- Sermon Notes
- Scripture
Wisdom Personified
Proverbs 31:10-31
December 14-15, 2024
We’ve come to the final chapter in the book of Proverbs. This chapter is famous for describing what is often called, “The Proverbs 31 Woman.” By all appearances, he is describing a virtuous, excellent wife far beyond all comparison.
From my perspective, however, that becomes the problem, he describes a wife far beyond all comparison. In other words, who can live up to the qualities of this virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31? Any woman who tries to live up to such a standard could easily become depressed and discouraged. No one could live up to these expectations. Literally, no one could become the complete “Proverbs 31 woman.”
Consider the standards of excellence and virtue outlined in Proverbs 31:
1. She becomes the source of wisdom for her husband such that he trusts in her wisdom and his businesses are therefore always successful.
2. She always does her husband good and never speaks a cross word… all the days of her life.
3. Not only does she make her own clothing – for herself and for her family – she makes her own cloth, and then she makes the clothing! And not only that, as she is working her fingers to the bone with the spindle and beam, she does so – delightedly. But wait, there’s more, not only does she make clothing for her whole household, she also makes linen garments that she sells on the open market. She’s got like a little cottage industry going on. She even supplies tool belts for the tradesmen.
4. She is like merchant ships, bringing in food from faraway places. In other words, she brings in the finest imported food. Then, while it’s still dark, she gets up early and prepares that food for her household.
5. Apparently, she doesn’t need much sleep, because she also stays awake late into the night. Actually, I think that’s when she does all the sewing because in the morning, she’s busy preparing food for her family. Which is interesting, because, although she has maidens to help her, she does all the work. Well, who knows, maybe the maidens are working in her clothing business.
6. But wait, there’s more. She’s also an investor. She considers a field and buys it and then from her earnings (probably earnings from selling clothes and tool belts); from her earnings she plants a vineyard on the property she purchased, from which she then receives great gain.
7. Because of her dignity and honor, her husband is one of the respected elders in the land, sitting at the gate as a city leader.
8. Her children are so well behaved and respectful that they rise up and call her blessed, so does her husband who says, “You excel above all women.”
Other than that, she’s pretty boring.
There are many biblical scholars who believe that Proverbs 31 was not written as a standard for which all women should desire to achieve. Frankly, it would be impossible to live up to this standard.
Remember that this is poetry. Beautiful, Hebrew poetry. Many biblical scholars believe that Proverbs 31 is wisdom personified. Wisdom is described as an excellent, virtuous wife who will bless you all the days of your life.
Wisdom is personified in other places in the Proverbs as well.
In Proverbs 8, “Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand beside the way, where the paths meet, beside the gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the doors, she cries out, ‘To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. Listen, and I will speak noble things; the opening of my lips will produce right things… Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine… I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.”
In another place in the Proverbs he wrote, “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister, and called understanding your intimate friend.’
In Proverbs 9 he speaks of wisdom personified again and says, “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out seven pillars; she has prepared her food and set her table. She sends out her maidens to call from the tops of the heights of the city, ‘Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here! Come, eat of my food, drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake your folly and live and proceed in the way of understanding.’”
These verses in Proverbs could be called the grand finale. Over and over throughout the Proverbs, wisdom and foolishness are compared to each other so we would know the great value of wisdom and choose the path of understanding and therefore, the path of life, of honor, and blessing.
Proverbs 31 presents wisdom as an excellent and virtuous wife. Hold wisdom dear to your heart and it will completely change the life you live. Wisdom will bear fruit you can enjoy all the days of your life.
I. Trust in the Excellence of Wisdom
- Verse 11 – The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
- The heart of the man trusts wisdom, like a virtuous wife speaking wise words. Her wisdom informs his business sense, and he makes wise decisions that bring no lack of gain.
- Verse 12 – Wisdom will do him good all the days of his life… Always good. Always edifying.
- This is of course true in a very practical sense. The Proverbs are meant to be both practical and spiritual. There are practical biblical principles to guide your financial and business decisions. Those who trust in that wisdom will find financial gain.
Proverbs 21:20, “A wise man saves for the future, but a foolish man spends whatever he gets.”
Proverbs 13:11, “Wealth gained by vanity will dwindle, but whoever gathers it little by little will prosper.”
- This is about choosing the course of your life. Those who trust in God’s wisdom and let that wisdom speak to their heart – like an excellent wife – has chosen the good path…
A. Wisdom brings diligence in life
- Verse 13-14 – “Wisdom looks for wool and flax and works with her hands — in delight. She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is still night and gives food to her household.”
