Wednesday 29 May 2013

Christian women wearing pants?


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Welcome 

What About Women Wearing Pants?

by Brother Potter edited by victor.s
For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL the counsel of God. -Acts 20:27-
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, AND WEAR OUR OWN APPAREL: -Isaiah 4:1a-
What does the Bible say about a saved woman wearing pants? Is it even an issue with God? Or is it merely a matter of preference or opinion to be left up to individuals to do what is right in their own eyes? Since we believe the Bible, more specifically, the King James Bible, to be the FINAL AUTHORITY (not tradition, opinions, or how one "feels" led), let’s start there.
Deuteronomy 22:5 - The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
After reading this verse, what things pop into your mind? Earrings and necklaces on men, long hair on men, short hair on women, dresses on men, and of course, pants on women. Notice the word "abomination" is used to describe how God feels about cross-dressing. I looked it up in Webster’s Dictionary.
abom.i.na.tion -’ba:m-*-’na--sh*nn 1: something abominable 2: extreme disgust and hatred : LOATHING
That’s pretty strong language, wouldn’t you say? While most church members react in disgust to Sodomites who parade down the street in dresses, they readily accept and even defend women wearing pants. According to God’s Word, it is no more of an abomination for a man to wear a dress than it is for a woman to wear a pair of pants.
"Yeah, but that’s in the Old Testament, so it doesn’t apply to Christians today."
Ah yes, the battle cry of the liberal and the carnal church member. Let’s deal with this objection by considering some other abominations found in the Old Testament.
Leviticus 18:22 - Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 20:13 - If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Would anyone care to argue that sodomy is no longer an abomination unto God? This principle is repeated in the New Testament (Romans 1:23-32 and I Corinthians 6:9.)
Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Do we now have liberty to sow discord among the brethren? To be prideful? To lie? To kill innocent people? Of course not! It would be absurd to think so. These principles are also repeated in the New Testament (Matthew 5:22, 15:19, Mark 7:21-22, Luke 1:51, Acts 5:3, Romans 1:25, 1:30, 12:10, I Corinthians 8:12-13, Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9, I Timothy 1:9, 3:6, 6:3-4, II Timothy 3:2, James 4:6, I Peter 3:5, 4:15, I John 2:11, 2:16, 2:21, 3:4, 3:15).
People seem to be playing "pick-n-choose" with Old Testament verses. They want the twenty-third Psalm, the hundredth Psalm, and all the OT verses that won’t affect their lifestyle, but then they try to explain away any OT verse that would have any effect on how they live.
II Timothy 3:16 - ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and IS PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Is not Deuteronomy 22:5 scripture? If so, then it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. Preachers, will you be like so many of the liberals of today and cut these verses out of your Bible as Jehoiakim did? Or will you stand like Paul and be able to say,
"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house," - Acts 20:20
"Yeah, but I thought all guidelines for how a Christian is supposed to live were in the New Testament"
Let’s look at I Corinthians 10:1-11.
  1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
  2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
  3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
  4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
  5. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
  6. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
  7. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
  8. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
  9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
  10. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
  11. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Throughout this passage Paul continually uses the Old Testament to prove something. Focus on verses 6 and 11. Paul tells us that those OT writings are for us today. I suppose Paul would be called a legalist or a Pharisee by the liberals. Just because something is in the OT does not negate it from being applicable for us in the church age. Any commandment or teaching in the OT that is repeated in the NT is for us.
"Yeah, but Deuteronomy 22:5 is not repeated in the New Testament"
Wrong. In fact, the New Testament is even more specific. I Timothy 2:9 says,
" . . . that women adorn themselves in modest apparel . . ."
"Apparel" today is a very general term that means "any article of clothing." But did you know that in 1611 the word "apparel" meant "loose, long flowing garment?" Look it up in an old Oxford English Dictionary that has the archaic meanings of words. Furthermore, the Greek word is katastole which is an EXACTING WORD, and it is the ONLY place in the Bible where it is used. There are lots of words for clothing, attire, etc., but this word comes from a verb form which means "to lower." It denoted a loose-fitting outer garment, which was LONG. Paul used this word specifically to tell women that they are to wear long DRESSES. Pants, miniskirts, tight dresses, etc. can not fit the definition of this exacting word. Consult your Vine’s Dictionary for verification of this word definition.
The fact that God wants a CLEAR distinction between the appearance of a man and a woman is also repeated in I Corinthians 11 when Paul deals with the issue of hair length. God is very concerned with the outward appearance of a saved person. To believe otherwise is to profess ignorance of the Word of God.
"Yeah, but what makes you think that pants are a man’s garment?"
Good question. I have a four part answer to this which demonstrates that pants always pertain to men, even today.
  1. "Breeches" were an article of clothing designed by God for the priests who were all men. The word does not occur very often in scripture, but in every case it’s men’s apparel (Exodus 28:42, Leviticus 6:10, 16:4). According to my Hebrew lexicon, "breeches" means "trousers that extend to the knee, below the knee, or to the ankles." This would include pants, shorts, or culottes.
  2. Until the advent of Hollywood and the movie screen, everyone (including lost people) knew that pants were men’s apparel and dresses were women’s apparel, and they dressed accordingly. Our culture’s (and sadly most churches’) acceptance of cross-dressing has resulted largely from the influence of television, the placement of women in the workforce, and the pressures of twentieth century feminism.
  3. The universal symbol for designating a men’s bathroom is a stick figure wearing a pair of pants. The universal symbol for designating a woman’s bathroom is a stick figure wearing a dress. Coincidence? Hardly. Even our sinful society recognizes that there is a difference in a man’s and woman’s clothing.
  4. Pants are a symbol of authority, as evidenced by the saying " I’m the one who wears the pants in the family." Sadly, most women might as well wear the pants, since they rule their homes anyway!
"Yeah, but pants are not really that immodest"
The following is from What in the World Should I Wear? by Mrs. Cathy Corle:
"A friend of mine told me that her decision to restrict her wardrobe to dresses and skirts came as a result of a ladies’ class. All the arguments and reasons that could be given were unheeded until the lady who was speaking said, ‘Let me just demonstrate something to you.’ She asked the ladies in the audience to close their eyes momentarily. She held up a large picture of a woman in an attractive, modest feminine skirt and blouse. She asked the ladies to open their eyes. Then she inquired, ‘What is the primary focal point to this picture? Where did your eyes first fall naturally?’ The audience agreed that their eyes were first drawn to the face of the woman in the picture.
"She once again asked the ladies to close their eyes. When they opened their eyes they were looking at a large poster of a woman in a sport shirt and blue jeans. She asked, ‘Now, be honest with yourselves, and tell me where your eyes first fell naturally when you looked at this picture?’ Many of the ladies in the crowd were surprised to find that most people’s eyes first focused upon the hips and crotch area that were so vividly emphasized before they ever noticed the woman’s face.
"If this happened in a crowd of ladies, how much more would it be true of men? For my friend, Joetta, this was all the ‘evidence’ that was needed."
To this I say, "AMEN!" Christian women should always be aware of Matthew 5:28,
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. "
"Yeah, but wearing pants may be wrong for some saved women, but I’m not ‘convicted’ about it."
So you’re not "convicted" about wearing pants? Big deal. Does that give you permission to rebel against the Word of God? You must ask yourself, "What is the FINAL AUTHORITY on deciding what I believe and how I live? The Bible? Or how I ‘feel’ convicted?"
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Human feelings are very deceptive. We cannot rely on them. Any "leading" you may feel to do or not to do something that is contrary to the Word of God is not of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit NEVER leads contrary to the Bible, but He always leads according to the Bible.
Ephesians 6:17 - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
I John 5:7-8 - For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Many people claim not to be "convicted" about forsaking church attendance, drinking alcohol, smoking, gambling, cursing, fornication, adultery, and all manner of activities clearly forbidden in the Bible, but that does not make it all right for them to do these things. I John 4:1 warns us,
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
To try and say that wearing pants may be wrong for some saved women and not for others is to engage in moral relativism which strips all authority from God’s Word. God does not have two sets of standards. He is no respecter of persons.
Acts 10:34 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Wearing pants is either wrong for ALL saved women, or it is wrong for none. In deciding if something is right or wrong, our first consideration must ALWAYS be what the Word of God says, not how we may "feel convicted."
Ecclesiastes 12:13 -14 - Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Follow the Bible, and you’ll be doing what is right. Follow your feelings, emotions, leadings, etc., and who knows what you’ll be doing?
"Yeah, but wearing pants is not really that big of an issue, and they are much more comfortable and practical to wear"
It’s kind of funny that for nearly 6000 years, women always wore long dresses, but only since the last 40 years, a dress is suddenly "impractical" to wear. You cannot change history to validate what you want to make acceptable for today. Nowadays, women think that they cannot so much as rake a few leaves without adorning themselves in a pair of pants.
If you saw a man wearing a dress, what would you call him? Uh-huh, you would have no trouble knowing that it was wrong, and an abomination to God (even if his dress had a fly). But we have been conditioned by the world and erring brethren that a pair of pants is a good and acceptable thing for a woman to wear today. Just because it is common does not make it right. In fact, I believe that it is all part of Satan’s plan to further defile mankind by mixing the genders. Have you noticed how wimpy the boys are getting and how masculine the girls are getting? Women’s sports are becoming the rage. We would rather have our girls learn how to "Kill ‘em on the court" than to learn to be chaste and skilled at homemaking. This is how we have come to put our women in military combat positions. We would have never even considered this 20 years ago, but now we are eliminating the difference in the sexes that God made.
Oh there will always be a difference in gender, because there HAS to be. But now, the emphasis is not on the beauty of a girl’s femininity (which brings out the masculinity in a man). NOW the emphasis in the difference in BODY PARTS! There is no longer the striking difference between a beautiful woman in feminine attire, long pretty hair, and a masculine man that practices chivalry. (Put a real feminine woman around a man and see how chivalrous he becomes.) Now the difference is emphasized in her physical body difference, which is leads to lust and a degradation of womanhood! (and manhood too). A feminine woman is in her rightful place of an elevated position. But as soon as she steps down off her pedestal to wear pants and be "equal" to a man, it drags everybody down, which is exactly what Satan wants. The devil is still whispering in Eve's ear to destroy mankind.
If you look at it, you’ll find it was usually the woman that lead in the matters of sin and error. You can begin at the garden, through Israel’s idolatrous apostasy and even into recent history, with cults, Charasmania, and other errors. Now the boys are wearing earrings and have long hair, while the girls are wearing pants and chopping their hair off, even though this is forbidden in scripture (I Corinthians 11). To top it off, most preachers will not preach against short hair and pants because this would affect a majority of the women in his congregation including his wife and daughters! (Say amen right there.)

