Saturday, February 8, 2014

Proverbs 31 Woman

The Proverbs 31 Woman
Proverbs 31:10-31
Each verse of the Proverbs 31 Woman begins with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
This woman defines a woman of inner strength and beauty.
  • Ephesians 3:16 NASB “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to       be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”
As a result of her inner strength and beauty, we see her outer physical body displaying strength as she works hard in her service.
SHE IS PRICELESS (v.10)
“An excellent wife who can find?”
excellent in the Hebrew is “chayil” and means “virtue”
wife in the Hebrew is “ishshah” and is a feminine noun meaning woman, wife or female.
“who can find?” -these kind of women are rare and they stand out among the crowd.
“for her worth is far above jewels” -there is so much more to a woman than the physical! Do you know what you’re worth?
Character is of great worth in God’s eyes.
Jewels are considered valuable because they have to be mined, searched for and discovered. In a crowd of women, this one was a gem! The Proverbs 31 woman shined in a commonplace crowd.
SHE IS TRUSTWORTHY (v.11)
heart in Hebrew is “leb” and is used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything.
“trusts” in Hebrew is “batach” and means “to trust, be confident or sure” -It is a verb indicating to trust, to be confident. It expresses the feeling of safety and security that is felt when one can rely on someone or something else.
“he will have no lack of gain” -Everything that he gets from her adds value to him; she doesn’t take it away. She enhances his life, not rob him. She enriches him.
SHE IS GOOD (v.12)
“The woman who is intent on having her refreshing ministry overflow into the lives of those she loves, does good and not evil all the days of her life!” -Elizabeth George
Each day, make a plan to do good. Then, follow through with the plan!
“all the days of his life” -The key to achieving this is to take life one day at a time. It means to wake up each morning and embrace what God has for you that day!
SHE IS HAPPY (v.13)
Physical chores -looking for what needs to be done and doing them with delight.
It wasn’t that she did these chores, it was how she did them!
The ability to do things this way started in her thought life. She chose to take her thoughts captive and have joy in her circumstances.
How to have a willing heart in your tasks:
    • Prayer -will give you the perspective that you need and you will get fresh encouragement and direction from the Holy Spirit
    • Scripture -will give you wisdom and help keep your mind stayed on the truth
    • Unto the Lord -God is your boss! Seek to work for Him every day and hear Him say “Job well done!”
    • Wait -Be patient to see all the fruit of the labor that you do. The harvest will come!
    • Rest -take time to rest and be refreshed with a nap and some quiet time. You will be able to get back up and work with fresh vigor. Don’t feel guilty by taking a coffee break!



SHE PROVIDES (v.14)
“No merchants’ ships,no, not Solomon’s navy, ever made a more advantageous return than her employments do. Do they bring in foreign commodities with the effects they export? So does she with the fruit of her labours. What her own ground does not produce she can furnish herself with, if she have occasion for it, by exchanging her own goods for it; and so she brings her food from afar. Not that she values things the more for their being far-fetched, but, if they be ever so far off, if she must have them she knows how to come by them.” -Matthew Henry Commentary
SHE DIRECTS HER HOME (v.15)
She is a hard worker. She goes the extra mile to keep things running and in order.
Romans 12:10-13 NASB “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”
Luke 12:42 NASB “And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?”
She saw everyone’s value and worth. She directed them and delegated to them.
Success for the day includes:
  • an early start -wake up before the family to pray and be in the Word. You can be awake and ready when everyone else gets up
  • food for the day -get breakfast items out and ready, start cooking dinner right away, prepare lunch ahead of time
  • a plan for the day -have a written out, prayer directed plan for your day! *don’t forget to plan rest time and free time in your day as well
SHE DREAMS (v. 16)
The Proverbs 31 Woman was a dreamer! She was a woman who had vision and then set out to see it come to life.
She had a little business tact. We see her working the real estate, earning money and then planting a vineyard.

SHE IS STRONG (v.17)
Make your house a home.
She kept her physical strength up so she could accomplish all the tasks demanded of her. She kept herself healthy and strong. She was practical. Things like eating right, getting enough rest and exercise help you in your pursuit of serving the Lord.
SHE IS INDUSTRIOUS (v. 18)
senses -She is attentive to her God-given intuition when it comes to the needs of the household.
lamp -In her physical work there were times when she went the extra mile. She is on top of things so that things will not fall behind.
Our spiritual lamp is the Bible! God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
SHE IS SKILLED (v.19)
She is skilled in necessary tasks of homemaking. What are necessary skills needed for homemaking?
“Do you have dreams? Are there works of art you would like to create? Skills you desire to gain? Talents you would love to develop? A great, hidden treasure of time is accessible to you at night -a quiet time for growth, a time to perfect skills, learn new arts, read, and study.” -Elizabeth George
SHE IS COMPASSIONATE (v.20)
She is giving and helps those in need.