- The wisdom of these verses is that good old-fashioned hard work leads to prosperity. There are many Proverbs that speak of diligence in work. Today, we call it work ethic.
Proverbs 10:4, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes wealth.”
- But not just diligent work – also skillful work.
Proverbs 22:29, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
- This Proverb, however, can be applied to mean that wisdom is more than just diligence in work. There is a spiritual diligence that will bring “no lack of gain’ spiritually.
B. Wisdom brings spiritual diligence
- There are many proverbs that speak of the importance of applying yourself to the pursuit of wisdom, diligently pursue God’s wisdom. You will need it to strengthen you for the storms and troubles that will come in every life.
Proverbs 2:4, “If you seek wisdom as silver, if you search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the revering of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Illus – For Father’s Day a few years ago, my wife gave me a book called, The Compleat Gentleman, which described the history of knighthood and into the modern concept of being a gentleman.
One of the aspects in the book that resonated with me is that a gentleman masters whatever he does. In those days he especially must be skilled in the use of the sword. He would therefore practice every day, not knowing when he would be called upon to use it.
2 Timothy 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
App – If you want to become accustomed to the word of righteousness and become more skilled in how to use it, I invite you to the Wednesday services where we study in depth, verse by verse, chapter by chapter.
- We are living in days where this is becoming a necessity. We need to be skilled, especially in the prophetic words of the scriptures.
Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?”
- Jesus gave many signs of the times in Matthew 24 and 25 so we can be on the alert, be spiritually diligent, to watch and be ready. To be on the alert and be ready to is be spiritually diligent.
- History is unfolding before our eyes; prophecy is unfolding before our eyes. A new world order is unfolding, and we need to be on the alert and discerning as we follow the events that are happening in the world.
II. Wisdom Smiles at the Future
- Verse 25 – Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
- This must be understood rightly. This doesn’t suggest that wisdom assumes on the future, it most certainly does not. In fact, Proverbs and the book of James both warn against presuming on what will happen in the future.
Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
James 4:13-14, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow… Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.”
- Wisdom smiles at the future means that by wisdom, you do not need to be afraid of what lies ahead. Face the unknown with confidence in God because you have spiritually prepared for what lies ahead and are equipped with the wisdom and the help of God.
A. Wisdom is not afraid of the snow
- Verse 21 – “She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.”
- Wisdom prepares her house by preparing scarlet clothing for everyone in the home. Everyone is blessed by the wisdom she speaks which makes ready the hearts, so that wisdom will be there when you need it.
Proverbs 2:11, “Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil.”
- Those who live in the Northwest certainly understand about preparing for the snow. If you don’t cover the facets, your pipes will freeze, and you’ll have more problems and trouble than you can imagine.
- It’s a spiritual analogy. Wisdom considers the future and prepares in advance for winter, for storms; for cold wind coming from the north.
- It’s one of the great aspects of wisdom that wisdom considers the outcome. Wisdom gives insight to see that storms and trouble are part of life and the one who is wise is spiritually prepared.
Illus – One day a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, I brought my son who is possessed with a spirit which makes him mute and whenever it seizes him it slams him into the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do it.”
They brought the boy to Jesus and when he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
Jesus said, “How long has this been happening to him?” And the father responded, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
Jesus said to him, “’If you can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and he came out and the boy became completely still. Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.
Later, the disciples questioned him privately, saying, “Why could we not drive it out?” And Jesus replied, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer and fasting.”
- The interesting thing is that Jesus did not pray here, so he wasn’t referring to immediately entering into a time of prayer and fasting for spiritual strength.
- Instead, Jesus was referring to the spiritual bearing of prayer and fasting that a person has in his life in preparation for spiritual victory.
B. The teaching of kindness is on her lips
- Verse 25-26 – Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her lips.
- Wisdom brings a strength of dignity. Wisdom is beautiful on the soul.
- Out of the dignity and kindness of her soul, she opens her mouth in wisdom and teaches kindness to those around her. Kindness is always on her lips.
Proverbs 19:22, “What is desirable in a man is his kindness…”
- Where does kindness come from? It comes from the beautiful work that God is doing in the soul.
Galatians 5:22-23, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
- The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth what is good.
- Kindness comes back to you.
- Verse 28-29 – Her children rise up and bless her; her husband does also, and he praises her, saying, “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.”
- Finally, the Proverbs end as they began…
- Verse 30 – Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who reveres the Lord, she shall be praised.
- All godly wisdom begins and ends with your reverence for the Lord. Revival is the foundation on which all godly wisdom is built.
Proverbs 31:10-31 NASB
10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
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