Although I am a man, I have testimonies of women who say that an ankle length dress is far more comfortable than a pair of pants. But the ultimate question that you are going to have to ask yourself is this, "What’s more important? Being comfortable? Or obeying the Word of God?" I think we all know the answer to that one.

19
you should make this change. Just start right in the beginning. Cut the baby boy’s hair like a boy’s hair

should be cut, and don’t put feminine clothes on him. Put pants on him. And if it is a girl, don’t put pants

on her; put a dress on her.”56 How many times have you noticed that people are confused about whether a



baby is a girl or a boy even is the baby is dressed in blue or pink because baby girls aren’t dressed in dresses

anymore (or very rarely)?

A feminine woman is generally held in higher esteem and more respected, elevated in position, as it

were, but when she chooses to wear worldly attire and dress like a man, she steps off that pedestal.
 
 
Before the days ere darkness came,

The sexes did not dress the same.

For God decreed it long ago—

What many now don’t seem to know—

That sexes must in godly fear

Unlike each other to appear.

The line God drew in words sublime

Must never fade in passing time.

His moral laws must ever stand,

Whatever styles may now command.

The world at large may set the pace

To lead some saints into disgrace.

The argument they often use,

Is that this law is for the Jews.

Or that the cloth is not the same,

Which argument is very lame.

The one who is the Father’s child

Should never be so sad beguiled.

It’s not the color of the cloth or kind;

It’s the cut of the cloth God has in mind.58

56 Ibid.

57 1 John 5:3 (KJV)

58 Logsdon, S. Franklin. “God Drew The Line.” (http://www.tbaptist.com/aab/goddrewtheline.htm)

The End
(1 Tim 2:9-10 KJV) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Monday 27 May 2013

Comments on marriage you decided

Marriage is not for everyone. You decide. Whatever choice you make, stick to it. Love is a decision!
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3: Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1 Corinthians 7:4: The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1 Crinthians 7:5: Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that
Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
All you people that are married; sleeping in the same bed not touching, nor talking leaving a place for the devil in your bed Stop it! All you married people living in the same house, sleeping in separate rooms, stop it!
To all you married people that are staying together for the sake of the children. You loved one another before the children. Whatever it took to get one another, it is going to take that and then some.
To all the married people that are together for show, stop it!
To all you married people that are together for the money, looks, lust, think about it!
To the married people that are together because God put you together and you love and support one another anyhow, go on, keep it up and keep it together.
To the single person that can’t leave that married person alone Stop it!
To that single person that can’t stop thinking about that man or woman in a sexual nature stop it.
To that single person that spends so much time shopping, looking, conniving, and scheming and under minding to get that mate stop it.
To that single person that has placed God first and foremost, that Worships, prays and praises God regardless of the loneliness in spite of the fact you have been waiting for 10 years, In spite of the fact everyone around you has gotten married and some of them on their second and third and your still waiting, praying, fasting, worshipping, dancing, shouting and giving God the glory.  You keep on keeping on.

God is yet in the blessing business


Does the Bible teach that sex is only for procreation? What is the purpose of sex within marriage?

The Bible does teach that one of the primary purposes for sexual intimacy is the creation of children. In the familiar passage of Genesis 1:28, God told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply”. Is the multiplying of mankind the only reason God created sex?

The Bible teaches that sex is a gift of God designed to be enjoyed within marriage. Although sex will often result in the blessing of a child, the Bible does not teach that this is the only purpose for the act of intercourse.

The Bible discusses many different purposes for sex within marriage
(Note: Sex is never to take place outside of a heterosexual marriage. When sex takes place out of marriage it is sinful and is usually referred to as “fornication” or “adultery”.)
Sex is for pleasure.
  • In the Song of Solomon you read of a married man and woman enjoying many moments of passionate sexual intimacy. In no place in the book do you find procreation being discussed. 
  • In the Song of Solomon sex is shown as an outpouring of affection and attraction for one’s spouse. In this inspired book of the Bible, this married couple finds great pleasure in being sexually intimate with each other on multiple occasions and in different ways.
Sex is for oneness in marriage.
  • “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24 NASB).  Sexual intimacy in marriage allows a couple to consummate their union and express their closeness by becoming one flesh during the act of intercourse. You should be closer to your spouse than any other individual. Sex helps facilitate this closeness within marriage.
Sex allows for intimate knowledge of one’s spouse.
  • In many passages in our english Bibles, the word “know” is used to represent sexual relations. One such example is (Genesis 4:1) which states, “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” (ESV). 
  • The word for “knew” or “relations (NASB)” is the Hebrew word yadah which is a word that means “to know, understand, perceive, learn and discern” (Strongs).  
  • The word the Old Testament uses often for sex may also demonstrate that within the intimacy of marriage one discovers a deeper understanding of their spouse through the act of intercourse. 
Sex in Marriage Protects one from Sexual Temptation.
  • In First Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul teaches that a healthy sex-life in marriage will serve as a safeguard against adultery. 
  • "The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control". (1 Corinthians 7:3-5 NASB). 
  • Although some will find any excuse to be unfaithful within marriage, the Bible does teach that a healthy sex-life helps in keeping sexual temptations away.
Sex can comfort a hurting spouse.
  • When the child of David and Bathsheba dies, the Bible says “Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him” (2 Samuel 2:24 ESV). 
  • It may be, that during a time of sadness or depression, one way we may be able to comfort our hurting spouse is through physical intimacy. 
  • Society may teach that sex is selfish, dirty and bad, but the Bible teaches it is a beautiful intimate moment that takes place in a healthy marriage relationship. Sex is a way in which a married couple expresses their unselfish love for each-other. When a person is hurting or grieving, they need to know that their spouse is there to comfort them. Many times times comfort is shown through a physical means such as holding one another. Marital intimacy may be another way. This might not be the best course in every situation (be sure you know your spouse's needs), but in some cases a person may find great comfort in an intimate sexual moment with their spouse.
Answer:
  • Sex is not just for procreation. It is a gift to be enjoyed by a married couple for many different purposes from pleasure to protection, or intimate knowledge to procreation. 
  • One well-known Marriage Psychologist put it this way: 
    • “For human beings, sex isn't just to make babies. It is to join two humans in the most intimate union possible. I believe that sexual love freely shared in marriage is the most beautiful way God gave us to say, "I love you." (Beam).


