Proverbs 31: Week Forty-Eight | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome to week forty-eight of our Proverbs 31 journey. If you'd like to return to one of our previous stops, let our "Wolfe Notes" guide you. 

• In January we examined our value with the help of Proverbs 31 verses 10 and 29.
• In February we learned what uplifting means by looking at Proverbs 31:11 and 23.
• In March, we considered the virtue of respect by studying Proverbs 31:12 and 28.
• In April, we trained to be hardworking with Proverbs 31:13 and 19 as our instructors.
• In May, we saw what it takes to be resourceful by examining Proverbs 31:14 and 21. 
• In June, we developed our caring muscle by exercising Proverbs 31:15 and 22.
• In July, we practiced being savvy with help from Proverbs 31:16 and 27.
• In August, we witnessed exemplary behavior outlined in Proverbs 31:18 and 31.
• In September, we found what being necessary looks like from Proverbs 31:20 and 24.
• In October, we exercised strength in Jesus from Proverbs 31:17 and 25.
• In November, we are rehearsing being well-spoken by looking to Proverbs 31:26 and 28.

If you're ready to travel with us, welcome! Grab your November calendar with daily activities, the lamp for your feet (the Bible), and let's get going! We're journeying through the concluding poem of Proverbs and we're so glad you decided to walk along this road with us! Imagine that as we walk, we're talking about the daily activities. Our side of the discussion is outlined below. What would you add? How would you challenge us? (Ideas that are our thoughts alone are designated with an *.)

Contents:

Cross References of Proverbs 31:28
*Worship with "Spoken For" by MercyMe

*Top 3 revelations of Proverbs 31:28.

*Connections between Proverbs 31:26 & 28.
*I am Well-Spoken because...
Define Godly and relate to it personally.
Proverbs 31:30 Noting key words and phrases.

Cross References

of Proverbs 31:28.

Proverbs 11:16 KJV A gracious woman retaineth honor; and strong men retain riches.

• Hebrew: A gracious (subjective/objective) woman (wife/female) sustains (obtains, keeps fast, helps, follows closely) weight (splendor, copiousness); awe-inspiring (terror-striking) sustains (obtains, keeps fast, helps, follows closely) wealth.
• *Initial Interpretation: Living graciously or subjectively helps us focus on what really matters - our value assessed by God or eternal riches; living by demanding envy or developing fear keeps our focus on material wealth. Grace leads to righteousness, but fear and greed lead to death.
• Commentaries: 
• Woman's attractiveness leads to favor; man's strength and riches lead to favor. - Ellicot
• Moral excellence leads to favor. - Pulpit
• "A graceful woman bringeth glory to her husband." - Septuagint (* She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life; he shall have no need of spoil. Proverbs 31:11 & 12)
• A woman endued with God's saving grace utilizes her virtue to render herself acceptable and amiable to God and men and holdeth fast to her honor (reputation) as a strong man does to his riches. - Benson
• Retaineth or holds on to as a support; grasps. A feeble woman is to honor as a powerful man is to riches. - Jamieson-Fausset-Brwon
• *Conclusions: She holds fast to honor (*the value God places on her) and those endeared to her see it, acknowledge it, and point to the source.

Isaiah 62:4-5 KJV Thou will no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

• *Initial Interpretation: God arises and calls you blessed; rejoices over thee.
• Hebrew: Hephzibah = my delight is in her (Zion); Beulah = to marry; The Lord will incline to, bend, be pleased with, desire you. God will be bright, cheerful over you.
• Commentaries:
• Bridegroom is to bride as people are to the country. - Ellicot (*Jesus is to the church as disciples are to the kingdom.)
• Preaching the gospel is like a young man and a virgin Acts 2:41-47 - Poole (*New, full of promise)
• The Common faith is like your sons marrying thee (*Wisdom) Titus 1:4 - Poole (*Committed, listening to wisdom, in accord.)
• God and the Church are like a rejoicing bridegroom (2 Corinthians 11:2, and Revelations 21:2, 9) - Poole (*The gospel is preached, and the people commit to it. How God marries the church.)
• Young man possesses and enjoys new wife is like our love and commitment to Him leading to Christ's rejoicing. -Gill
• *Conclusions: The work done by the nation (church) through God's inclination, pleasure, and desire, will thrive. Love will bloom (GRACE) and commitment will strengthen (TRUTH). Your matured works, your children, will point to God's favor on you. Then, God, your husband, will praise, rejoice, beam over you. 

