INTRODUCTION: King Lemuel wrote the last chapter of Proverbs but he credits his mother with the wisdom contained in his words. Whereas most of Proverbs deals with a father speaking to his son, this chapter contains a mother’s wisdom that she gives to her son. Mostly, she deals with the danger of alcohol and the need for a virtuous woman.
- THE DANGER OF STRONG DRINK (Proverbs 31:1-9)
- The Wisdom of This Chapter (Proverbs 31:1-2)
- The words of King Lemuel (Proverbs 31:1)
- The prophecy that his mother taught him (Proverbs 31:1): NOTE: a mother has great power to influence her children; consider the influence that Timothys mother and grandmother had on him (2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15).
- Given to her son (Proverbs 31:2)
- Her own son my son
- Her physical child the son of my womb
- Her chosen child the son of my vows; she had made vows to Lemuels father in marriage, but she had also likely made vows to God concerning her son and his upbringing. Compare Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11).
- Common Dangers for Kings (Proverbs 31:3-4)
- That they would give their strength to women (Proverbs 31:3; Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Kings 11:1-8; Nehemiah 13:26)
- That they would give their ways to destruction (Proverbs 31:3)
- That they would give themselves to drink (Proverbs 31:4)
- The Warnings Against Strong Drink (Proverbs 31:5-7)
- Destroys the rule of kings and princes (Proverbs 31:5)
- Causes them to forget the law
- Causes them to pervert judgment
- Fit only for those who are losers (Proverbs 31:6-7)
- The recipients (Proverbs 31:6)
- Those ready to perish
- Those with heavy heart
- The benefits (Proverbs 31:7)
- He will forget his poverty
- He will forget his misery
- NOTE: Christians are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37) and will never have reason to fit in the above categories.
- The Righteous Use of the Tongue (Proverbs 31:8-9)
- To speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8); consider Esther in Esther 4:13-16.
- To plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9; Psalm 82:3)
- THE VALUE OF A VIRTUOUS WOMAN (Proverbs 31:10-31)
- Her Purity (Proverbs 31:10-11)
- She is virtuous (Proverbs 31:10)
- Ruth (Ruth 3:11)
- A crown to her husband (Proverbs 12:4)
- She is valuable (Proverbs 31:10)
- Like the faithful man, she is hard to find (Proverbs 20:6)
- Like wisdom, she is more valuable than rubies (Proverbs 8:11)
- She is vigilant (Proverbs 31:11)
- Her husband trusts in her (1 Peter 3:1-4)
- Her husband depends on her; having no need for spoil
- Her Loyalty (Proverbs 31:12, 23)
- She does good for her husband (Proverbs 31:12)
- She increases the influence of her husband (Proverbs 31:23)
- Her Industry (Proverbs 31:13-19, 27)
- She is a master buyer
- Buying wool and flax (Proverbs 31:13)
- Buying food for her family (Proverbs 31:14)
- Buying a field (Proverbs 31:16)
- She is an accomplished craftsman
- Working the wool and flax (Proverbs 31:13, 19)
- Spindle: used to twist fibers into thread
- Distaff: the staff on which the wool or flax is wound
- Planting and reaping a vineyard (Proverbs 31:16)
- Making good merchandise like candles (Proverbs 31:18)
- She cares for those in her household
- Giving meat to her household (Proverbs 31:15)
- Looking well to the ways of her household (Proverbs 31:27)
- She diligently accomplishes her work
- Rising while it is yet night (Proverbs 31:15)
- Girding her loins with strength (Proverbs 31:17)
- Eating not the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27; see 1 Timothy 5:10, 13)
- Her Economy (Proverbs 31:14, 16, 18, 21-22, 24)
- In purchasing and working flax and wool (Proverbs 31:14)
- In purchasing and providing food (Proverbs 31:16)
- In making merchandise, probably to be sold (Proverbs 31:18)
- In clothing her house well (Proverbs 31:21-22)
- In running a home business (Proverbs 31:24)
- Her Charity (Proverbs 31:20; Romans 16:1-2)
- Stretching out her hands to the poor
- Reaching forth her hands to the needy
- Her Dignity (Proverbs 31:25)
- Clothed with strength
- Clothed with honor
- Preparing for the time to come
- Her Courtesy (Proverbs 31:26)
- Speaking with wisdom (James 3:13-18)
- Speaking with kindness
- Her Testimony (Proverbs 31:28-29, 31)
- Her children rise up and bless her (Proverbs 31:28)
- Her husband rises up and praises her (Proverbs 31:28)
- She excels the daughters of virtue (Proverbs 31:29)
- Her own works praise her in the gates (Proverbs 31:31)
- Her Sanctity (Proverbs 31:30)
- She ignores the deceitfulness of favor
- She ignores the vanity of beauty (Proverbs 11:22)
- She exalts the fear of the Lord
- She receives praise for her wise choice