By Cliff Sabroe, Scripture quotes from the NASB95, ESV and KJV Bibles. Citation from (Beam, Joe. Sex and the Bible. -  joebeam.com) 

 
 

Not necessary for gentiles or jewish christians to keep Sabbath

 
 
 
Freedom from Sabbath-keeping
 
 
Some today insist that Christians must keep the Sabbath day, that those who worship on the first day of the week (Sunday) are in great error. They reason that "Sun-day" comes from the pagan worship of the Sun god, that Jesus and Paul kept the Sabbath day as an example for us to follow, and that the Roman Catholic church is responsible for the change in the day of worship. Those who continue to worship on Sunday will receive the mark of the beast.
 
Let’s briefly look at these arguments. First, nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath. It commands that we rest on that day: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work . . . For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8–11). Sabbath-keepers worship on Saturday. However, the word "Satur-day" comes from the Latin for "Saturn’s day," a pagan day of worship of the planet Saturn (astrology).
 
If a Christian’s salvation depends upon his keeping a certain day, surely God would have told us. At one point, the apostles gathered specifically to discuss the relationship of believers to the Law of Moses. Acts 15:5–11, 24–29 was God’s opportunity to make His will clear to His children. All He had to do to save millions from damnation was say, "Remember to keep the Sabbath holy," and millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept it. Instead, the only commands the apostles gave were to "abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication."
 
There isn’t even one command in the New Testament for Christians to keep the Sabbath holy. In fact, we are told not to let others judge us regarding Sabbaths (Colossian 2:16), and that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath was given as a sign to Israel (Exodus 31:13–17); nowhere is it given as a sign to the Church. Thousands of years after the Commandment was given we can still see the sign that separates Israel from the world—they continue to keep the Sabbath holy.
 
The apostles came together on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7). The collection was taken on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2). When do Sabbath-keepers gather together to break bread or take up the collection? It’s not on the same day as the early Church. They tell us that the Roman Catholic church changed their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday, but what has that got to do with the disciples keeping the first day of the week? That was the Roman Catholic church in the early centuries, not the Church of the Book of Acts.
 
Romans 14:5–10 tells us that one man esteems one day of the week above another; another esteems every day alike. Then Scripture tells us that everyone should be fully persuaded in his own mind. We are not to judge each other regarding the day on which we worship.
 
Jesus did keep the Sabbath. He had to keep the whole Law to be the perfect sacrifice. The Bible makes it clear that the Law has been satisfied in Christ. The reason Paul went to the synagogue each Sabbath wasn’t to keep the Law; that would have been contrary to everything he taught about being saved by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8,9). It was so he could preach the gospel to the Jews, as evident in the Book of Acts. Paul had an incredible evangelistic zeal for Israel to be saved (Romans 10:1). To the Jew he became as a Jew, that he might win the Jews (1 Corinthians 9:19,20). That meant he went to where they gathered on the day they gathered.
 
D. L. Moody said, "The Law can only chase a man to Calvary, no further." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law so we are no longer in bondage to it. If we try to keep one part of the Law (even out of love for God), we are obligated to keep the whole Law (Galatians 3:10)—all 613 precepts. If those who insist on keeping the Sabbath were as zealous about the salvation of the lost as they are about other Christians keeping the Sabbath, we would see revival.
 
 

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Saturday 25 May 2013

comments on women wearing pants being wrong gospel

Comment's of Christian about the wearing of pants I agree with some of what is being said not all of it. the first comment I partly agree but I believe through sin in man and women these things are exploited for lust, youthful lust,  money, fornication, covetousness etc.



Because the modern culture gives little respect to a woman as a woman. She has to ape men in all the aspects of her life to gain respect from this society. A woman who wears men's clothes, works in the fields traditionally dominated by men and behaves like men feels more elevated in her own eyes while the typically feminine sphere of life like motherhood, making a happy and loving home, breast feeding, and proper upbringing of the new generation finds little attention or appreciation in the modern world. The western culture has unfortunately instilled a sense of inferiority complex among the women and the capitalist economy has exploited every human weakness of the women to the hilt. By projecting crazy and impractical standards of feminine beauty, the capitalists have been able to churn billions of dollars every year from the cosmetic industry. The charms of the female body is being used freely to sell consumer goods. Even a razor blade cannot be sold without a sexy semi nude woman touching the freshly shave cheek of another underwear clad man. The multi billion pornography industry exploits women like hell.

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  • God's word is infallible. We should ask ourselves; when did women begin to wear pants? Does the word 'unisex' ring any bell? What about 'gender equality'? All these came began to surface at the advent of the Feminist Movement of the Twentieth Century which was borne out of supposedly marginalization of the womenfolk. I do not want to go into details. You can do some research on this. My major concern is that the Devil is always opposed to God's word with his infamous "...hath God said..."(Genesis 3:1) but the Church is ignorant of his devices! Women began to wear pants to show that "what a man can do, a woman can do even better"! This is against Scriptures which say women are weaker vessels (1 Peter 3:17). This is the way of the world and we are NOT to love it (1 John 2:15). A man reacts to what he sees, a woman to what she hears. Today, women have gone out of their way not to wear pants alone, but even to wear 'sexy' pants that only reveal parts of their bodies. This is evil in God's sight and the whole of Christendom should rise up against this device of the Enemy to manipulate the Church. What the Spirit says, he who has ears let him hear! God bless you all.
     
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  • Emmanuel's comment on 2012-08-13 04:25:09:

    It is not good to judge but The point is plain and clear woman should not use what is of men and men should not use what is of woman because it is an abomination. Taking a careful look av the word abomination we can see that the consequences of people violating it is great, which may even lead to death, so biblically it may hinder any and sex that use what is of opposite sex not to enter the kingdom of God. The bible say anybody that violates small of the commandment has violated all and the bible also says all unrighteous is sin. It\'s advisable to abstain from it. Thanks, may God help up all.
  • Bryant Fry's comment on 2013-03-03 21:11:07:Moses here is speaking of the identity of the two genders, and it is a comparison to nature. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 is reiterating the same principle in the church age that we read here in this passage. Just as we are not to change the identity of the genders for any reason, so Paul is saying the same thing in the New Testament. Consider this: God made the gender differences a very important part of our lives. He made the distinctions, not man. He designed the distinctions in hair lengths, and the distinctions in clothing, not man. This nature was established in Genesis and carries through to the book of Revelation and beyond. 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.\" God still expects us to follow His standards. Here are examples of how God\'s standards haven\'t changed: “I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering (Isaiah 50:3).”
    “ Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)”
    “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith (Luke 12:28)?”
    Isaiah tells us how God clothed the heavens, and continues to do so. In the Matthew and Luke passages, we see that God still has the same nature for grasses that existed thousands of years ago.
  • Rose's comment on 2013-02-06 11:39:21:I believe the word is the word. God truly looks on the heart. But the word tells us to put a difference between the holy and the unholy.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Married union for christians

Please note I did not write this article but I agree with most not all of what is being said in it, the first part is my added comment on this article.

I am not a supporter of contraception or abortion , I do believe that marriage was given for companionship, that man should not be alone, friendship, sharing sexual pleasure within the confines of the scripture and not just for procreation only. Did not Sarah say should she have pleasure when she's is old. The bible shows us that Abraham married Katurah and this was after the promise seed Isaac was born and Sarah was dead. Genesis 25:2-4 This was because Abraham natural manly / carnal not sinful side was still very much alive, Note many of the kings of Israel had wife plus concubine's including David and Solomon, Also note the zeal of Jacob for Rachel or the zeal which David display to gain Michal king Saul's daughter. How Saul only ask for one hundred foreskin's of the philistines but David brought back two hundred. David's zeal was not for God at this point it was his carnal side wanting female companionship. Sam 18:25-28, Judges 8:30-31, 1 Kings 11:3, Songs of Solomon. Then did not Paul say in (1 Corin 7)if a man can not contain let him  marry for it is better to marry than to burn.




