A WOMAN OF NOBLE CHARACTER (PROVERBS 31:10-31)
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It’s been more than a year since my beloved wife Doris passed away on May 22, 2016. I wanted to preach this sermon last month, but the church has Worship Sunday and I was assigned to speak on the subject of worship. I am one month late but not in my memory. Doris held two doctorates – one PhD (BIOLA) and one Doctor of Education (USC). She taught at two universities (Azusa Pacific, University of Macau) seven years each. When I was into a few chapters of the 2017 Condor Heroes, I recognize she was the heroine Huang Rong of life, to which a pre-study leader replied when told at a sharing: “Now you know!”
This sermon is one month late but months in preparation to dedicate to Doris and to all ladies at the church.
3x 4x
11 husband 3x
15 Give 3x
28 praise 3x
13 work 4x
Hand 4x
15 Household 4x
The parameters of this message is set with these words repeated: four times for work (v 13), hand (v 13) and household (v 15), and three times for husband (v 11), give (v 15) and praise (v 28).
What are the noble characteristics of women God placed among us that set them apart? How are they outstanding and magnaninous? Why do we need to learn from them - whether they are you mother, wife or daughter?
Be Tough and Trustworthy
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
A website reports: “The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. Almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands. Midweek activities often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants. Churches overseas report gender gaps of up to 9 women for every adult man in attendance.” http://churchformen.com/men-and-church/where-are-the-men/
Quotes:
“Without women, how many men would come to church by themselves?”
“Without women there would be no church!”
“The life in the Christian church cannot continue without women, without their labour, prayers, and love.”
One of the most misunderstood words in the Bible is the word “noble” or virtuous” (KJV) in verses 10 and 29. You would think it stands for morals, virtues or ethics, but it is none of the above in translation. Traditionally it is translated as army (56x), man of valour (37x), host (29x), forces (14x), valiant (13x), strength (12x), riches (11x), wealth (10x), power (9x), substance (8x), might (6x), strong (5x). So the word “noble” or “virtuous” means capable, courageous and commanding or conquering.
The Sunrise Ruby is the world's most expensive ruby in the world. In May 2015, it was auctioned for US$30 million. (Expdedia). The first statement summarizes what the chapter is about – she is worth far more than rubies.
With her husband the woman has a confident (v 11) or trusting (KJV) relationship. Her husband has full confidence in her. You can read the virtuous woman’s resume or biography by the use of the personal pronouns “her…” that debuts in the chapter at verse 10, as many as 30 times in the chapter - her price (v 10), her husband (v 11), her life (v 12), her hands (v 13), her food (v 14), her household, and her maidens (v 15), her hands (v 16), her loins and her arms (v 17), her merchandise and her candle (v 18), her hands, and her hands (v 19), her hand, her hands (v 20), her household, her household (v 21), her clothing (v 22), her husband (v 23). We can see that she is very responsible, resourceful, resilient, reliable and respected, no matter with things, people or herself
The inspiring possessive pronoun “her” above is followed by the more impressive “she” verbs:
V 12 she will do Support Trust
13 She seeketh, worketh Selection Talent
14 she bringeth Scouting Travel
15 She riseth Schedule Time
16 She considereth, buyeth, planteth Sweat Thorough
17 She girdeth, strengtheneth Singlemindedness Tenacity
18 She perceiveth, goeth Scrutiny Thinking
19 She layeth, hold the distaff Skill Toil
20 She stretcheth, she reacheth forth Sharing Tenderness
21 She is not afraid, clothed with scarlet. Sacrifice Temperament
22 She maketh Simplicity Tailoring
24 She maketh, selleth, delivereth Supply Trade
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Be Tender and Transparent– You are so Moved!
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
A woman was walking down the street when she was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked her for a couple of dollars for dinner.
The woman took out her bill fold, extracted ten dollars and asked, “If I give you this money, will you buy some wine with it instead of dinner?” “No, I had to stop drinking years ago,” the homeless woman replied.
“Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?” the woman asked.
“No, I don’t waste time shopping,” the homeless woman said. “I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive.”
“Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?” the woman asked.
“Are you NUTS!” replied the homeless woman. “I haven’t had my hair done in 20 years!”
“Well,” said the woman, “I’m not going to give you the money. Instead, I’m going to take you out for dinner with my hubby and myself tonight.”
The homeless woman was astounded. “Won’t your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I’m dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting.”
