Tag: Proverbs

The Value of a Virtuous Woman- Proverbs- Week 11- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Proverbs 31:10

Explanation

This week’s passage is on the theme of a virtuous woman. The author, King Lemuel, wrote about this virtuous woman in the form of a poem. It was written acrostically in the Hebrew, meaning that each line of the poem starts with each corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Earlier in Proverbs wisdom itself was personified by a woman who spoke to the reader. There are some who argue that wisdom the personified woman, and this woman are one and the same.  If they are not intended to be the same woman, King Lemuel really does put into vivid detail what a wife who is virtuous looks like.

Theo poem starts out in verse 10 with a question. “Who can find a virtuous woman?”  The point is being made in the question that this kind of person is rare. The answer to the question that the author expects would be, “Almost no one can find her.”  We know this because of the second half of the verse. Her value is compared to rubies.  Have you seen a ruby laying with another half dozen rubies on the sidewalk?  Of course not. If you see a ruby every day it is only because you or someone in your life owns and wears one. They are not that common.  But the writer here makes the claim that a virtuous woman is more rare than even a ruby because he says that the price or the value of a virtuous woman is “far above” rubies. In the world of gems scarcity and beauty bring value. This is the observation that begins the poem.  The value of the virtuous woman is incredibly high.

Over the next few verses, the virtuous woman is described in detail. Her character and behavior reveal why she is so valuable.

Application

Several things come to mind as I read these verses.

1. People have a say in their own value.

As you will see in the coming verses, the virtuous woman is intentional about her life. She has grown into someone of full maturity that is “looking well to her ways”.  She is someone who obviously cares to learn and grow, and as she does, her value to those around her goes up. We can be intentional about our own growth and virtue.  God has given us everything we need to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We have his Word, His Spirit, and therefore His wisdom to help us to grow daily.

2. We ought to value virtue in other people.

It may seem obvious, but the woman her is described as virtuous.  She is full of virtue. What is virtue?  According to Webster’s dictionary virtue is, “Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law.” This foundation of virtue leads to a life of productivity beyond mere efficiency. Truly virtuous people are effective. Their virtue leads to their effectiveness.

3. We ought to praise others for their virtue.

If there is anything that ought to be encouraged in those around us it should be their virtue.  We praise talent, ability, and beauty, and this is not objectively wrong. But virtue is what counts. Virtue is rare. So when we see it, we should encourage it in the lives of others.

Response

  • Are you a virtuous person?
  • What do you value most in your spouse? Your best friend? Your family members?
  • How can you encourage virtue in yourself and those around you today?

Rebellion and Destruction- Proverbs- Week 10- Day 5

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Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Proverbs 29:20

Explanation:
The passage we have considering this week, Proverbs 29:1-3 and 12-20, has had the theme of discipline. The first pattern we pointed out in the passage was the theme of leadership and discipline. Good leaders are self-disciplined and they bring discipline to those in their stewardship. That led us to a second pattern of discipline and blessing. The right kind of discipline brings freedom and not bondage. This pattern leads us to a third, the pattern of rebellion and destruction that we looked at yesterday. We can continue to see this pattern in today’s text.

In the first part of verse 18 we see an oft quoted statement. The word translated “vision” hear is speaking about revelation from God. Where there is no special revelation from God present the result is death. Why would there be no revelation from God? In one sense it may be an evangelism problem. The Word of God has not been taken to a group of people. In another sense it may be a leadership problem. There may be no Word of God because it is not being proclaimed by leaders. If it is not being proclaimed then it is not being obeyed. When revelation from God is ignored and disobeyed the result is death. Rebellion leads to destruction.

The man discussed in verse 20 is not called a fool. Even a wise person who speaks too quickly will come to the same result as the fool. The book of Proverbs consistently describes the results of the fool as destruction. How do we speak too quickly? We speak before we have thought through a matter biblically. We speak before we bathe a matter in prayer. We speak before we have all of the information that is needed to give an answer. In this there is disobedience and maybe even rebellion. Both have consequences. Rebellion leads to destruction.

Application:
Our thinking, speaking and acting must be informed by the wisdom contained in the Word of God. Our actions must be borne out of of a life of prayer. The opposite of rebellion is submission. Discipline is the consistent submission of our hearts and lives to the God who created us and redeemed us. We who know Christ as our Savior have been bought twice, and so we must embrace a life of discipline as a reasonable response to His grace.