And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Gen 2:22-24)
“And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mat 19:4-6)
“And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” (Mar 10:8)
“Or do you not know that he being joined to a harlot is one body? For He says, "the two [shall be] into one flesh." (1Co 6:16)
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” (Eph 5:31)

The account of the making of the first human beings in Genesis is that God created Adam (the man) out of dust in the image of God and gave him life through the breath of God. Then God had Adam name all the animals but a suitable help meet for him was not found amongst them, so God put Adam to sleep and extracted from him one of his ribs. From this rib God formed (in a way cloned) Eve and presented her to Adam as his suitable help meet. Gen 2:18-21.
Adam knew that, either by witnessing or by divine revelation, for he exclaimed: “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Gen 2:23) and he called her wo-man, which means “from man”. Further down Adam states that “they shall be one flesh” which indeed it was true for in fact Eve was of the same flesh of Adam being extracted from him. Jesus himself confirm this state of things between husband and wife as if they were so closely related between each other as Adam and Eve, i.e. “one flesh” (Mar 10:8) and no man is to separate whom God has joined together, “put asunder”.
So the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman is in ‘the flesh’ which means that at death this relationship is broken for the departed one is no more “in the flesh” and therefore the surviving partner can remarry, but in the Lord: “For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.” (Rom 7:2-3)
To be noted that the primary reason of marriage is to produce children and since in Heaven no children are produced, then there is no need of marriage: “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Mat 22:30) It follows then that people married on earth in the flesh, are no more married in Heaven. An interesting thought comes to mind here: are there sexes in Heaven? The question is asked because sex is an integral part in producing children which is not required in Heaven? To be sure nobody knows, nevertheless we can speculate that the peculiar attributes of maleness and femaleness must be in some way retained for we see even in newborn babies innate behavioural characteristics differences between boys and girls, so these differences are engrained in their makeup. Can a man think as a woman in Heaven and vice versa?  Methinks not.
In marriage the man is to leave his father house to be joined to his wife and form a new family providing a new home for himself and his wife. He shall cleave unto his wife with cordial affections, taking care of her, nourishing and cherishing her, providing all things comfortable for the family, continuing to live with her, and not depart from her as long as they live, as if she were his own flesh Eph 5:28,29. The union by marriage between man and wife is to be very close practically glued together, and becoming as if they were but one as if they were “one flesh” as stated by Christ Himself (Mat 19:5). 
The union between husband and wife is so close as if they are but one person, one soul, one flesh and which is to be protected against polygamy, unlawful divorces, and all uncleanness, and adultery. Only one man and one woman, being joined in lawful wedlock, have a right of copulation with each other in order to produce legitimate offspring partaking of the same one flesh, as children do of their parents
Man and wife are entirely and inseparably united whilst in the flesh, and shall have as intimate and universal communion as if they were one person, one soul, one body. From this we understand the sinfulness of divorces, and polygamy, however God might upon a particular reason for a time dispense with His own institution, or remit the punishment due to the violators of it for He is Sovereign over His creation, as He did with David and others.
The union between husband and his virgin wife is cemented and sealed by the breaking of the hymen and the spilling of the blood which makes them one in the flesh thus sealing the marriage covenant, for it is clear that the two become one in the flesh by the act of copulation. That is, man and wife shall only have carnal knowledge by copulating with each other with inference to the place where both of them make one flesh (foetus) which is equally done by unlawful copulation with an harlot as with a man’s own wife, as the Apostle says: “What? know you not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, said He, shall be one flesh.” (1Co 6:16).
IN SUMMARY
The term “one flesh” comes from the Genesis account of the creation of Eve describing the process by which God created Eve from a rib taken from Adam’s side as he slept. Adam recognized that Eve was part of him, thus they were indeed “one flesh.” The term “one flesh” means that just as our bodies are one whole entity and cannot be divided into pieces and still be a whole, so God intended it to be with the marriage relationship. There are no longer two entities (two individuals), but now there is one entity (a married couple).
The new unity takes precedence over all previous and future relationships (Gen 2:24). Some marriage partners continue to place greater weight upon ties with parents than with the new partner. This is a recipe for disaster in the marriage and is a perversion of God’s original intention of “leaving and cleaving.” A similar problem can develop when a spouse begins to draw closer to a child to meet emotional needs rather than to his or her partner.
Emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, financially, and in every other way, the couple is to become one. Even as one part of the body cares for the other body parts (the stomach digests food for the body, the brain directs the body for the good of the whole, the hands work for the sake of the body, etc.), so each partner in the marriage is to care for the other. Each partner is no longer to see money earned as “my” money; but rather as “our” money. Eph 5:22-33 and Proverbs 31:10-31 give the application of this “oneness” to the role of the husband and the role of the wife, respectively.
Physically, they become one flesh in the act of copulation, and the result of that one flesh is found in the children that their union produces; these children now possess a special genetic makeup, specific to their union. Even in the sexual aspect of their relationship, a husband and wife are not to consider their bodies as their own but as belonging to their partner (1Co 7:3-5). Nor are they to focus on their own pleasure but rather the giving of pleasure to their spouse.
This oneness and desire to benefit each other is not automatic, especially after mankind’s fall into sin. The man, in Gen 2:24 , is told to “cleave” to his wife. This word has two ideas behind it. One is to be “glued” to his wife, a picture of how tight the marriage bond is to be. The other aspect is to “pursue hard after” the wife. This “pursuing hard after” is to go beyond the courtship leading to marriage, and is to continue throughout the marriage. However the fleshly tendency is to “do what feels good to me” rather than to consider what will benefit the spouse. And this self-centeredness is the rut that marriages commonly fall into once the “honeymoon is over.” Instead of each spouse dwelling upon how his or her own needs are not being met, he or she is to remain focused on meeting the needs of the spouse.
However, as nice as it may be for two people to live together meeting each other’s needs, God has a higher calling for the marriage. Even as they were to be serving Christ with their lives before marriage (Rom 12:1-2), now they are to serve Christ together as a unit and raise their children to serve God (1Co 7:29-34; Mal 2:15; Eph 6:4). Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18, would be good examples of this. As a couple pursues serving Christ together, the joy which the Spirit gives will fill their marriage (Gal 5:22-23). In the Garden of Eden, there were three present (Adam, Eve, and God), and there was joy. So, if God is central in a marriage today, there also will be joy. Without God, a true and full oneness is not possible.
Concerning the continuation of earthly marriages in Heaven may be desirable, especially when a couple is happily married, but it is only a romantic fantasy which is altogether unsupported by the Bible. There are some Christian offshoots that support that, but they are saying that contrary to our Lord’s statement: “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Mat 22:30)
God created woman and marriage for the earthly happiness and contentment of the man He created in the Garden of Eden.  The purpose of marriage has a twofold aspect:
  1. It was made for the benefit of the man so he would not be alone Gen 2:18, and
  2. For the procreation of mankind Gen 1:28; 9:1
These purposes are not needed in Heaven for all happiness will be in the presence of Christ and there will be no human procreation.
Moreover there is no Bible evidence, not one shred, to suggest that marriage survives the grave. 
Besides what Jesus promised to His people is that in heaven we shall have something which is far better than any sense of contentment (including marriage) we are capable of enjoying on this earth.
However rewarding your marriage on earth may have been, it cannot be compared with the heavenly family of God who will be your eternal companions and family in glory.  The intimacy, the honesty, and the sense of deep comforting fulfilment which rise from a godly marriage on earth are simply tiny example of the greater sense of all those emotions, and more, in the world to come.  In that family there will be no empty chairs, no visits to cemeteries, and no black sheep.  All the heavenly family will be present and just as contented with that wondrous world as you will be, for all will admire the Father who is head of the family more than any other being who will be there (Eph 3:14,15). 
There may be no marriages in eternity, but all of the blessings which God put in this heavenly relationship, and countless more, will be enjoyed without measure in that glory world. 
CONCLUSION
Marriage on earth was instituted by God for practical purposes and has to be a very close relationship as to appear the man and wife are inseparably “one flesh”, for this reason God says that He hates divorce: "For I hate divorce, says the LORD the God of Israel, and covering one’s garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless."” (Mal 2:16)
Nevertheless independently how close the marriage relationship is on earth, it ends at death for the purpose of its institution is then fulfilled and terminated.
Let us therefore praise our munificent God for He has provided marriage for our comforts as we travel through this valley of tears and sorrows. AMEN

Jacobs four wife's


Please note I did not write this article about Jacob and his wife's I have cut it short because I did not agreed with all the auother wrote but I have allowed this part because I think he cover some interesting point's concerning the under standing of Jacobs four wife's and why God would use Jacob's marriages to help as to understand The church and Israel types and shadow's (Judge for your self) Vctor.S edited .

