fruit, of her hands, &c.] According to Aben Ezra, these are the words of her husband to her children; exhorting them to give her the praise and glory that is due unto her. Jarchi interprets it of the world to come; at which time, it is certain, the graces of the church, and of all believers, which are the fruits of the Spirit in them, and of their hands, as exercised by them, such as faith, hope, love, humility, patience, and others, will be found to honour and praise; and every such person shall have praise of God, 1 Pet. 1:7; 1 Cor. 4:5 and also of men and angels; to whom these words may be an exhortation to give it to them. And let her own works praise her in the gates; where her husband is known, in public assemblies; before angels and men, in the great day; when her works will follow her, and speak for her, and she will be publicly praised by Christ, as all the faithful and righteous will, Rev. 14:13; Matt. 25:21, 34–40. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, let her husband be praised in the gate; see ver. 23 so Ambrose, who interprets it of the happiness of the saints in heaven. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 549). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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The epilogue in Proverbs 31:30–31 is not the continuation of the husband’s speech. It at once points the lesson from the whole picture for King Lemuel, and unveils the root of the excellences described. Beauty is skin deep. Let young men look deeper than a fair face. Let young women seek for that beauty which does not fade. The fear of the Lord lies at the bottom of all goodness that will last through the tear and wear of wedded life, and of all domestic diligence which is not mere sordid selfishness or slavish toil. The narrow arena of domestic life affords a fit theatre for the exercise of the highest gifts and graces; and the woman who has made a home bright, and has won and kept a husband’s love and children’s reverence, may let who will grasp at the more conspicuous prizes which women are so eager after nowadays. She has chosen the better part, which shall not be taken from her. She shall receive ‘of the fruit of her hands’ both now and hereafter, if the fear of the Lord has been the root from which that fruit has grown; and ‘her works shall praise her in the gate,’ though she sits quietly in her home. It is well when our deeds are the trumpeters of our fame, and when to tell them is to praise us.
The whole passage is the hallowing of domestic life, a directory for wives and mothers, a beautiful ideal of how noble a thing a busy mother’s life may be, an exhibition to young men of what they should seek, and of young women of what they should aim at. It were well for the next generation if the young women of this one were as solicitous to make cages as nets, to cultivate qualities which would keep love in the home as to cultivate attractions which lure him to their feet. (MacLaren, A. (2009). Expositions of Holy Scripture: Esther-Ecclesiastes (pp. 295–296). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Ellen sent: The older you get the more you realize You have no desire for drama, conflict or stress. You just want a cozy home, food on the table and to be surrounded by kind people who make you happy
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The Israelites begin worshipping Baal, a god of Canaan.
INSIGHT
There is a distinct pattern of events that begins to unfold in Judges. The children of Israel fall into sin and begin worshiping other gods. Sin is followed by servitude. The Lord causes other nations to rise up in judgment and enslave Israel.
Israel cries out to God for deliverance, and the Lord delivers them by raising up a judge to lead them to victory. Then the land has rest until that judge dies and the cycle begins again: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. Sin is always followed by bondage. Repentance frees. (Quiet Walk)
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UNBELIEF
If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Let us consider what our Lord has to say about the terrible condition of unbelief. The first thing He tells us is that it is a definite mentality, a definite spirit. Unbelief is not a negative but an active thing. Of course, our tendency is to think of unbelief as just a negative condition in which a man does not believe, but according to the Bible that is an utter fallacy. Unbelief is terribly positive and active, a state and condition of the soul, with a very definite mentality. The Bible, indeed, does not hesitate to put it essentially like this: “Unbelief is one of the manifestations of sin; it is one of the symptoms of that foul disease.” Or as the apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.”
It is a terrible state and condition. Let me put it like this. It is not just a refusal to believe. That is how the devil foils us. He persuades modern unbelievers into thinking that they are unbelievers because of their great intelligence, their wonderful intellect and understanding. They think that people who are Christians are fools who have either not read or have not understood what they have read. The unbeliever thinks that he is in that state because of his scientific knowledge, and that it is in the light of these things that he refuses to believe. They rejoice in their great emancipation, that they have been delivered from the shackles of the Bible, and that they have been emancipated from this drug, this dope of the people that we call the gospel. Poor things! They are unconscious slaves, and they do not know that they are victims.
