Monday Devo
Scripture:
Proverbs 31:10-22
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.
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.
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.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
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.
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.
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.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Commentary:
31:10 An excellent wife who can find? reminds the reader that a good wife is from the Lord (see 12:4; 18:22; 19:14).
31:10 The excellent wife prefigures the excellence of the church, the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 19:7–8).
31:12 does him good. The diligence of the good wife (vv. 13–19) is not for herself alone but also for her husband and household.
31:13 seeks wool and flax. She is skilled in working with textiles to provide for the clothing needs of her household.
31:14 Trading ships is a poetic analogy; she does not literally sail the seas. She goes out of her way to secure fine food for her family.
31:15 By providing for her household and her maidens before the day begins, the “excellent wife” (v. 10) multiplies the effectiveness of her work, because her planning enables everyone else in her household to be productive throughout the day. She does not lie in bed and wait for servants to attend to her.
31:16 She is not confined to the home but is engaged in business. This verse demonstrates remarkable financial independence for a woman in the ancient world: she herself considers a field (indicating wise judgment) and buys it (indicating control of a substantial amount of money).
31:18 Profitable indicates that she is able to realize economic gain from the diligence of her labor, which she uses to purchase a field (v. 16) and provide for her household (v. 15). Her lamp does not go out at night. See v. 15, “She rises while it is yet night”; if the verses are taken to a literal extreme, they would imply that she never sleeps at all! But surely that is not true, nor is it intended (see Ps. 127:2). Rather, this is an idealized picture of a woman who is diligent to complete her work both in the morning and in the evening.
31:19 A distaff is a staff with a fork at the end that holds flax or wool that has yet to be spun, from which thread is drawn when a person is spinning thread or yarn on a spinning wheel. A spindle is a rod with tapered ends on which thread is wound once it has been spun by hand. The point of this and several other verses is the remarkable range of manual, commercial, administrative, and interpersonal skills at which this woman demonstrates excellence.
31:20 Active concern for the poor is a cardinal virtue of all wisdom literature.
31:21 Her careful preparation of necessary clothing in advance means that she is not afraid of sudden changes in weather, for they will not catch her unprepared.
31:22 Fine linen and purple indicates clothing of beauty and considerable expense, appropriate visual indications of the excellence of her work and character.
31:10 The excellent wife prefigures the excellence of the church, the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 19:7–8).
31:12 does him good. The diligence of the good wife (vv. 13–19) is not for herself alone but also for her husband and household.
31:13 seeks wool and flax. She is skilled in working with textiles to provide for the clothing needs of her household.
31:14 Trading ships is a poetic analogy; she does not literally sail the seas. She goes out of her way to secure fine food for her family.
31:15 By providing for her household and her maidens before the day begins, the “excellent wife” (v. 10) multiplies the effectiveness of her work, because her planning enables everyone else in her household to be productive throughout the day. She does not lie in bed and wait for servants to attend to her.
31:16 She is not confined to the home but is engaged in business. This verse demonstrates remarkable financial independence for a woman in the ancient world: she herself considers a field (indicating wise judgment) and buys it (indicating control of a substantial amount of money).
31:18 Profitable indicates that she is able to realize economic gain from the diligence of her labor, which she uses to purchase a field (v. 16) and provide for her household (v. 15). Her lamp does not go out at night. See v. 15, “She rises while it is yet night”; if the verses are taken to a literal extreme, they would imply that she never sleeps at all! But surely that is not true, nor is it intended (see Ps. 127:2). Rather, this is an idealized picture of a woman who is diligent to complete her work both in the morning and in the evening.
31:19 A distaff is a staff with a fork at the end that holds flax or wool that has yet to be spun, from which thread is drawn when a person is spinning thread or yarn on a spinning wheel. A spindle is a rod with tapered ends on which thread is wound once it has been spun by hand. The point of this and several other verses is the remarkable range of manual, commercial, administrative, and interpersonal skills at which this woman demonstrates excellence.
31:20 Active concern for the poor is a cardinal virtue of all wisdom literature.
31:21 Her careful preparation of necessary clothing in advance means that she is not afraid of sudden changes in weather, for they will not catch her unprepared.
31:22 Fine linen and purple indicates clothing of beauty and considerable expense, appropriate visual indications of the excellence of her work and character.
Questions:
- Proverbs 31 is the advice given to a king by his mother about what it takes to be a godly woman. The tension is that while some have made these verses too practical, as if it is some sort of checklist, others have over-spiritualized it. We will see elements of both, but ultimately this chapter points us to Christ. In verses 10-21 she is describing how a godly woman looks after everyone, puts their needs before her own, and gives to the poor. In verse 22 it says she dresses in fine linen and purple gowns, showing how important it is for women, especially mothers, to take care of themselves as well. In light of Mother's Day, how have you seen YOUR mother (or wife) put the needs of her family selflessly before her own? How have you seen, in your own life, the importance of making sure you find the time and energy to take care of yourself?
- Verse 26 says her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness. "Instructions" is referring to the Law of God. Her wisdom comes from the Word, and she is faithful to share that wisdom with her kids, husband and friends. The law, and wisdom coming from the Word, are daily overflowing out of her life. Ultimately she is leading people in her life to Christ. Has there been a wise woman in your life that has shown you a picture of Jesus through her words and actions? Are you doing that for others (guys included)?
Pray:
- That you would remember to take time to care for yourself spiritually, emotionally and physically.
- That you would share the wisdom of the Lord with your family and friends.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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