About this Teaching:
a. These stories confirm the allegories found in the life of Joseph.
b. Rachel and Leah are a history of Israel and the Gentile Bride.
Using Jacob as a shadow of Christ and his relationship with the Gentiles and the Jews this love triangle becomes an easily understood allegory. First I would like to point out that Leah is an allegory of the Gentile Church and her history. Leah represents the Church both the ten tribes of Israel and the Gentiles joined together in one promise to become "the fullness of the Gentiles". Rachel on the other hand is an allegory of the children of Israel and their history until they as a nation accept Jesus as their savior.
Leah’s name means wild cow and is also interpreted as a female Gazelle. Her name is to insinuate that she has no one to care for her. A wild cow had no caretaker the same as the wild olive has no one to care for it. Paul understood this mystery of Leah and Rachel. This is why he called the Gentiles the wild olive. Israel was cared for by the Lord, therefore it was tame simply through the promises of God. By the Gentiles being grafted into the tame olive tells us that he will take care of us along with Israel. This is the very reason that Laban tricked Jacob and hid her in the tent on his wedding night instead of Rachel. He knew that Rachel would be cared for and believed that Jacob would be willing to work an extra seven years to get her. But he wanted someone to take care of his little girl, Leah. He believed that Jacob would be good to her. This is the reason God brought us into Israel’s promise so that we too would be taken care of.
Rachel’s name means ewe Lamb. She was so beautiful and Jacob loved her so much, she would have to become his wife. He asked Laban her father who agreed but told him he would have to labor for him for seven years before he could have her. Jacob did this but, on the wedding night, Laban tricked Jacob and hid Leah in the tent with him. Jacob supposed that she was Rachel and embraced her. In the morning he was very disturbed to find that she was there instead of Rachel. He then worked another 7yrs to get Rachel. All totaled he worked fourteen years to get her. Instead he ended up with two wives. Rachel’s life and her children tell us the history of Israel. Where they have been and where they are going. She was the wife of promise. Laban promised her to Jacob. Israel is the people to whom the promises came first. Jesus told the woman at the well; salvation is of the Jews. Paul himself said to the Jew first and also to the Greek. They were first choice because of the promise made to Abraham. When Christ came for her it would be deception that would prevent her from becoming his. In the meantime God gave Jesus a Gentile bride with the promise that later on he would save Israel. Rachel’s children tell us the history of Israel, If you remember Rachel wasn’t able to have children. She was barren. She also had a problem with Idols. This is one of the things that God held against her. On the other hand Leah began having children immediately which provoked Rachel to jealousy. Remember? Paul said in Romans 11:11 that God had saved the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy! This is why Paul said this! He could see the story of Leah and Rachel as an allegory of the Gentile Church and Israel.
Rachel had four sons, the first two were from her hand maid Bilhah. The two that were her actual children are the children that God would use to bring about the promises to Israel that would place both the House of Israel and the House of Judah into the New Covenant promise.
Rachel desired to have children, but was unable to do so. She decided to ask Jacob to take her handmaid Bilhah to wife, which was a custom they had in those days. Bilhah’s children would belong to Rachel. This way Rachel would no longer be ashamed. In Israel in those days it was embarrassing for a woman to be barren. Bilhah was an allegory of the Law of Moses. She was a bondwoman, Paul told us in Galatians 4:21-31 concerning Abraham’s promise that Hagar the bondwoman was an allegory representing the Law of Moses. That Sarah was an allegory of the free woman of promise. According to scripture the Law came by necessity not by promise. But salvation will come to Israel to the free woman, not the bondwoman. He said to cast out the bondwoman and her son, the bondwoman’s son would not be an heir with the freewoman’s son. Rachel’s bondwoman Bilhah represents the Law of Moses, she will bear two different sons. This is an allegory of two separate time periods with Israel. Both of these time periods are under the Law of Moses. Bilhah has her children, but we must remember that they are legally Rachel’s children. Bilhah will first give birth to Dan.
1. Dan’s name means judging. When Bilhah gave birth to Dan, Rachel said God hath judged me, and hath heard my voice. It was Rachel that gave Dan his name. This was a shadow of Israel’s beginning under the Law of Moses. Moses was the first to judge Israel. After they had entered into the promise land, they were to be ruled by Judges for a period of time. This period lasted for approximately 330 years. From Moses until the time that Samuel anointed Saul to be king. Even though the time of the judges was to come to an end with an appointed king, Israel would remain under the Law of Moses until Jesus went to the cross.
2. The next son that Bilhah gave birth to would also belong to Rachel. Rachel named him Naphtali, which means wrestlings of God. Rachel said; With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed. This is the period of time that Israel decided that they wanted a King. Israel began to wrestle with God. They wanted a king; no more judges. God gave them a king, but their problems would only increase. They have been wrestling with God ever since. They were wrestling with God when Christ came to save them. They refused to believe and are in partial blindness to this day. Israel will wrestle with God until the Church gives her the Gospel the way God wants us to. Jacob is a shadow of Israel wrestling with God, way up into the night. The Lord cripples him but Jacob wins. Israel will wrestle with God until God changes their minds about Jesus, then they will win and their walk will be changed forever. Leah is a shadow of the Gentile church. Rachel said that she had wrestled with her sister, referring to Leah, and that she had prevailed. God has turned to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. Rachel was terribly jealous of Leah, but in order to have children of her own, not from her handmaid, she will have to come to terms with Leah.
Rachel heard that Reuben had found some mandrake in a field. Reuben was the firstborn son of Leah. Mandrake was a herb that was suppose to cause a barren woman to have children or would increase child birth in some way or other. The mandrake in this story represents the Gospel of the lord Jesus Christ. This is what the lord uses to bring forth children. Jesus was the firstborn of many brethren. But this firstborn has a double meaning. God told Ephraim that he was his firstborn in Jeremiah 31: 9. This promise was a literal promise that the ten tribes of Israel under the leadership of Ephraim would be the first to be born-again after the Spirit. God also promised a simultaneous blessing to the Gentiles. Luke wrote this:
Luke 13: 28: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29: And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30: And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last


This means that the Gentiles would become first in being born again. It was promised to the Jew first but because of their partial blindness God concluded them all in blindness and turned to the Gentile. Because God did this, the ten tribes of Israel called Ephraim or house of Israel share a promise of being the firstborn to God in the New Covenant. This means that there is a time coming that we must give the Gospel to the people that live in Israel. It will be at a time that she is in desperation.
Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son, he was the real firstborn son of Jacob but would eventually lose his birth right. But at the time he found the mandrake he was the firstborn. It was his mandrake but it is Leah who must give Rachel the mandrake. As I said before Leah is a shadow of the Gentiles and this will become our job. Jesus has given us the Gospel, which will cause childbirth, but he doesn’t preach it, we must do that. This is what Leah is representing in this story, the Church. She doesn’t want to give the mandrake to Rachel, but when promised a special night with Jacob she immediately accepts. The next scene in this story is that she meets with Jacob and tells him that she has bought him for the night with mandrake.
 God now turn's back to the Jew's during the tribulation period, causing them to have to pass  through a refiners fire, chastisement, persecution and great affliction from the anti Christ.(Zec 13:8-9) After which  they will gradually start to repent. Christ will then return on the mount of olivers (Zec 14:4, Matt 24:14-22) to fight against the armies of the anti Christ which came against Israel than all Israel will being to moan when they realised that they had sinned and that they had  crucified the Lord their Messiah. Zec 13:1-7, Ezekiel 37:13-28, Matt 24:29-31
Romans 9, Jude 14-15, Thess 2:8-9, Rev 19:11-21

Romans 11: 15:, Zec 14:8-11 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead.

Friday 24 May 2013

Christian Virtuous woman

Proverbs 31:10-31

 
This beautiful poem of the biblical virtuous woman is designed to show what wives the women should make and what wives the men should choose. This exquisite picture of a truly lovely wife is conceived and drawn in accordance with the customs of Eastern nations, but its moral teachings are suitable for all times. It consists of twenty-two verses, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet starting from the first in order, as some of the Psalms, eg Psa 119.
There is no reason to attribute it to Lemuel or to his mother nor was it part of the lesson which Lemuel's mother taught him, but a poem by itself, written by some other hand, suggesting that it had been commonly repeated among the pious Jews, for the ease of which it was made alphabetical. It is an anonymous appendix to the whole book of Proverbs, exalting, as Proverbs does elsewhere, the honour and dignity of womanhood, and the importance of a mother's teaching to her children.
The abridgment of it is repeated in the New Testament where the duty prescribed to women agrees with this description of a good wife; and with good reason is so much stress laid upon it, since it contributes as much as any other thing to the keeping up of religion in families. For the sake of posterity it is important that the mothers be wise and good and submitted to godly order, and in a practical way completely given to the prosperity of their homes in a sensible manner.

1Ti 2:9,10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Tit 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

1Pe 3:1-6 Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

 
The acrostic of Proverbs 31 is clearly about a woman of position and ability. She has a large household, means, a plot of land, knowledge and charm. She is diligent, wise, and caring, devoted to her husband and to her family.
 