Worship

With "Spoken For" by MercyMe.

Because He speaks well of me, I am....

1. Free from the pull of the world.
2. Covered by His love (clothed in scarlet).
3. The child of the risen Lord.
4. Filled with His peace.
5. Complete.

In response, how could I do anything but praise You, the source of my blessing, endlessly?

*Top 3

 Revelations of Proverbs 31:28.

1. To call someone blessed means you can see God's favor is upon them.
2. The only person who can honestly call me blessed or genuinely praise me is God.
3. Our ambition, once matured, is to praise God so others might come to Him and experience His blessings.

*Connections

Between Proverbs 31:26 & 28.

1. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. - Proverbs 31:26
2. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her. - Proverbs 31:28

• She/her: Wisdom, the Bride of Christ, a godly wife
• Openeth her mouth / arise up: active choices
• She / children / husband: all intimately connected
• Wisdom / blessed: because she utilizes wisdom (TRUTH) she is observed to be blessed (favored by God)
• Kindness / praise: because kindness (a desire to lead to righteousness or GRACE) is in her demeanor, praise is the natural response
• in her tongue / her husband also: more passive actions, part of who you are, instinctive - not as much of a hard choice.

*Conclusions: She (Wisdom/the Church/a godly wife) raises her children (the work of her hands, her investments) by choosing Wisdom (TRUTH) and, when matured, they clearly see God's favor upon her. She lives her life graciously, always directing others to Jesus in action, word, and deed, which delights her husband who's desire for her is precisely this: pursuing godliness in all things.

*I am Well-Spoken

because...

(*Apologies, I realize I forgot to devote a day to redefining "Well-Spoken", which I'll do before explaining how I see myself as well-spoken.)

Redefining Well-Spoken (in light of Proverbs 31:26 and 28)

using God's wisdom and instruction to direct words and behaviors which result in praise to God for what He's accomplished in and through you by those who intimately know you

I am Well-Spoken because...

• Personally, I study God's word and seek to apply it. I hold captive contrary thoughts and call forth truth.
• Relationally, I seek to speak, act, and interact (advise) in ways that lead to Jesus.
• Spiritually, I surrender my thoughts, ambitions, and decisions for His. I lean - no, I fall - on Him, and He lifts me up. Only Jesus - the answer to every question.

*DISCLAIMER: These descriptors do not apply to me all the time. Rather, they serve as reminders of what I have done previously and can do again.

Define Godly

And relate to it personally.

From Merriam-Webster:

1. pious - showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship
2. devout
• committed or devoted to religion or religious duties or exercises
• devoted to a pursuit, belief, or mode of behavior
• warmly sincere

In the overall sense of these definitions, I'd say I do characterize myself as godly. Overall, my desire is to show reverence for God by pursuing Him, believing in Him in every circumstance, and following His guidelines for moral behavior. And, I want to believe I make these choices with warm sincerity not cold bitterness.

Proverbs 31:30

Noting key words and phrases.

Favor is deceitful, / and beauty is vain, / but a woman that feareth the Lord, / she shall be praised.

Key Words: Favor, beauty, deceitful, vain, feareth, praised

Final Thoughts

It all centers on God: what we do, who we are, what we say, if we're praised, and who it is that does the praising. When my mind is focused on Jesus, when my lips are trained to speak His Wisdom, as my actions are guided by the law of kindness, it is by His blessing and results in meaningful praise. 

Father God, keep me attuned to your plans for me. When I wander in search of cheap praise and delight in false happiness, reveal the truth to me. Turn my face to You again.

Growing with You,

Ready for Week 49?

Sample these related posts:

To review last week's notes about raising children and receiving praise.

To rehearse being well-spoken with us.

To reflect on being godly with us.

To differentiate between honor and glory.

To learn what it means to be clothed in scarlet.

Interested in more faith-related blogs? Then you're looking for Faith Food. At Faith Food, you'll find links to all our faith-related blogs and a short description of each.