This ain't her. 
Posted on 10/28/2015 5:27:21 AM PDT by Gamecock
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” (vv. 30–31). - Proverbs 31:28–31
Having explored the industriousness, wisdom, kindness, and other attributes of the excellent wife in Proverbs 31:10–27, the author of this poetic conclusion to the book of Proverbs brings his discussion to a crescendo with words of praise for this woman. Given the great blessing that she is to her family and community, this is the most fitting response that can be offered to her.
Verses 28–29 indicate that this praise comes from her children and husband. Godly children see their excellent mother for who she is, and a godly husband does not hesitate to recognize her. She has made it possible for him to be known in the gates as an honorable man (v. 23), and he praises her for it. He has a special love for her, and everyone knows it. Her worth does not mean that there are not other women who have done excellently, but it does mean that she has provided more for him than all others have (v. 29). This is how it should be, of course. Husband and wife come together as one flesh (Gen. 2:23–25); thus, husbands are to cherish their wives above all women, refusing to take them for granted and seeking to make sure they are recognized for their contributions to their households and society.
The summary lesson that the wise man is to take away from this poem is found in v. 30: “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Spiritual loveliness in a wife is the trait for which the wise man searches above all else, and the wise woman seeks a husband who prizes the fact that she fears God above all of her other qualities. This is not to denigrate physical beauty and attraction, for Scripture also praises these things as gifts from God, particularly in the Song of Solomon. However, it is to put physical beauty in its proper place. If a woman’s heart is not dedicated to the Lord, her physical beauty is of no enduring value to her husband.
We conclude today by noting that in offering praise to his wife, the godly husband honors God. Dr. John Piper, in his sermon “A Woman Who Fears the Lord Is to Be Praised,” says: “Since the Lord has made the world and is at work in us fallen creatures, it is possible to praise him indirectly by praising something he made or praising something that exalts him… . So God is honored through praises which come to his people for graces which he has imparted and which by their very nature exalt him.” Let us who are husbands cherish and praise our godly wives that we might honor God.
Coram Deo
There are many fine qualities that we should seek in a spouse, but above all we should look for the fear of the Lord. When a husband and a wife both fear God, Christ is the center of their relationship and their marriage takes on a greater purpose—the glory of God. If you are seeking to be married, pray that the Lord would bring you a spouse who fears Him. If you are married, pray that your spouse would grow in the fear of the Lord.
Passages for Further Study
Deuteronomy 7:When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, 2 hand when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction.1 You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.
Proverbs 18:22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Malachi 2:11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Morning Devotional Ping!
Hope all are well!
See also: 1 Peter 3:1-7
Wise words.
Praise will also help keep her happy, which is quite important. :-)
Ecc 9:9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.
Great verse.
Siometimes ... I just don't want to read my Bible
I know, I know ... "Oh, he must not be a real Christian"
Yeahhh .. welllll ... that's what YOU say
Anyway ... when I'm in such a mood, and I KNOW I'm supposed to (because it IS, after all, spritual FOOD !) ...
I turn to the proverb coresponding to the day
F'rinstance ... today is the 28th ... so I read Proverbs 28 .... and LO !
V2;
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
JUST what a political animal might need in applying spiritual consciousness to a flesh world and ....
NOW I feel like reading my Bible
Thank You, Father ... for Your Word
This ain't her.
LOL. I know from personal experience, that is true. 😄
Proverbs 12:4
A disgraceful wife, would be that evil wench pictured in post 8. My blood pressure was doing well, until I saw her ugly face. Is it wrong to despise evil doers?
Despise the evil thereof but pity the unrepentant evil-doer for hell is his/her eternal abode.
A crown is worn on the head for all to see. So a man is identified by a noble wife. Just as in Proverb 31. The scripture begins talking about the husband. And the husband was known because of his wife.
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