31.10     
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies

Pro 12:4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

The difficulty of meeting with such a one: Where can he find her? This implies that good women are very scarce, and many that seem to be so do not prove so. He that thought he had found a virtuous woman was deceived, see, it was Leah, and not the Rachel he expected. He that plans to marry ought to seek diligently for such a one, to have this principally in his eye, in all his enquires, and to take heed that he be not confused by beauty or gaiety or lustful desires, wealth or parentage, dressing well or partying well. For she may very well have all these attractions and yet not be a virtuous woman, at all, as these advantages are no certain recommendation of a good wife.

Pro 18:22 [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

The essential qualities for a good woman (wife) is that she be a virtuous woman an able woman (the word includes strength), it is the same word that is used in the character of good judges (Exodus 18:21), that they are able men, men qualified for the business to which they are called, men of truth, fearing God. So it follows, a virtuous woman is a woman of spirit, a woman that is able, who has the command of her own spirit, though the weaker vessel, yet she is made strong by wisdom and grace, and the fear of God, one that is pious and industrious and a help meet for a man. In opposition to this strength, we read of the weakness of the heart of an imperious whorish woman, (Ezekiel 16:30). A virtuous woman is a woman of resolution, who, having espoused good principles, is firm and steady to them, and will not be frightened with winds and clouds from any part of her duty, for her security rests in the fear of God and the covering of her husband.

Pro 19:14 House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD.

The unspeakable worth of such a wife, and the value which he that has such a wife ought to put upon her, showing it by his thankfulness to God and his kindness and respect to her, whom he must never think he can do too much for. Her price is far above rubies, and above all the rich ornaments with which vain women adorn themselves. Here she is compared to the worth of wisdom:

Pro 3:15 She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

The more rare such good wives are the more they are to be valued as shown by the respect given to Ruth:

Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou [art] a virtuous woman.

 

31:11     
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil

The virtuous woman is a married woman. This is consistent with the teaching of the Bible for, God himself, in the beginning brought Eve to Adam to be his wife, his helpmeet and for the procreation of the race of man. The same principle applies here and is repeated in the NT to marry and have children, for example:

1Ti 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Of course not every woman does marry for some may have a special calling, in the Lord. Nonetheless the general rule is for woman to marry and have children, not to stay single, play the field and live for a career.
So the married virtuous woman is very industrious to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection. A good woman is a good wife, and makes it her business to please her husband, 1Co 7:34 ...... how she may please [her] husband.
Though she is a woman of spirit herself, yet her desire is to her husband, to know his mind, that she may adapt herself to it, and she is willing that he should rule over her. She conducts herself so that he may rest full confidence in her, that he may trust in her chastity, which she never gave him the least occasion to suspect or to entertain any jealousy of. She is not moody and temperamental, but modest and dependable, and has all the marks of virtue in her physiognomy and behaviour. Her husband knows it, and therefore his heart doth safely trust in her; he is at ease, and makes her also that way. He trusts in her conduct, that she will speak in all companies, and act in all affairs, with prudence and discretion, so as not to cause him either damage or reproach. He trusts in her fidelity to his interests, and that she will never betray his counsels nor have any interest separate from that of his family. She is a good wife that is fit to be trusted, and he can confide in her to order all his affairs at home and to manage for him, as well as if he himself were there, when his duties require travel in official business.
His heart trusts in her with full confidence. He relies on her prudence and skill. She manages his affairs so that he is always beforehand, has such plenty of his own that he is in no temptation to prey upon his neighbours. She contributes so much to his contentment and satisfaction that he shall have no need of spoil; he needs not be griping and scraping or even go to war to obtain riches, as those whose wives are proud and wasteful at home. The word "no need" in Hebrew is the same used for "lack" in Psa 23:1 indicating "need or want", "spoil" can include captured girls (concubines) as in Jdg 5:30. But the more clear meaning is that of an expression of simple contentment, he is in need of nothing for she well satisfies him on all fronts. He thinks himself so happy in her that he envies not those who have most of the wealth of this world; he needs it not for he has enough, having such a wife.
Happy is the couple that have such a satisfaction as this in each other!
 
31:12
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life

She will do him (husband) good may seem ordinary and sounds as if he gets a good bargain, but "will do" in Hebrew is gamal (to reward, to bring) and can be a fuller word such as the same word translated 'deal bountifully' in (Psa 13:6; 142:7), conveying more of the glad goodwill she does to him.

Psa 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

To do good, especially to the household of faith, is of course a main topic of Scripture with promise in both Testaments. (OT 560 times and NT 248 times):

Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Heb 13:16 But to do good and to share forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

This good woman makes it her constant business to do him good, and is afraid of doing any thing, even accidently, that may displease her husband. She shows her love to him, not by foolish display of romanticism, but by prudent endearments, accommodating herself to his temper, avoiding crossing him by unwise words. Speaking to him softly with kind words, as a fit daughter of Sarah (1Pe 3:6), and not inflammatory bickering. No! Not even in the case of him being out of good humour. She truly is, in every sense, a peacemaker to him. She is an oasis of peace to her husband.
She considers how to make his life easy, to provide what is fit for him both in health and sickness, and attending to him with diligence and tenderness if he is not well. She does him good and nor would she, no, not for the world, willfully do any thing that might be a damage to his person, family, estate, or reputation.
All this she does with joy and not for a day or two when all things are well and rosy, for she is a dependable woman. She is given to him all the days of her life, "for better or worse, in health or sickness for richer or poorer" as the promise goes. She is for real, not at first only, or now and then, when she is in a good humour, but perpetually; and she is not weary of the good kindnesses she does him. She gladly does all this, most reliably, not only because of real love towards him but also to please the Lord for ultimately ALL our good services are to be "unto the Lord":

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

She does him good, not only all the days of his life, but of her own too; if she survive him, still she is doing him good in her care of his children, his estate, and good name, and all the concerns he left behind him.
In Ruth we read of this kindness shown, not only to the living, but also to the dead:

Ruth 2:20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed [be] he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead........

 

31:13     
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands

The writer now moves to quantify how the virtuous woman applies her virtuosity in a practical way as being not only so "spiritual" but also to be of Earthly use.
This good mother provides a fascinating picture of the applied role of the woman of the home in the ancient world, active in planning, trading, spinning, providing for her family.
Even ancient women of some status did work with their hands; and such, indeed, were the customs of Western women only a few short decades ago. Of course, in the East also, the fabrics were articles of merchandise and an active source of income as Paul tells us about Lydia:

Act 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

So our good woman applies herself to the business that is proper for her. It is not in scholar's business, or statesman's business, or theological business, or career business that she concerns herself, but in women's business. Now, in this lost generation "women's business" is seen as competition with men for jobs in the market place, but the Biblical role for woman (and man) is, as usual, eternal very distinct and very clear:

Tit 2:4 That they (older women) may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5 [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Here Paul says to his man Titus that he is to know sound doctrine (not lollipop panacea) and to teach older women to be reverent in demeanour, to behave in a dignified manner, to be a good example and to pass on this teaching (women's role 1Ti 2:9,10 1Pe 3:3,4) to younger women (on a homely basis in private, not in public seminars) which is to perform the role prescribed to woman by God viz: to be self controlled, chaste, homemakers, kind-hearted, adapting and submitting themselves in obedience to their own husbands so that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach, blasphemed or discredited.
The same principle of role function is expected from the older women by 1Ti 5:10:

1Ti 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

This godly woman does not concern herself in things outside her domain (the home) but seeks wool and flax (coverings), where she may have the best and cheapest for her family. She would have a reserve of both of them and also of every thing that is necessary to the carrying on of this most useful craft.
Note that not only she sets the poor to work, which is a very good office, but herself does not disdain dirt work for she works willingly with her hands. She takes delight in working with her hands (so the Hebrew word is ). She goes about it cheerfully and competently, applying not only her hands, but also her mind to it without weariness in this good work for her family.
 
31:14
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar
She brings in provisions of all things necessary and convenient for her family. No merchants's ships, indeed, not even Solomon's navy, ever made a more advantageous return than her shopping does.

1Ki 9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships..............

1Ki 9:27-28 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought [it] to king Solomon.

