Proverbs 31 Part 2 verses 17-22

We are continuing with our study of the virtuous woman. She has been a true role model for us and she will continue.

         Proverbs 31: 17-22, “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant”.

 

       First we notice the eth endings like last month. She is continually doing these things. She is continually doing: girdeth, strengtheneth, perceiveth, goeth, layeth, stretcheth, reacheth, maketh, selleth, delivereth. These are all continual acts.

               She dresses herself in modest apparel for the type of activities and weather she is facing. She is dressing her household and no one is in want due to her seeing and meeting the needs of her family.

She is capable and ready for anything that is put in front of her.  Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “A woman is like a tea bag, you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water”. The virtuous woman is strong and ready for that hot water.  She takes care of herself so that she can take care of her family. We need to remember that in order to take care of our families, relatives, friends, members of our congregation, and to work and help out that we must first take care of ourselves. Remember that in a plane if the plane goes down we are to put our mask on before we put on someone else’s because if we do not then we won’t have the chance to help others. The same for our every day lives. We must first take care of ourselves before we can help others. That may mean taking medicine, exercising, doctor appointments to make sure we are in good health. If our health isn’t where it should be then we are risking our opportunity to help others.

She works diligently and does not waste time working into the night hours.  She makes her own cloth that she uses to make the clothes for herself, her family, the needy and the merchants. She doesn’t just make any old thing as she makes herself coverings of tapestry using silk and purple. Silk and purple in Bible times were the expensive color and materials. The Tabernacle was made of purple color. The Tabernacle only used fine things as it was for God. We need to remember that we are for God.

Her husband is able to be known in the gates because she is able to look to the household and be a savvy business woman. When we take care of our responsibilities then our husbands can take care of their responsibilities and vice versa.

Neely