Sermons

S.R. Proverbs 1:1-7; 20-33

Introduction

1. Personal Commendation of Ladies
2. The book of Proverbs begins and ends with Wisdom.

Outline

1. The Excellent Wife
   1. The book has shown the alternatives between:
      1. A good wife (Proverbs 12:4; 18:22; 19:14)
      2. And a poor one (Proverbs 19:13; 21:9, 19; 25:24).
   2. This woman is a good wife in contrast to (Proverbs 5:3-23; 6:20-35; 7:6-27; 9:13-18).
2. Proper Family Relationships
   1. The book has stressed the importance of proper family relationships (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 17:2, 6, 17, 21; 19:13, 18, 26; 20:7, 20; 22:6; 23:13-14, 22-25; 27:8; 28:7, 24; 29:3, 15, 17; 30:11, 17, 21-23).
   2. This woman is concerned for her husband, her household and her maidens.
3. Wise Working Woman
   1. Proverbs has extolled the virtue of hard work and the folly of laziness (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4-5, 26; 12:11, 24, 27; 13:4; 14:23; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4, 13; 21:25; 22:13, 29; 24:30-34; 26:13-16; 27:23-27; 28:19).
   2. The verb work or do appears in Proverbs 31:13, 22, 24, 29.
   3. She not only works with her hands but she delights in it (Proverbs 31:13.)
   4. Verbs of action are repeatedly associated with her (Proverbs 31:12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 25- 27)
4. Words are Used Wisely
   1. Proverbs emphasizes choosing our words carefully (Proverbs 10:14; 11:12-13; 12:18; 13:3,16; 15:1, 4, 28; 16:24; 17:27-28; 18:6-8, 20-21; 19:1; 20:15, 25; 26:4-5). The woman of Proverbs 31 does this (Proverbs 31:26). The word teaching in Proverbs 31:26 is the word torah which we often associate with the law of Moses. It is used in Proverbs to talk of the teaching of the mother and father (Proverbs 1:8; 3:1; 4:2; 6:20, 23; 7:2), the wise (Proverbs 13:14), and the law of the LORD (Proverbs 28:4, 7, 9; 29:18).
   2. Her teaching is in kindness or hesed (Proverbs 31:26). This word is used in Proverbs 3:3; 11:17; 14:22; 16:6; 19:22; 20:6, 28; 21:21. Again, she is a prime example of what the whole book teaches.
5. Excellent Women Serve the Poor
   1. This book has stressed care for the poor (Proverbs 14:21; 31; 17:5; 19:17; 21:13; 22:9; 28:27) and this woman exemplifies such care (Proverbs 31:19-20).
   2. While maidens would usually have served the lady of the house, in Proverbs 31:15 she is pictured as serving them.
6. The Excellent Woman is not Arrogant, but Humble.
   1. Proverbs stresses the importance of humility and the dangers of pride (Proverbs 3:7; 6:17; 11:2; 15:25; 16:5, 18-19; 18:12; 21:4, 24; 22:4; 25:6-7, 27; 26:12; 27:1-2; 29:23; 30:13).
   2. Notice that the woman in Proverbs 31 is praised (Proverbs 31:8-31), but she is always praised by others.
7. The Wise Woman is Worth Far More than Wealth
   1. Wisdom is more valuable than jewels (Proverbs 3:13-15; 8:10-11, 19; 16:16; 20:15) and brings great material gain (Proverbs 3:16; 8:18; 22:4).
   2. Such worth is true of this woman who embodies wisdom as well.
      1. She is more valuable than jewels (Proverbs 31:10),
      2. and she brings gains for her husband (Proverbs 31:1, 16, 18, 31).
   3. Compare Proverbs 31:18 to Proverbs 3:14.
   4. Finding her (Proverbs 31:10) is like finding wisdom (Proverbs 8:35)
8. The Wise Woman is a True Beauty
   1. The fear of the LORD is central to Proverbs (Proverbs 1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:27; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17) and it is central to this woman’s character (Proverbs 31:30)
   2. Outward beauty is deceptive if a woman does not have inward beauty (Proverbs 11:22; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4).
   3. She is not afraid of snow for her household (Proverbs 31:21) but she does fear the LORD (Proverbs 31:30).
   4. She smiles (Proverbs 31:25, better laughs) at the future in spite of its difficulties and trials. Contrast Proverbs 31:25 with Proverbs 1:26.
      1. In Proverbs 1:26 wisdom is personified as laughing at the calamity of the foolish but here the wise woman laughs at calamity knowing that it is no threat to her.
9. Conclusion: This woman brings together what much of the book of Proverbs has taught.