All nations bring in foreign goods with the effects they export. So does she with the fruit of her labours. What her own ground (vs 16 plot of land, field) does not produce she can obtain it by trading her own surplus to obtain it; so she brings her food from afar. Not that she values things more because they are exotic or from far away but, if that is what she must have for her family and it is to be found far away, then she is willing to go the extra mile and she is competent in getting it.
To meet this situation she always has available an adequate supply of whatever is needed for all those who are under her care, and with the work of her own hands she makes certain that they are fed properly and clothed appropriately.
This enterprising woman has a large pantry, well stocked of all the necessary ingredients to keep her family in health. Her 'refrigerator' is full to the brim, she is not afraid that some visitors may open it to find it empty in embarrassment.
It is always a joy to remember when Mum came home from shopping fully laden with bags of abundant provisions and how the young ones would scurry around her to discover the content, digging deep for that special surprise that mother always had for them. Surely she is like a merchant ship full of goods, even those very special cherished delicacies from afar off.
The virtuous woman is a good mother and does not consider these homely duties for the wife to be demeaning but rather rejoices in them as a fulfilment of her responsibilities to her family and to society in general. She knows how important her duties are for she is the bonding that glues the family together. Without her special presence the family is but a group of people lacking that warm affection theat only a faithful wife and devoted mother can provide.

 

31:15     
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens

This woman is the opposite of the sluggard

Pro 6:9-11 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

She rises early, while it is yet night to give her servants their breakfast, that they may be ready to go cheerfully about their work as soon as the day breaks. She takes care of her family and all the affairs of it, gives meat to her household, she feeds every one of them so that none, not even her servants have reason to complain of being kept short or not receiving a fair share.

Pro 27:27 And [thou shalt have] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and [for] the maintenance for thy maidens.

She is not the type of modern girl that "wanna have fun", who sits up at discos, or partying till midnight, or even till morning, and then lie in bed till noon. No, the virtuous woman loves her God given role better that her ease or her "pleasure". She is to be found in the way of her duty every hour of the day, and has more true satisfaction in having given meat to her household early in the morning than those who have wasted their money in foolishness and live in the pursuit of "wordly pleasures".
Beside those that have a family to take care of should not love their bed too much in the morning.

Pro 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

She diligently attends to share as well as to the gathering of wealth, and indeed she is a wise steward for {her lord} has made her vice-ruler of his household.

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?

This woman is no fool for she has chosen well the better part of her vocation and attitude to life.

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might;.....

Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord...

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men....
 
31:16     
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

Here we have a remarkable picture of woman in Israelite society: trusted implicitly by her husband and amply rewarding that trust; hard-working and shrewd, with a liberty of choice and action in a wide range of affairs which goes to prove that there is much liberty when we submit to God's order even in situations which our "modern" minds find abhorring to our sensitivity.
There is freedom in godly submission.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.

She considers what an advantage a plot of land will be to her family and what good use it will be put to, and therefore she buys it. However, before buying it, she first carefully considers whether it is worth her money, whether she can afford to take so much money out of her housekeeping savings as much as required for the purchase. She is prudent and does not rush the buy, but checks whether the title is good, whether the ground is fruitful, and whether she has enough money to pay for it without incurring debts.
Many have got themselves in trouble by buying without considering; but those who would make advantageous purchases must consider, first, and then buy.

She also plants a vineyard, but it is with the fruit of her hands; she does not borrow money, or run into debt, or goes back in the work force. but she does it with what she can spare out of the savings from her household money, with her smart shopping and her watchfulness in bargains. Men should not spend anything upon excesses, until, by the blessing of God upon their good work, extra funds are obtained to be able to afford it; and then the fruit of the vineyard is likely to be doubly sweet, when it is the fruit of honest industry
Note also that vineyard may figuratively denote that her prosperity is not short lived for the vine-tree is long lived and as we have seen before, this woman is the opposite of the sluggard whose vineyard is overgrown with weeds:

Pro 24:30-31 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

No doubt, this good woman has received instruction from the sluggard's fate

Pro 24:32-34 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction. [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
 
31:17     
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms
She does what she does with all her might, and does not trifle in it. She puts in it all that she has in her being. She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms; she does not employ herself in sitting work only, or in that which is only nice performances of the fingers (there are works that are but a little removed from doing nothing). She is well prepared, if the need is there, to go through with work that requires the strength she has, which she will use as one that knows where to get more of it to complete the task.
This verse implies more than physical strength but speaks of that inner resolve, in the spirit, to complete what has to be done, regardless of difficulties and opposition. She is set to persevere till the job is finished. It is clearly seen that the word "give up" is not in her vocabulary.
Many proverbs praise diligence and the profit it brings, and they condemn laziness as a cause of hunger and poverty, for example:

Pro 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Pro 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Pro 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain [persons is] void of understanding.
Pro 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Pro 12:27 The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious.
Pro 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Pro 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
Pro 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Pro 28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.
 
31:18
She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night
This good mother perceives that she can make things herself better and cheaper than she can buy them. By wise observation she sees which part of her work brings in the best returns, and to that she applies herself most closely. She makes sure that in all her labour there is profit, and that encourages her to go on in it.
She is one that makes what she does to turn to a good value, by her prudent management of it. She does not toil all night for nothing, no! She herself perceives that her merchandise is good, that is, worth her while. She wastes no precious time.
She is very careful in scheduling her time, that none of it be lost. When day-light is done, she does not then think it's time to stop work, as those forced to do so because their business lies in the open fields and therefore subject to day and night. She extends her "day" beyond that by resourcefully using artificial light.

Psa 104:23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

As her business lies indoors, some of her work can be done by candle-light. That way she lengthens out the day, that is why her candle goes not out by night. Now, of course, we have ample supply of better light and therefore greatly advantaged to do that special good work that smells of "midnight oil". Yet the good mother did all her repairs and knitting by the flickering feeble light of a candle with that inner joy which comes by knowing that this sacrifice is well worthy of her family.
Again we see the correlation of the virtuous woman with personified wisdom and indeed she is more profitable than silver and worth more than rubies, for truly blessed is the man who has an industrious wife because, for sure, his household will lack nothing even though his wage may not be high. On the contrary the man with a large income is assured to suffer poverty if he has a squandering wife

Pro 8:11 For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Pro 3:13-15 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

 
31:19     
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff

This wise woman does not disdain any work, however mean. If it is honest work which benefits her family, then she will do it, and she does not reckon it either a diminishing to her dignity or at all inconsistent with her well earned rest.
Spinning thread was woman's work and it was an important cog in society for from wool a thread was made for the knitting of clothings, such as coats, tunics, vestments and undergarments.
An interesting parallel to note is the description of our Lord's attire as described at His crucifixion: Joh 19:23-24 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: ...........
The word "coat" is translated from the Hebrew "chiton" meaning: "a tunic, an undergarment usually worn next to the skin". Contrary to the views of the exponent of the "prosperity doctrine", we do not read in the Bible about Him as having any valuable or remarkable possession except this "coat", and not for its richness but rather for its variety for it was woven from the top throughout.
The Roman soldiers cast lots for it as renting would have ruined it.
The thing to note here is that the coat was woven from spun wool. Tradition has it that actually his mother wove it for Him. Whether it was His mother (quite possible) or some other woman Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him: does not really matter here but it is an example of spindle application.
The spindle or spinning-wheel and the distaff are here mentioned as her honour, while a contrast can be seen in the ornaments of the daughters of Zion which are reproached for wasting their lives away in vanity:

Isa 3:18-24 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of [their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet], and [their] cauls, and [their] round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty.

The virtuous woman is not decked with corruptible external ornaments, but, rather with non corruptible good works and a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1Pe 3:4)

 

31:20      
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy

She is hard-working and shrewd, with a liberty of choice and action in a wide range of affairs which she directs to the family good, at the same time remaining generous and kind-hearted.
This industry enables her to be charitable, to the poor and to the needy for there will always be poor people in the land (Deu 15:11 Mar 14:7).
Our good woman fulfils the earlier exhortations to care for the poor,

Pro 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.

Shares food,

Pro 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Honours God,

Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

Will lack nothing,

Pro 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

The Lord will deliver.

Psa 41:1 ....... Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

She is as intent upon giving as she is upon getting, so that she could give away even more. She often serves the poor with her own hand, and she does it freely, cheerfully, and very liberally, with an outstretched hand.
Nor does she relieve her poor neighbours only, and those that are at hand, but she reaches forth her hands to the needy that are at a distance, seeking opportunities to do good and to help relieve any desperate situation.
She can be seen as the female JOB:

Job 31:16-20 If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep.............

 

31:21     
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet

Scarlet-or,purple, by reason of the dyes used, (from rare shells: Murex brandaris and Murex trunculus from which small amount was extractable) were the best fabrics; available usually as a sign of prosperity. Purple/scarlet was the vestment colour for senators, kings and emperors both in Rome and elsewhere. These colours were also prized for priestly vestments in Israel's tradition as scripture has many references to scarlet usually together with blue and purple:

Exo 25:4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' [hair],

Exo 36:35 And he made a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: [with] cherubims made he it of cunning work.