A Thought to Ponder They are unconscious slaves, and they do not know that they are victims. (From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 85-86, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Promise of Liberty
“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” (2 Peter 2:19)
This chapter consists of a strong denunciation of false teachers. They are, among other things, sensuous, beguiling, covetous, and accursed (v. 14). They desire personal wealth (vv. 15-16), but their message is empty, and even destructive, and will be judged (v. 17), appealing to the pride and lusts of their hearers (v. 18).
In our text we see the false teachers are quick to make promises. Promises are cheap; they cost nothing. Satan first revealed himself to mankind with a promise: “Ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5), and later attempted to seduce the Son of God with “all the kingdoms of the world” (Matthew 4:8). Empty promises are Satan’s golden hook, and many are the foolish ones who take the bait.
In this case, the false teachers promise liberty—liberty to act without the shackles of responsibility and moral law. But they themselves are “servants of corruption,” slaves of a most abhorrent mentality. And who are they to offer liberty? These are indeed “great swelling words of vanity” (2 Peter 2:18), for slaves cannot rightly offer liberty.
How is this promise kept? Bondage. Bondage to that which has overcome. The liberty that sin promises is slavery, and the greater the sinner, the greater the bondage to the sin. There is perhaps no more wretched a state than to be in bondage to abject corruption in the name of liberty. It is a bondage of the spirit; a captivity of the soul. Of all states of slavery, it is the most lasting.
On the other hand, through grace we can “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,” with no need to be “entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The Sunflower Battle
In Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:10
The deer in our neighborhood and I have two different opinions about sunflowers. When I plant sunflowers each spring, I’m looking forward to the beauty of their blooms. My deer friends, however, don’t care about the finished product. They simply want to chew the stems and leaves until there’s nothing left. It’s an annual summertime battle as I try to see the sunflowers to maturity before my four-hoofed neighbors devour them. Sometimes I win; sometimes they win.
When we think about our lives as believers in Jesus, it’s easy to see a similar battle being waged between us and our enemy—Satan. Our goal is continual growth leading to spiritual maturity that helps our lives stand out for God’s honor. The devil wants to devour our faith and keep us from growing. But Jesus has dominion over “every power” and can bring us “to fullness” (Colossians 2:10), which means He makes us “complete.” Christ’s victory on the cross allows us to stand out in the world like those beautiful sunflowers.
When Jesus nailed the “record of the charges against us” (the penalty for our sins) to the cross (v. 14 nlt), He destroyed the powers that controlled us. We became “rooted and built up” (v. 7) and made “alive with Christ” (v. 13). In Him we have the power (v. 10) to resist the enemy’s spiritual attacks and to flourish in Jesus—displaying a life of true beauty. (By Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread)
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Pride, Prodigals and Holy Scars
For we all stumble in many ways. JAMES 3:2
When two parents set out to raise their children, it’s easy to begin with the thought, We can do a better job at this than everybody else. Despite our inexperience, we believe that by mixing in ample amounts of prayer, Scripture memory, family devotions, worldview teaching and church attendance, we can almost guarantee our children will turn out the way we want them to. Put the right stuff in, we’ll get the right stuff out.
There’s a term for this kind of attitude, however: “spiritual pride.” I know, because Barbara and I felt the same way when we started out on our parenting journey.
But we learned one thing really quickly about children: If you want a guarantee, buy a new set of tires or a car battery . . . because children don’t come with any guarantees. Being a parent may be the greatest risk we take in our lifetimes.
Ask those who’ve had a prodigal child come through their home. Ask us. We’ll tell you.
But we can also tell you something else: God is sovereign. He is more than able to turn your children’s lives around. As you release your children to make their own decisions, you may worry that their wounds will leave a permanent mark, disfiguring their lives forever. Yes, sin does have consequences. But as my friend Dan Jarrell says, “God delights in taking those wounds and turning them into holy scars that are useful for His purposes.”
After all, the perfect Father, God, had a couple of children Himself who didn’t fare too well in the Garden. He’s had a lot of others along the way who’ve messed up pretty badly, as well. So don’t lose heart. God can heal wounds and turn them into “holy scars” that declare God’s grace, mercy and purposes.
DISCUSS
Think of a prodigal that God has rescued for His purposes. What can you learn from this person’s story? (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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