Sunday School 5-28-06 Proverbs 31(8-14) (25-30)
Lemuel
(from Smith’s Bible Dictionary
(dedicated
to God ), The name of an unknown king to whom his mother addressed
the prudential maxims contained in (Proverbs
31:1-9) The
rabbinical commentators identified Lemuel with
Solomon. Others regard him as king or chief of an Arab tribe dwelling on the
borders of Palestine, and elder brother of Agur,
whose name stands at the head of (Proverbs
30:1)
Lemuel
The name “Lemuel” means “dedicated to devoted to God.” David named him Solomon which means “peace.” Nathan the prophet called him Jedidiah which means “beloved of God.” I believe Lemuel was Bathsheba’s name for him. Names meant more in biblical times than they do now. We call our babies’ sweet heart, pumpkin, or baby doll. That’s not their real names, but our pet names for them. I believe Lemuel was Solomon’s momma’s pet name for him. Probably when she yelled for him in the palace when he was a small child she called out “Lemuel.” Now I can’t prove this. You don’t have to believe it. I am basing this on the fact that the rest of Proverbs was written by Solomon and there is no record of a Jewish kind by the name of Lemuel.
Proverbs 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Advice on fair & just treatment
In these two verses Bathsheba is advising her son, the king, to speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves. It is the role of good government to uplift the needy and be just to all regardless of their station in life. We must remember God is taking note of our actions. He directs us to be merciful and caring. She warns him to especially be willing to help those who are “appointed to destruction” which means they are close to dying. Solomon needed nothing in this life. He could’ve ignored the impoverished people in his kingdom, but that is not a godly way of administering justice. For God to bless; the nation must be just. I’m afraid America could learn this lesson. Justice is sometimes hard for the poor to acquire and often is influenced by the rich to avoid punishment. That should not be!
31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Advice on obtaining a bride
In this section of scripture Bathsheba is instructing her son on how to choose a wife. It is a shame that he didn’t listen. Solomon married 300 wives and had 300 concubines. Thse wives were his downfall. Another important point to remember in this lesson is that spiritually these same directives apply to the church who is the bride of Christ. The attributes which make a good wife also are attributes Jesus wants in his bride. The word “virtuous” means strong, efficient, wealthy, or able. It is a big help for a man to have a capable, efficient wife. Jesus is seeking a capable, efficient church. We need to hone our skills so that we are most effective for him. Practice makes perfect is the old saying. Truthfully, it doesn’t make perfect, but it does make you a lot more efficient.
31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Trust and fulfillment
How blessed it is for a man to have a wife he can trust. There are times when he needs to be able to confide in someone with his deepest desires and fears. A man needs a woman who loves him enough to be a source of safety and protection for him. He must be able to trust her not to reveal secrets and for her not to betray him to others. The phrase “have no need of spoil” means that she enriches his life more than the spoils of war. A relationship which endures a lifetime between a loving man and woman is a blessing to both and to everyone around them. It is worth more than money or jewels. Jesus is looking for the same in his church. Our Lord desires for us to be trustworthy towards Him. We must not have allegiances to any other gods.
31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Do him good
To do her husband evil means she hinders him or holds him back. A good wife will support her husband and allow him to prosper. Christians need to not be a hindrance to the kingdom of God, but to help it move forward. My heart’s desire is to do good, but most of all, to not hinder anyone on their journey to heaven. I do not want to be a stumbling block in anyone’s life.
31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Work
The good wife is willing to work to provide for her family’s needs. Laziness is not acceptable in a wife or in a Christian. God expects us to be “willing” workers. How He must be saddened by our unwillingness to put forth much effort for his cause. This woman is not served, but is a servant. Jesus directed His disciples to be the same.
31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Shops
This verse refers to the good wife’s ability to compulsion to shop for bargains and quality. The merchant ship travels the seas to find the best and most valuable trade goods. The good wife searches out bargains for her family. The Christian should search for the best in our spiritual life also. We should never settle for the convenient, easy solutions, but search the scriptures, pray, listen to sermons, and attend church so that we can have the best blessings.