There is a pattern of leadership and discipline, discipline and blessing, and rebellion and destruction. Make the decision to embrace discipline!

Response:
• How is your living and leadership being informed and affected by God’s revelation in His Word?
• Think about the last 24 hours. Have you been disciplined in your words? Are you speaking hastily?

Rebellion and Destruction- Proverbs- Week 10- Day 4

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He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1

When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Proverbs 29:16

Explanation:
There is a third pattern that we see in this passage that I want to observe. We have already seen the pattern of leadership and discipline. We have also seen the pattern of discipline and blessing. Today I want us to observe the pattern of rebellion and destruction.

In verse 1 we see a person in desperate need of correction. The leader is administering correction regularly. He is “oft reproved.” But in this verse the person is described as someone that “hardeneth his neck”. This is someone who is being stubborn to those in authority over them. It speaks of rebellion. Imagine the teenager with folded arms, slouched in the chair, rolling their eyes while saying, “I’m never doing that.” This is not the only iteration of this kind of person, but the example fleshes out the attitude. The ultimate end of an unteachable, stubborn person is that there will be the kind of destruction that cannot be fixed. There are choices that are made by rebellious, undisciplined people that can not be undone. There is a warning in this verse that rebellion leads to destruction.

Verse 16 is similar. A lack of discipline in one life can affect a lack of discipline in many other lives. We influence each other. Notice the pattern in the verse. More wicked people in a culture leads to more transgression, which leads to destruction viewed by those who are doing the right thing. This seems painfully relevant today. Discipline brings blessing, and rebellion leads to destruction.

Application:
A rebellious person is not teachable. They do not take correction. They never think they are wrong. The natural result is to walk right into the consequences of their foolishness.

The answer that one must employ if this is the case in their life is repentance. There must be a change of heart and change of mind about their attitude and response. Their must be a plea for forgiveness and a change of direction.

Response:
Is there an area of your life where you have become unteachable? Repentance is the right response!

Discipline and Blessing- Proverbs- Week 10- Day 3

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The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Proverbs 29:15

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Proverbs 29:17 

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18

Explanation:
The passage we are considering this week, Proverbs 29:1-3 and 12-20, has a theme of discipline. The first pattern we pointed out in the passage was the theme of leadership and discipline. Good leaders are self-disciplined and they bring discipline to those in their stewardship.

This leads us to a second pattern that we will see in this passage. There is a pattern of discipline and blessing seen here. The right kind of discipline brings freedom and not bondage. Let’s look at discipline and blessing in these three verses.

In verse 15 there is a connection between discipline and the blessing of wisdom. Here there are two “tools” of discipline- the rod and reproof. The rod was an implement of corporal punishment. It was a “paddle.” The Bible nowhere advocates child abuse. A small amount of pain, judiciously administered by a loving parent with the right heart attitude and the appropriate teaching (reproof), will bring about wisdom in the child over time. If you only use words and not action, the child will ignore you. Remember, “a servant will not be corrected by words” (v.19). If you use only the rod and not words, the child will begin to resent you because there is no love expressed. There will be confusion. But action-oriented discipline is powerful and effective when it is administered with the right reproof. The result is a wise child. Discipline brings blessing.

Verse 17 is similar. When a child is corrected through loving discipline it certainly takes effort. The result over time is a child that is self-disciplined and focused on others. This kind of child begins to honor and bless their parents. Again, discipline brings blessing.

Verse 18 has two contrasting sections. We will look at the first part later. Pay attention to that second part. The person that keeps the law revealed by God and meeted out by the leader experiences happiness. There is a freedom in self-discipline. There is an avoidance of pain and heartache when we do right. Discipline brings blessing.

Application:
We didn’t abandon the first pattern for this second pattern. These verses have leaders that administer discipline, but notice that second pattern. Discipline brings about blessing. Proverbs makes it clear that the parent that does not correct or discipline their child hates that child. Even if they have an affection for the child, the lack of discipline brings about the same result as the child whose parents have no affection for them. The pattern is clear. Loving leaders are self-disciplined and implement discipline because it brings about blessing.

Even if you are not a parent the principle applies. When we are disciplined it brings blessing.

Response:
• Parents, are you action oriented in the way you parent your child? Do you correct your kids? Are you loving in your approach to discipline?
• Where have you experienced blessing that was the result of discipline in your life?
• Is there an area of your life that you are finding difficulty because of a lack of discipline?