The woman replied, “That’s okay. It’s important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments and wine.”
What sets her apart – clothe, cover and cloak - is not her appearance and abilities outside, but the attitude and attractiveness inside. Strength (v 25) is translated as refuge (Ps 46:1) power (Ps 59:16) and boldness (Eccl 8:1). Dignity (v 25) is translated as goodly (Lev 23:40), glory (Deut 33:17), honour (1 Chron 16:27), beauty (Job 40:10), majesty (Ps 21:5), excellency (Isa 35:2) and comeliness (Isa 53:2). She is tough and tender; she has gallantry and grace, and she is genuine and godly.
Laugh (v 25) is a good translation versus KJV’s “rejoice,” which is a minority translation, only once in 36 instances.The most frequent tranlsations in KJV are: play (10x), laugh (10x), rejoice (3x), scorn (3x), sport (3x), merry (2x). It ranges from sport to silliness, hilarity to humor, fun and frivolity, even revelry and ridcule.
The verb “speak” (v 26) is not the usual word, but to open wide, from the word “opening” or entrance to a door or gate. There are more references to “wisdom” (v 26) in the book of Proverbs (39x) than Ecclesiastes (28x), Job (18x) or Psalms (6x) put together. Faithful instruction (v 26) is simply chesed, or kindness, mercy, favor and goodness in Hebrew.
The verb “watches” (v 27) is translated as watchmen (1 Sam 14:16), waited for (Job 15:22), look up (Ps 5:3), behold (Ps 66:7). It means to be the safeguard, sentinel, support, supplicant, supply, even sacrifice. For the watchman, it means to peer into the distance, night, and void. Idleness (v 27)means slothful, sloppy, slipshod, spoiled and sparing.
Be Treasured and Thoughtful – You are so Missed!
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
In the United States, for example, women are more likely than men to say religion is “very important” in their lives (60% vs. 47%), according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey. American women also are more likely than American men to say they pray daily (64% vs. 47%) and attend religious services at least once a week (40% vs. 32%).1
In 2010, American women on average earned 81 percent of what their male counterparts earned (BLS 2010; DOL 2011). Women surpass men on education attainment among those employed aged 25 and over: 37.1 percent of women hold at least a bachelor’s degree compared to 34.9 percent for men (DOL 2011). In terms of women in corporate leadership positions, in 2009 only 24 percent of CEOs in the US were women and they earned 74.5 percent as much as male CEOs (BLS 2010 p.9). http://www.ilo.org/washington/areas/gender-equality-in-the-workplace/WCMS_159496/lang--en/index.htm
WHO reports,
“Depression, anxiety, psychological distress, sexual violence, domestic violence and escalating rates of substance use affect women to a greater extent than men across different countries and different settings. Depressive disorders account for close to 41.9% of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women compared to 29.3% among men.”
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/
If you notice, she does not depend on charm (v 30), cleverness, cunningness, craftiness. What she has in the plenty is compassion, cordiality, consideration, courage, character, confidence and calm. Nor is she contentious, calculative, critical, conceited, crude and cheerless person.
The last section is affirmation by the ones who know her best. She is a living legacy. The younger ones (those below her) call her “blessed.” The “praise” (vv 30, 31) of her husband (her equal), from the word “hallelu-jah,” is tranlsated as commend (Gen 12:15), shine (Job 41:18), boast (Ps 34:2), glory (Ps 63:11) and renowned (Ezek 26:17). It is repeated three times, of her relationship with her family, her Lord and her own. Her children blessed her, her husband praised her but she gave credit to the Lord (her superior) – she feared the Lord. It is to tell others she could not do it by herself. Her strength, success and significance are in and from the Lord. Her wisdom is from the Lord, her work is for the Lord and her walk is in the lord.
“Honor/Give” (v 31, Prov 31:31, “Give” her of the fruit of her hands) is the only imperative of this passage (vv 10-31). It means acceptance, acknowledgement, appreciation, assistance and even assurance, not avoidance, antagonism, assumption, apprehension or apathy. recognition, Hands??and work?? (v 31) represent ability, action and achievement . We are to recognize and even reward women for their involvement, industry, intelligence, influence and individuality.
Conclusion: Have you cherished the ladies in your life – mother, wife or daughter? Have you told them how special they are to you? (say it now). How they are God’s gift to you? Ladies, are you becoming the woman God intends for you to be? Are you growing in godliness, grace and generosity? Are you an example and an encouragement to others?