31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Strength, honor, and rejoicing
The word translated strength not only means physical strength, but moral, political, and social strength. The wife need not be a weightlifter, but she should be someone who is strong in integrity and dignity. Honour means dignity, splendour, or majesty. Listen to what Peter says makes a wife beautiful: 1st Peter 3:1-6 “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” Notice this is the Biblical suggestion for how a saved wife is to win her unbelieving husband. She is not to rail and scream at him, but to love and respect him which will go way farther towards convincing him to come to the Lord! The word translated “rejoicing” here literally means to laugh. I firmly believe marriage contain laughter. Life is a gift from God and He expects us to enjoy it. Those who think God loves frowns need to read the Scripture again. Enjoy your life and enjoy your family. It is a gift from God. Listen to this advice given in Proverbs 5:18: “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 5:19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.” The word translated rejoice here means glad, merry, or to exult. Marriage is man’s greatest gift from God. Don’t let Satan turn it into a chore!
I’ve been relating these things to the Church and this is no different. Jesus wants to enjoy His bride. God isn’t interested in punishing His people. He wants them to live and prosper. Listen to the words of Ezekiel 18:32:”For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” God doesn’t want us to shrivel up and die. He wants us to live victoriously. Let me give you one of my favorite Scriptures to prove my point: Deuteronomy 28:7-13 “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 28:9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 28:10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 28:11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:” Doesn’t that sound like God wants you to live happily?
31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Wise and kind
What kind of woman do you want raising your children? I’ll take one who is wise and kind. Wisdom allows her to teach correct living and kindness shows them the tender heart children need to experience at home. The church also needs these two attributes. Jesus advised us to be as wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. Wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord. Kindness comes from the reflection of Him in our lives.
31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Looketh carefully
She watches what is going on in her home. She knows where her children are. She pays attention to where needy things are. She is not lazy, but diligent and thrifty. Again the church needs to listen to this advice. We should always know what is going on around us. We should be aware of Satan and his devices. We must put out small fires before they become blazes which are hard to contain.
31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Honored by children and husband
Mother’s day is a wonderful holiday. We have the opportunity to thank our mothers for giving of themselves to raise us. I want to publicly thank my mother for sacrificing for me when I know she needed things for herself. I remember her making her own dresses, but she always made sure we had nice clothes to wear to school and to church. Money was sometimes scarce, but we had the best ball gloves, bicycles, and a warm, safe home to live in. She still today is always thinking of her children and desires for them to succeed. She willingly suppressed her own desires for ours. I can certainly rise up and call her blessed. Her husband recognized her value also. She always made sure food was on the table and clothes were ready to wear. She allowed him to enjoy his hobbies and his children. She honored him as her husband and was faithful unto him till death. She supported her husband in every way. I believe the day is coming when Christ will do the same. I believe the Lord is pleased with His bride. He desires to present her to himself without spot or wrinkle. We are headed to that great wedding supper when He will admire His bride which He has cleansed in His own blood! What a celebration that will be!
31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Happy together
The man who has such a wife does not desire another. She satisfies him in every way. He’s honored to be her husband and remains faithful to her. He would not give her up for any price. This phrase describes the church so well. There are many beneficial organizations in this world, but all of them pale in comparison to the church of God. The church has given more aid to the poor, provided more free medical care, dispensed more educational materials, and done more good than any other organization in history. The church has not been perfect and when it has been hi-jacked by nonbelievers it has committed atrocities, but the true born again church of God is the best thing mankind has ever known. Any honest atheist must admit that!
31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Physical beauty
Charm and beauty are intriguing, but they fade. The relationships that last are not ones who marry for looks, but those who marry out of love. The outside appearance is stricken with age, and if that is all that attracts you to someone, you are headed for a downfall. How many men have married their Barbie dolls who make them miserable? It is OK to admire the outside, and I love my wife’s appearance, but take the time to check out the inside also. I often tell young people to make sure the one they marry is someone they can sit on the couch and watch TV with. If you can’t have any fellowship together, the relationship will not last. God doesn’t look on the outside with regards to his church either. Many of the worlds people don’t think much of us, but remember He looks upon our hearts. Riches, fame, beauty, and other such passing fancies do not impress God. He’s looking for virtue.
New Living Translation (recommended as a commentary only)
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. 9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life.
13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship; she brings her food from afar. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. 27 She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.
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.
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PASTOR RICK BARCUS
