Proverbs 31
- King Lemuel received counsel from his mother, and his mother will share in the glory attributed to him, for she was a part of his upbringing.
- This can be seen in the books of the Kings of Israel and Judah, where the mothers and wives were many times mentioned in relation to a king’s success or failure.
- Kings are not to drink wine [Pro 31:4-7]
- The husband of the proverbs 31 woman is an elder at the gates of the city; i.e., he’s a respectable man, yet his wife worked [Pro 31:13-24]. She was no housewife who just sat at home but a businesswoman.
- She wakes up before dawn [Pro 31:15].
- The woman has female servants, not male servants [Pro 31:15].
- It is Biblically okay to borrow for business, but not for consumption [2Kgs 4:3].
- It is okay to have servants [Pro 31:15].
- Elijah, despite what appears to be his earthly poverty, had servants serve him. Servants are needed, especially in the service of God’s servants.
- If one wants a harvest, he must be ready to do the work required [Pro 14:4].
- The noble wife has savings, and reinvests them [Pro 31:16]. She bought the field out of her own savings, not from her husbands.
- King Xerxes called for Vashti to display her beauty to his officials, just as God called Job to be displayed before His officials – the heavenly council.
- The noble woman is nice and generous [Pro 31:20]
- The wife is the one who watches over the affairs of the household, not the husband [Pro 31:27].
- A woman is not to be praised for beauty or charm, but for her fear of God, and by implication, the godly attributes that come with it [Pro 31:30].