June 22: Proverbs 30, 31

June 22, Proverbs 30, 31

Proverbs 30 starts out with a confession of being completely worn out. Have you ever felt that way? I know I sure have. Go to God when you are - He cares. Then the author goes on to confess that he is aware of his limitations of knowledge, and shows that through some rhetorical questions, a lot like Job did. He knows that God is bigger than all and in control of all. Then he moves into how God’s Words matter, so don’t mess with them. If you are coming to God for everything, you will stay reliant on Him. You will not desire riches nor poverty, but you will desire what you need and God gives it. 

Then we transition into a litany of what fools do and then it leads to greed and disobedience. This author must have spent some time contemplating, because he says, “Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin.” The interesting thing about these statements, is that they are mostly instinctive and easy, yet he does not understand them. He goes on with other contemplative ideas and points out how some things on earth that are small, are incredibly wise. Take for example small ants that provides for their colony or locusts with no king all march in order… God is incredible, isn't He?

Proverbs 31 Starts out by calling its readers to live above reproach - which is in line with pursuing wisdom.

Then we get to verses 10-31, which is set up as an acrostic poem (the first word in each verse beginning with following letters of the alphabet) in Hebrew. Some have said that this is to show that the character of a godly woman covers everything… I read through this section and I cannot help but think of the wife that God has given to me. She has, in so many ways, surpassed the woman described here. How has she done that? By God’s grace and her continual pursuit in her life and her love for Christ. The author is right, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” A great wife is very precious, and if God has given you her or you are her, keep it up - you are priceless. A godly woman will be trusted by her husband, as she seeks to honor God and do good. A godly woman is confident in what God has called her to and her home is her ministry - where ministry happens! A godly woman is teachable and wise, as she gets things done all day long. She takes care of her home and all those that are in it. “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also…” What a great expression of love right there. The husband and kids aren't complaining about her, but they are blessed because of her. This is also incredibly powerful, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” A virtuous woman knows that the outer things are of little value if her heart does not fear the Lord. So much for what culture is attempting to re-write. 

To sum it all up:

• Continue to pursue wisdom and get your heart in line with Gods - don’t settle for less
• A godly woman. Yeah, by her fearing the Lord, she is able to serve her family well and her community - and is content with where God has her. Blessed are the men and kids who can wake up and say that they are blessed because of the woman in their home.