Proverbs 31 The Sayings of King Lemuel

The Sayings of King Lemuel
1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,

3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.

5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.

6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.

7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.

That hits the nail on the head about alcohol! Lots of people claim to drink to get drunk just for the good time. But how bad do times have to get before you have to resort to something so careless and so drastic? The only reason why I, and Lemuel's mother, think that people resort to such a thing is because they are dying, trying to escape their poverty and troubles. Besides, if you're in a position of high standing, then it's even more risky to go out and have a drink. You never know what choices you could make under the influence.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Before I begin talking about the wife of noble character section I want to point something out; this is not just for girls wanting to be good wives. This chapter also calls out to men. I don't know if you know this, but guys, you can sometimes get the wrong idea of what you want in a girl. Whether or not you're going for looks or attitude, there's a wrong kind of wife to look for. Therefore, pay attention to these words carefully, and get a good idea of what standards you should be setting yourself in terms of seeking out a future wife. And as for the women, use this as a standard for your own life, so that you may catch the eye of a good future husband.

A Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.

11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

No wife wants to do her husband harm, but she can by many indirect ways. Whether it's being inconsiderate because you're focused on gossip, or having an attitude because you're a do-it-yourself kind a gal. However, a wife should be nothing but thinking about how to better her family, her husband in particular. If she doesn't have this mindset, then I'm afraid that it'll be a difficult marriage to begin with.

13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.

14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

A lot of this stuff is very specific, but the Bible's not asking us to go out and spin wool and flax. The wife in question in this story is simply displaying that she's a working woman. She works for the convenience and comfort of her husband and her family. If I were married to a man and I only went out and did things for myself without focusing on him, I would expect him to be irate or unhappy with me. Why? Because in a marriage you're supposed to support each other! What's a marriage without support from both sides?

17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.

18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.

20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.

By verse 21 we can say that this wife is a hard worker, but what's more is that she's prepared. Accidents and disasters can strike at any time. I'm not saying to be like Doomsday Preppers and make sure you have a safehouse with hundreds and thousands of dollars invested into it, but whether it's a winter storm, or a family member in a car crash, it's best to be prepared for it for the sake of your family.

22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.

24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

I couldn't imagine a better wife to be around. Though this kind of woman is rare, because it combines all the things that makes a woman great. This doesn't mean that she won't have flaws of course, but with all of these things it's worth while. I honestly can only hope that God will mold me into this kind of person, respected for strength and dignity, and shares wise words and kindness.

28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:

29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

And that's the last Proverb of the Proverbs Challenge! It's been a rocky road but I've enjoyed it all the way, and even though it was just one book in the whole bible, I have learned a lot. In fact I've seen an extraordinary change in my behavior and mannerisms just from this month. I'm not sure whether or not I'll do a series like this in a while, but I'll leave that up to you guys! So if you liked this post or this series in particular, please give me a thumbs up and if you have a question or a comment please email me at fire.time.rsmith@gmail.com. This Wednesday I hope to finish up The Superpower of Interpretation, after a little more research. So until then, God bless, and keep your fire for God, blazing!