PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

Okay, now in verse 10, and on through the rest of the chapter, we're dealing with the qualities of the virtuous woman. He's given us warnings in vss. 2-3, wholesome words for leaders in vss. 4-9, and now, how to be a virtuous woman. This is what his mother taught him about a good woman, and I'm sure she taught him these things so that when Lemuel went to pick out a queen and a wife; he got the best that he could find.

It says here in verse 10 and we're going to use the letter P. As we go down through these verses, I'll show you some things about each verse that begin with the letter P.

Number one, in verse 10; her principles. “Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies.” What is virtuosity? what is virtue? It is goodness. It is high, moral quality. Who can find a good woman, with good character? Good moral excellence, pure, well, when you have a woman like that you have a valuable treasure.

“Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies.” You can apply this to the body of Christ, the church, in Matthew 13:46. The church is called a “pearl of great price.” I guarantee you when Jesus Christ cleans up the church at the Judgment Seat, she will be very beautiful, very virtuous.

“Who can find a virtuous woman?” Well, let me take you and show you one. She is found in Second Samuel, chapter 20. I love this story. This is a virtuous woman, and a wise woman. Now, she isn't very articulate. I mean, she's not very educated, not very scholarly, but she knows how to get the job done. A man by the name of Sheba had revolted against David, the king and Joab and the armies are going out to find him, and to punish him.

They go into a city called Abel, in verse 14. “He went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel,” and that's where this man Sheba had escaped to and hid himself in the city. “And to all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city.” In other words, they are putting dirt up against the wall. David's army with Joab the general is about to besiege the city and go up over the walls and go into the city and find this man, kill him, and probably the whole city with him if they think that that city is defending this man. They'll kill the whole city.

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.”

Now look at this in verse 16, “Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter” (2 Samuel 20:16-18).

She said, “Used to be around here we found out what was going on before we went and hurt somebody and that ended the matter.” And she said, “Now, here you are, you are building this bank up here and you got all these armies out there and it looks like things are getting kind of dark around here. What’s the problem?” She said, “They used to ask questions first before they shot people.” She said, “It look like you're only getting ready to shoot first and ask questions later.”

And she says in verse 19, “I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?” (2 Samuel 20:19).

Joab answered and said, “Far be it, Far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall” (2 Samuel 20:20-21).

That’s it! The city was in trouble. She asked, “How do we get out of it.” Joab answered, “Throw that rascal’s head over the wall.” She said, “it's done!” That’s it! The guy was a rebel. He was a conspirator. He planned to overthrow the king, so he was guilty of high treason and he deserved to die, and she wasn’t about to die with him.

That's a problem in America. A lot of folks are saying that we ought not kill all these killers and rapists. Well then, why don’t you just die with them. I don’t believe he ought to live. I believe if a man takes another man’s life, the Bible said that his blood shall be upon his head. I also guarantee you, if he kills one man and we kill him, he's not going to kill anybody else! Anyway, the woman told Joab, “You are about to get ahead!” She was virtuous. It was right to do what she did, and she did it. I wish we had more women in America like her! I know of at least one in Virginia, but she’s retired now.

Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!

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Thank you for this post. I love the Book of Proverbs.

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Thank you for visiting the thread. Lord willing, it will be a daily post.

Glory to God ! Thank you once again for posting Gods word Pilgrim (spoken with a John Wayne accent.) Logic and common sense are under attack as satan consumes people who abandon Gods laws for worldly explanations . The Godless fail to realize that it is God who allows man to discover and utilize what he deems fit for we his children . The virtue displayed by this woman is to me , common sense ...cut and dry which is nowadays questioned and condemned . Peaise and glory to God . I pray that you forgive me for being a sinner God as I truly understand how weak and vulnerable I am without you and your son my Lord Jesus Christ and of course the helper to whom I seek daily in order to have my words , actions and work meet your approval . I seek your grace and am humbled that you love a wretched sinner such as myself . I love you God you bring true peace and I know I am not worthy.

Amen!