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1507;PROVERBS 31 WIFE- AN EXAMPLE FOR THE CHURCH OF GOD!
Proverbs 31:10-31, speaks of the noble wife, but it is really an example on how God's church should be. Often, even in the Old Testament, the people with whom God was working with as a collective group are referred to as a woman (Ezek 36:17).
The Old Testament book of Hosea shows Hosea's wife represented Israel. In the New Testament book of Ephesians, Christ implies that the church is His wife. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body" (Eph 5:22-33). Even the book of Revelations refers to the marriage of the lamb (Christ) to His bride, the saints, the called out ones. "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Rev 19:7-8).
We, as a church are the spiritual nation of Israel. When David and Solomon were kings and Israel was at its peak, Israel was doing the things that the noble women was doing and so should we as the Church of God. Therefore as the wife of Christ (Eph 5:22-33), we must make ourselves ready as it speaks of in Revelations 19:7 when it says "His wife has made herself ready."
How do we make ourselves ready? First we fear God and keep His commandments. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastics 12:13). But there are other thing we can be doing to help us collectively as a nation to make ourselves ready. The example is in Proverbs 31, that speaks of a virtuous woman.
This woman is the prepared Church of God, for the Kingdom of God, a spiritual nation of Israel and the wife of Christ. Let us take a few of these examples from Proverbs 31 and see how the behavior of this noble women has the same behavior we are to have as a church.
1. Proverbs 31:10. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." There are three other thing in the Bible that are worth more than rubies: wisdom (Job 28:18, Prov 8:11, Prov 20:15), understanding (Prov 3:13-16) and knowledge, or the lips of knowledge (Prov 20: 15). So, at a minimum the church, the called out ones, the spiritual nation of Israel must be wise, knowledgeable, and understanding. These characteristics are a gift of the spirit (Exodus 31:1-3). The Church of God, the true Church of God, the noble women is blessed with God's Holy Spirit and is blessed with these important characteristics.
During the exodus when Moses had the Israelites choose tribal leaders, he told them to choose wise understanding and knowledgeable men from among their tribes. It is our responsibility individually and collectively as a Church (noble women Rev. 19:7) to make ourselves ready by making ourselves knowledgeable, to pray for wisdom and understanding. Remember that when we chose to accept our calling, we chose the Father in Heaven to be our God and He is the God of knowledge. "Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed" (I Sam 2:3). To gain knowledge you must first fear the Lord, fear sinning more than anything else. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov 1 :7). This is the first step in obtaining knowledge and making yourselves ready individually, as well as, collectively. Wisdom comes from God. "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly" (Prov 2:5-7). It is given to those who are upright. If you want to be
wise obey the Father in heaven. Wisdom is a principle thing. The beginning of wisdom is the same as the beginning of knowledge. "FEAR THE LORD" (Prov 9:10). Fear disobedience! Reverence God. Humble yourself before God (Prov 11 :2). It is part of our responsibility to make ourselves- (Rev 19:7).
Jesus, our example grew in wisdom as a young boy (Luke 2:52). The Apostle Paul prayed for the Colossian brethren to be filled with knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col. 1 :9). Daniel was recognized as having wisdom and understanding. The Babylonians knew that his understanding was a part of the spirit of God that was in him (Dan 5: 11). In verse 12 of Daniel 5, the spirit of God is called an excellent spirit and one of the gifts that are quoted is understanding. It's pretty clear that as a church, a nation we must make ourselves ready (Rev 19:7), with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding through obedience prayer and the fear of the Lord (Psalms 111: 10, Psalm 119:34).
2. The Heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. (Proverbs 31:11-12). Only after the point of our spiritual change are we fully trustworthy. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God trusts us. It always tells us to trust in God. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil"
(Prov 3 :5-7).
As a wife obeys her husband in decisions he makes, so should we trust God in the decisions He makes for our life. It is the virtuous woman who has the trust of her husband and he relies on her as a wise servant of God.
3. "She does him good not evil all the days of her life" (Prov. 31:12). That's forever. "She seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants" (Proverbs 31: 13- 15).
Let's focus on food for a moment. The word food can also mean the Word of God. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." As a trusted wife, she provides food for her family and this could mean inspired . spiritual food. "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). And again, "I am that bread of life" (John 6:48). A trusted wife and mother will provide her family with spiritual food! Proverbs 31 also tells us, "She rises while it is yet night and provides food (manna, the word of God) for her household" (Prov. 31: 15). We as members of the Church of God, must study Gods word (eat of Christ's flesh) daily and share what God has taught us with the rest of His children. It is our responsibility to feed each other, to encourage one another with God's words, the flesh and blood of Christ, the true manna from heaven.
These are only a few examples of the way of a virtuous women. She is a woman of God who is enterprising and dedicated to her home and church. She above all other is able to demonstrate the principles of sound wisdom, knowledge and understanding with God ordained patience. Far above the price of rubies!
Steve Isom
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