Let's look at the whole chapter. 1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. This chapter is attributed to a king, who learned it from ... who? His MOTHER. What does she warn him against? Fast women and intoxicating substances. (Surprise, surprise) What does she tell him to do? Take up for the poor schlubs who can't speak up for themselves. All good advice, that mothers are still teaching their sons today. 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Again, good advice that mothers today are still giving to their sons: Find yourself a good girl not some floozy, get married, settle down, raise me some wonderful grandchildren... The rest of the chapter tells about this idealized woman: 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 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. She works hard, getting supplies and making crafts (useful things) by hand. She goes to the market and does the grocery shopping, so that the whole household (she and her husband and children, and any bonded servants or hired help) has something to eat. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She may have a kitchen garden she - and/or the kids and servants - tends, but vineyard work was not for women but for "husbandmen" who tended the vines, digging, pruning, grafting, and harvesting. Notice "fruit" of her hands - her profits - not the "work" of her hands. She bought a field, not a little garden plot. To be profitable, it would have been bigger and more work than she could do on her own. She had to hire and manage "husbandmen" to do the digging, planting, pruning, grafting, harvesting, whatever else needs to be done in a vineyard. She's an agri-businesswoman, not a horticulturist. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. Yes, she's keeping herself strong and healthy, although I don't know how exactly because this woman never sleeps! 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She's selling her handmade items for income. And I don't know when she sleeps, because she's up working far into the night, and she's up again while it's still night. (verse 15) 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. This woman is charitable, and she can afford to be because these people are rich! Ordinary people did not wear scarlet and purple silk but wool and linen. She didn't sleep under her cloak like ordinary people did, she has fancy tapestries (decorated blankets) for coverings, that she somehow had time to make. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Wonder why she's not rejoicing now? Maybe she doesn't have time?? 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She is neither lazy nor stupid, and she doesn't (apparently) waste time gossiping, either. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Now, this husband. What is he doing while she's managing her businesses and household and raising the kids?? He's out there sitting around with the good ol' boys in the city gates, bragging about what a good woman he has! Maybe over a sample of the "produce" of her profitable vineyard... This chapter says nothing about any kind of business he's tending to -- doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief, butcher, baker, candlestick maker... Nothing! But remember, this is a description of the perfect wife given to KING Lemuel by his MOTHER. 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. A recap of the good advice from Mama that King Lemuel got. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. IOW, get up off your aspirations and DO something instead of sitting around praising all that SHE does! Oh, and I promise you she was NOT homeschooling the kids! She did pre-school them up to about age 5 or 6. She did not have to decide whether and which unit studies for science and social studies, and which curriculum for reading, language arts, and math met whose needs best and whether the older-but-different sibling would be upset if his younger-but-brighter sibling's materials had a higher number on it than his had, nor keep records for it and return said records (parchment, papyrus, or clay tablets? which works best for your portfolio?) to the State on a schedule. Boys went to the synagogue school at age 5 or 6 for year-round schooling five or six days a week. Girls didn't learn to read and write much at all, although their whole curriculum could be summed up as Home Ec. In Proverbs chapter 31, Mama was giving little Lemmie some advice about who HE should marry, what he should look for in a woman. He was going to grow up to be a King! He could afford to sit around with the elders, bragging about his wonderful wife instead of actually working for a living. I hope you recognize the humor and the truth in this somewhat lighthearted look at the Scriptures. You'll no doubt notice that I changed the order of some of the verses, to put like thoughts closer together. In all seriousness, yes, these should be qualities to which all wives should aspire. Yes, we should all do the best we can for our families, whether working outside the home full time or part time or working at home or being "just" a SAHM, making the most of whatever resources we have. As with all Scripture, we should also keep in mind who wrote it, for whom it was written, for what purpose, in what circumstances, to apply to what situations. The world is a different place now than it was then, and principles hold while details may not apply directly. IOW, YMMV!
Doh! I didn't pass the test right there. I don't make useful things by hand and my husband does the grocery shopping. :lol:
That didn't take long. Today she said she didn't want to be a clown. She wants to be a princess who marries a prince. She wants to live in a castle, dance, and ride horses. :lol:
You have really thought about this. Yes, I think when reading the bible and trying to apply it to our lives we should consider who wrote it and for whom it was written. I think the "Proverbs 31 Women" is someone all women should strive to be more like. Not in the literal sense (clothed in silk and purple) but in her virtues. I agree with you on that. Thanks for posting
I thought this thread was much older than it is. Princess dreams left and she wanted to be a bird watcher. That has now changed again. She wants to be a lumberjack now. Princess to lumberjack in a few weeks.:lol:
I have an 18 year old daughter who is heading to college in a few weeks. She has chosen college, a career in the US Navy and hopes to marry and have a family as well. If she had chosen else wise I would have supported her just as strongly. There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for your children, regardless of what that may be. Money is not the sole path to happiness, and measuring success is a subjective action.
I want BOTH for my girls. I have had both in different seasons of life. It is extremely important that girls have the ability for a "career". I did not marry until I was almost 30. My "career" was extremely fulfilling. I know several married home schooled girls with babies that would be completely unprepared if suddenly widowed. I also know of several home schooled girls in their mid to late 20s who are not married (one in her early 30s) and are not very happy. OR they seem not happy to me, looking on from the outside. We do not know what path God has chosen for our children. We must prepare them according to their strengths and talents to serve Him. Personally, I could not have been the perfect helpmate to my dh if I had not had my undergraduate degree (providentially in dh's field), my master's degree (providentially to run dh's business while he was self employed), or my career experience( once again, providentially, to balance out and help him with a few of dh's weaknesses). God used my college and career path to prepare me to be dh's perfect helpmate. Pam By the way.... I am a WTM refugee too.
I desire that my daughters become Godly women, who marry Godly men. I do not care if they are "white" or "blue" color, or stay at home, but wish for them to be in God's will living a decent lifestyle that pleases Him whereever the path of career, marriage, and parenthood takes them. I would rather have a Godly high school drop out living in a small house that needs paint, with a Godly husband who has a low paying job, than to be part of an athiest couple living in an upscale subdivision who takes cruises or overseas trips every quarter.
I chose yes because that is ultimately what I'd love. But I will love my daughter and support her as best as I can on whatever path she follows. I believe that God created us to be the keepers of our families and our home and that is what I plan to teach my daughter and my sons. That is not to say that my sons aren't learning how to unload the dishwasher, wash the table, clean up after themselves, fold laundry etc. They will be capable bachelors should they not marry at a young age. As for college I feel pretty blah about it regardless of gender. If my children choose to go to college then that is fine but I'm not going to be hurt as long as they have a clear goal in life I couldn't care less if it involves college.
I want mine to go where she wants to go but to find a family along the way not later not before but during her life. I want her to go go College/University and 'get a life' meat a good Christian Man and have a family all while serving the Lord with all her heart.
I have boys but we are "On whatever path God has for them......." I pray for their future wives and it is the same.