Deuteronomy 15:11 NASB "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'”
Proverbs 22:9 NASB “He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.”
Acts 20:35 NASB "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"



SHE IS PREPARED (v. 21)
She is prepared and works at being so. She thinks ahead. This is key to decreasing levels of anxiety and stress!
“If fail to plan then plan to fail.”
Practical Tip: Do the most pressing things first in your day and get them out of the way!
Because she planned ahead, she was able to do her job well.
Scarlet was a wealthy color.

SHE IS FEMININE (v. 22)
The Proverbs 31 Woman took care of her appearance.
She dressed with taste.

Wake up and get dressed and ready for work! You will feel better when you do this.

The cross reference was Proverbs 7:16. She was tasteful this way in context!
Revelation 19:8 NASB “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Revelation 19:14 NASB “And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.”
The Bride of Christ is clothed in fine linens.
The color of purple was a color of royalty. It is what kings wore.
She saw her value and worth, not in a prideful way, but in a dignified way.
We need to look at ourselves as God looks at us.
I AM...
SHE IS HONORED (v. 23)
The Proverbs 31 Woman had an honorable husband.
Deuteronomy 16:18 NASB "You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.”
Ruth 4:1 NASB “Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.”
(talk about what it meant to be known in the gates...do more research)
SHE IS THRIFTY (v. 24)
“She developed something personal into something professional.” -Elizabeth George
What is your personal “thing” or skill? Develop it. Your family is first but give your personal “thing” a little bit of time and attention and it will grow and develop!
SHE IS FEARLESS (v. 25)
“strength” in the Hebrew is “oz” and means “might, strength” -in the material, physical, personal social or political.
Other verses that use this same Hebrew word for strength are:
  • Exodus 15:2 NASB “The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him.”
  • 1 Chronicles 15:11 NASB “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
  • Psalm 28:7 NASB “The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.
  • Psalm 29:11 NASB “The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.”
“dignity” in Hebrew “hadar” means “ornament, splendor, honor”
Other verses using this word are:
  • Psalm 96:6 NASB “Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
  • Psalm 104:1 NKJV “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty,”
“smiles at the future” -FEARLESS! She is not overcome by fear. AND she is not afraid of getting old! She looks forward to the days ahead :)
Psalm 92:12-15 NASB “The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him”
May this be the desire of our hearts!
Philippians 3:13-14 NASB “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
SHE IS WISE AND KIND (v. 26)
“wisdom” in Hebrew “chokmah” means “skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit” -”a feminine noun meaning wisdom, skill, experience, shrewdness.:
KINDNESS -Simply ask yourself if you are acting kind. Kindness goes a long way! By just simply being kind you can set the tone in the home and actually have more things go your way. :)
SHE IS DILIGENT (v. 27)
Diligent homemaker
Proverbs 19:15 NASB “Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.”
When you feel tired, sometimes it is better to get up and do something and you will feel refreshed.
SHE IS PRAISED (v. 28)
She does not praise herself.

Proverbs 27:2 NASB “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.”
“Being a mother is worth fighting for, worth calling a career, worth the dignity of hard work.” -Edith Schaeffer
SHE IS EXCELLENT (v. 29)
She lived her life in excellence. From the inside out! She made a connection with her husband and this is how he praised her!
SHE IS GODLY (v. 30)
She was a woman who truly feared the Lord.

Proverbs 11:22 NASB “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”
Proverbs 12:4 NASB “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones.”
Psalm 34:9 NASB “O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.”
Proverbs 9:10 NASB “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
SHE IS A WOMAN OF FAITH (v. 31)
She is a woman who works out her faith.

James 1:22 NASB “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
PROVERBS 31 WOMAN RECOMMENDED READING:

Posted by Rach at 6:14 PM
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1 comments:

MOther4Jesus said...

Beautifully said Rachel. What a great encouragement this was. Thank you. <3

March 1, 2015 at 5:28 PM

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