proverbs 31

I spent last week musing on this Bible chapter, because my pastor called and asked me to say a few words on Sun. concerning whatever the Lord laid on my heart. On the fifth Sundays he usually talks about families, and this fifth Sunday the topic was women. I am not a public speaker. I like teaching children, teens, even college age; but getting up in front of people (adult people) makes my knees wobble and my voice quiver. I've always thought it a bit traitorous of my body to betray my abject fear the minute I get in front of an audience. It's hard to pretend you're comfortable with the situation when the podium and mike are experiencing an earthquake and your voice is tremulous. However, it would have been a bad thing to turn him down just because of unbridled panic, so this begins a collection of my thoughts as I searched for just the thing the Lord would have me say.

I sometimes think that our handling of this chapter of the Bible is ironic. We think of it and present it as a guide for women. We study and write about it to women, as a teaching for them and about them, giving them instruction in godly living. That's true, but it isn't the chapter's original purpose. It was actually intended for young men, specifically a young man named Lemuel. It is the record of a mother's teaching her son about women and what a really valuable woman looks like. Lemuel was destined to be king from the context of the chapter, and his godly and prudent mom took the time to teach him and counsel him. The largest part of this chapter is devoted to her specific teaching about wives.

I think it's interesting that a father's perspective is given throughout the book of proverbs and those truths are largely presented bluntly and in the negative : Stay away from harlots. A woman who nags will make you miserable. An immodest woman is like decorating a pig. And again stay away from harlots; they destroy even the strong. The mom takes the other direction and instead of giving the young man things to avoid in women, she tells him what is truly valuable, and what it looks like in everyday life so that he'll be able to recognize it.

I don't know about you, but I don't normally think of a mom teaching her son about women; that seems to me to be more of a "dad thing". It's clear from this passage that my perception is wrong.

So what does she say a young man should search for? A quick overview gave me these observations.

1. She's rare, as shown by the question "who can find?" If you wonder who can find something, it must be rare and require searching.

2. She's valuable. Jewels are precious gems.

3. She's trustworthy.

4. She does her husband good, and does not do him evil.

5.She works with her hands willingly, and actually actively seeks to work.

6.She prepares a variety of food.

7. She's up early (before dawn).

8.She is entreprenurial and financially responsible.

9. She has strong arms and legs.

10.She works into the night and makes quality merchandise.

11. She is industrious .

12. She cares for the poor

13. She cares for her family's physical needs (specifically in clothing and ahead of time)

14. She sews for herself

15. Her husband is well-known. It's interesting that this is noted to her credit.

16 She's creative and productive.

17. She's clothed with strength/honor/joy

18. She's known for wise speech, and kindness

19. She watches over her household and is not idle.

20. children's attitudes toward her are of blessing and appreciation

21. She's known for excellence.

22. She fears God and therefore is focused on the eternal not the temporal (specifically not concerned about popularity or what she looks like).

23. fruitful hands/ works

It seemed there were way too many choices of what I could say. So, what did I finally decide on? I ended up stuck on verse 10, and I'll give you my thoughts on that.... next blog.