3-8-20 Sermon Notes
“Early Mother’s Day Special” Proverbs 31:10-31
Two weeks ago, we looked at verses in Proverbs that made comparisons about the “better” things in life. This is week eight of our series “Heavenly Wisdom” and we will be looking at verses in the last chapter of Proverbs that point to God’s view of women (which should also be our view as men).
Introduction
When God created Eve, she was created with the intention of bringing excellence into the world. Without the presence of a woman as a separate identity, even though all was perfect in the world, God was able to say “something here is not good.” There was Adam, the perfect man, and yet he was missing something that was good. Something that could empower him with excellence. The good he was missing was Eve.
Eve had been created for glory and honor. Her mission was to move things from being good to being excellent. There was something special about woman from the very beginning of creation.
Message
In years past at WSCC, we did not have the opportunity to spend a morning fully honoring our wives, mothers, and grandmothers on Mother’s Day because we were usually in the middle of a sermon series. Since we are in the Heavenly Wisdom series, it affords us the opportunity to honor them even though Mother’s Day is about two months away. So, let’s call this message an “Early Mother’s Day Special.”
Now Let’s take a look at the verses in chapter 31 of Proverbs that spell out God’s take on what a woman should be and how she is to be honored.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 “A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
Concluding Remarks and Application
What we have just read is a departure from the Middle Eastern view of women. Here, we are treated to the elevated stature of women that was unheard of that time and even today in that part of the world. Isn’t it interesting that God, through King Lemuel and his mother, revealed how women should conduct themselves and that they should be honored.
There appears to be one verse that allowed the woman to be all of the things mentioned about her. And that is verse 30 – “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Here we are back to where we began with the “fear (respect) of the Lord.”