Proverbs 31



Proverbs 31                                                    Book of Proverbs   Book of Proverbs  

Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
  • The words of king Lemuel
  • Lemuel = to El and El, a king
  • To king Lemuel: a burden which his mother (repeatedly) taught him.
  • For Solomon: A Prince and King
  • Solomon was the royal seed in the line of Him Who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
  • Warnings
  • Women and wine
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
 
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
  • His mother is saying, Have a good woman by your side
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
  • Don't be drinking, and make decision
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
  • Have God laws in front of you, to make fair decison
  • Don't be drinking why your in judgment, you can't make a fair decision
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
  • 1 Tim 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
  • It's okay to drink just a little wine for the stomach, just before bed
  • Of heavy hearts = bitter of soul
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
 
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
  • Such as are appointed to destruction = In Hebrew = sons of destruction
  • Roman 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
  • Always take care of the poor and the needy
  • Speak up for the needy
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
  • A man that finds = A woman of strength, she is the greatest gift a man can have
  • A woman that will take care of her family
  • Note the warning against foreign women, which alas!
  • Solomon failed to heed.
  • This is why the book closes with the eulogy of the model Israelitish matron
  • See Ap 74
  • Virtuous = the English use of this word limits it to one kind of excellence.
  • The meaning of the Hebrew is wider: hayil = strong in all moral qualities
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
  • She does her part, he can trust her
  • Doth = trust in = hath confided in =  Ap 69
  • No need = no lack
  • Spoil = gain
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
  • She take care of her home
  • Evil = mischief
  • Who's her husband?
  • Christ (Revelation 19)
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
  • Her occupation
  • She makes her own clothing = her works
  • She enjoys taking care of her family
  • Willingly with her hands = with her hands good will
  • Revelation 19:7 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.
  • Notice the word used here is ''wife'', not widow, virgin, or bride. Which were words used through out Revelation to denote His wife.
  • He has returned and claimed His own, the first fruits, or elect, They have become His wife again.
  • 8 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.
  • ''Righteousness'' in the original text reads ''righteous acts''.
  • This explains how the wife in verse 7 makes herself ready.
  • Clean and white bright and pure. The fine linen is, your ''righteous acts'' this is your works. That she, the elect, accomplished in the face of Satan.
  • Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
  • Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
  • Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
 
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
  • Meat = (live) prey, put by fig. Synecdoche (of species) Ap 6, for all kinds of food
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
  • Candle = lamp
  • Her husband = Christ
  • She's working for The Lord
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
  • Her character, and Bounty
  • God's elect will help the poor, reach out her hands
  • God' elect teaches God's words not man's word
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
  • Her household
  • Is not = will not
  • Scarlet = double change of garments
  • Clothing = Gospel Armour
  • Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
  • Herself, without
  • Her clothing = white garment = Your righteous acts
  • She witnesses for God, she helps people
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
  • Her husband
  • Ap 6
  • Know Fig. Metonymy (of cause) for the result of that knowledge: viz. respect from all at the city gate, which includes high and low, rich and poor, peasants, labourers and judges
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
  • Her occupation
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
  • She is prepared, she doesn't worry about tomorrow
  • She shall rejoice = she laugheth at the future
  • Strength and honour are her clothing = doing God's work
  • She shall rejoice in time to come = When Christ returns
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
  • Her character, Wisdom
  • She teaches God's word not man's words
  • She gets the word of God, from The Bible
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
  • Her household
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
  • Christ tells us, He's going to be with us, IF you follow Him and keep His commandments
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
  • She has the smile and the Holy Spirit
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
  • Herself, Within
  • Her righteous garments in heaven = Her works = (Revelation 19)
  • The wedding of Christ = bride (Revelation 19)
 
Exactly 2520 years from the exile of Benjamin, Iceland became an independent nation.
 
  The first tribe to be conquered by the Assyrians was Manasseh, in 745 B.C. Exactly 2520 years later America became a nation on July 4, 1776.
 
• Study the book: Abrahamic Covenant, (A study outline of the identity of God's people) By E. Raymond Capt - page 25
 
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