The palanquin seat of Solomon was purple:

Son 3:10 He made the pillars thereof [of] silver, the bottom thereof [of] gold, the covering of it [of] purple, the midst thereof being paved [with] love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

Our Lord was temporarily cloaked in purple, in mockery to His Kingship, prior to his crucifixion.

Joh 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, And said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they smote Him with their hands.

So scarlet or purple is the best cloth, used by royalty and no doubt the senator's robes which her husband wears are of her own spinning, and they look better and wear better than any that are bought, as we have seen before.
Also the noun is in the plural which could mean 'double' (thickness), which would explain the reference to snow, therefore these are also good warm clothing that she gets also for her children, and her servants alike. Double can also mean that they are all double clothed, thus having change of clothes, for winter and summer, of high quality, naturally and again probably made of wool from her own spindle.
She needs not fear the cold of the most frozen winter, for she and her family are well provided with clothes, more than sufficient to keep out the cold, which is the end result of her diligence to her work. All her household are clothed in scarlet, good and strong cloth fit for winter, and yet rich and making a good appearance.

 

31:22     
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple

She makes herself coverings of tapestry for her rooms, of her own making, thus she decorates her home well and richly without wasting her household money on fancy and expensive commodities for she is well competent in doing her own. Nothing is missing from her home, and even though they look as the most costly goods, she did not waste her cash on them but only purchased what she could not make herself.

Pro 7:16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen of Egypt.

Her own clothing is rich and fine: it is silk (fine linen) and purple, according to her place and rank. As we saw before purple is linked with kings and the rich:

Jdg 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that [was] on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that [were] about their camels' necks.

Luk 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

Also fine linen has been associated with the nobility even early in history:

Gen 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

The tabernacle of God had no less than the kingly purple and fine linen:

Exo 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle [with] ten curtains [of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: [with] cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

By her good applications, our model woman, is as if she was rich. But she is not so vain as to spend much time in dressing herself, nor makes the putting on of apparel her adorning, nor values herself on wearing them for her adornings are the good works she does as a wife, as a mother and as a homemaker, as fitting to a woman of God. Yet she is blessed with rich clothes, silk and purple -the best- and puts them on well, as the occasion arises.

 

31:23     
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land

Domestic comfort contributes to her husband's advancement in public dignity and he is the recipient of special attention and recognition when he sits with the council of elders inside the city gate.

The gates was where the men (the elders) of the city met to hold court of justice, local government and every other important matter.

Pro 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Ruth 4:11 And all the people that [were] in the gate, and thE elders, said, [We are] witnesses. .........

Job 29:7 When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!

She adds to his reputation in the world. Her husband is known in the gates, known to have a good wife. By his wise counsels, and prudent management of affairs, it is clearly seen by all that he has a discreet companion in his bosom. By his cheerful countenance and pleasant humour it is obvious that he has an agreeable wife at home. He is a happy man and highly respected for his choice.
It is said in many quarters that the worth of a man can be assessed by his choice of a wife.
This man has chosen wisely, he is not like many that have their tempers sadly soured by their life at home, Pro 19:13 .....the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping, and therefore are really disqualified from holding public office. In the NT we see clearly that Paul stipulates that if a man does not have his home in order then he cannot take care of the church of God:

1Ti 3: -5 One (the elder) that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:11 Even so [must their (deacons)] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
She is no nagging wife for he has time enough to be an elder of the city and sit and concentrate to perform a voluntary and important office for society without the disabilitating worries of a household in disorder.
His appearance is clean and neat in his dressing, every thing about him is decent and handsome, yet not loud. One just knows by the evidence on him that he has a good wife at home who takes good care of his clothes as well as his home, in all aspects. He is a rich man for at home he has a godly help-meet more valuable than rare rubies.

 

31:24     
She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant

This industrious woman not only provides clothing for her own household, she also devotes her talents to making fabrics for sale to the city merchants. Such commodities as fine linen or linen shirts, or the material for them.
Girdles were often costly and highly valued as a present or to sell. (or even as a bribe)

1Sa 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

2Sa 18:11 .........I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver, and a girdle.

She makes more than she and her household have need of and therefore, when she has sufficiently stocked her family, she sells the excess to the merchants who carry them to Tyre, the market of the nations, or some other trading city. Those families that produce more than they buy are likely to prosper just the same as with those nations when more of their home manufactures are exported than imported. It is no shame, even for those who are well off, to sell what they can spare, nor to deal in trade and send their wares to distant places.
Our busy beaver builds up for later for she shall rejoice in time to come, having laid in a good stock, for her family and having good portions for her children.
Those that take pains to prosper when they are capable will have the pleasure and joy of the increase later in life when they are old, both reflecting upon and in reaping the benefit of it.

Pro 30:24-25 .... they [are] exceeding wise: The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

This virtuous woman is prudent, industrious, ingenious and active for the good of her family and looks well after their welfare, just like the ant, she builds up her nest in summer, while the going is strong, so that when the snow comes she has no fear whatsoever for her household to be cold for they are clothed in scarlet because of her diligent provisioning.
Like the ant she prepares ahead. She sees the whole family situation and there is nothing that her wise eye does not consider for the wellfare of her beloved family. She makes sure of today's provisioning but also she prepares for tomorrow trusting in the Lord and applying that trust with her busy hands.

 

31:25
Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come

She is without guile and there is nothing in her nature that debases her character, because she is clothed with strength (both of character and resolve), honour, and gentleness.
Strength and dignity are quite appropriate to such a good woman. Strength and honour can be put figuratively for moral character, vigorous and honourable.
She truly fits the godly woman model as depicted by Paul:

1Ti 2:9-10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Which is exactly the opposite of being clothed with shame and disgrace:

Psa 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.

She obviously has the comfort and satisfaction of her virtue in her own mind. Strength and honour are her clothing in which she wraps herself, that is, enjoys herself and in which she appears to the world. These are her "visiting cards", as it were, recommending her.
She enjoys a firmness and constancy of mind, has spirit to bear up under the many crosses and disappointments which even the wise and virtuous must expect to meet with in this world; and this is her clothing, for defence as well as decency.
Jesus, Himself, said, quite plainly, what we are to do and expect in this world:

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me".

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

She deals honourably with all, and she has much pleasure in doing so, and shall rejoice in time to come; for she is free of anxiety and worry. She shall reflect upon it with comfort, when she comes to be old, that she was not idle or useless when she was young.
In the day of death, as she is about to go home with the Lord, it will be a pleasure to her to think that she has lived to her prescribed godly good purpose with fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore.

 

31:26
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

Her conversation is wise and gentle and kindness is the theme of a good mother's teaching. She gives faithful instruction to her children and friends for she is a wise and loving counsellor whose example and behaviour have enhanced their knowledge of God by seeing what a godly woman and a perfect wife shall be:

Pro 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

This special woman is of great and rare value for she is discreet and obliging in all her discourse:

Tit 2:5 [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Not talkative, censorious, nor irascible, as some are, that know not how to talk and behave loosely and cause pains to others:

1Ti 5:13 And withal they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

She opens her mouth with wisdom; when she does speak, it is with a great deal of prudence and very much to the purpose. She uses economy of words, she rambles not. It is easily discerned by every word she says how much she governs herself by the rules of wisdom.
She not only takes prudence for herself, but gives prudent advice to others; and this not as assuming lording over others, but with the affection of a friend and as to please others for their own good. In her tongue is the law of kindness, all she says is under the government of that law.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, but it shows itself in the tongue. It is called a law of kindness, because it gives law to others as her wisdom and kindness, together, put a commanding power into all she says.
How forceful are right words in wisdom and kindness, they command respect, they command acquiescence!

In her tongue is the law of grace (or mercy), to be understood as the Word and Law of God, which she delights to talk of among her children and servants. She is full of pious religious discourses, and manages it prudently, which shows how full her heart is of another world even when her hands are most busy in this world.
She is most useful on this Earth even though her eyes are fixed on the Lord of Glory.

 

31:27
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness

She adds to her example a wise management of her home.

1Ti 5:14 .....guide the house,....Tit 2:5 .... keepers at home,.....

She looks well to the ways of her household, she inspects the behaviour and working ways of all her servants, that she may check what needs adjusting among them, and exhort them all to behave properly and do their duty to God and to one another, as well as to her. We see in Timothy the kind of godly influence a good mother can have on a child:

2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,......

This godly woman keeps her house spiritually clean in front of the Lord just as Job, who put away iniquity far from his tabernacle:

Job 11:14 If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

and similarly David, who would not suffer any wicked thing in his house.

Psa 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.

Her noble character is much expanded here.
She is shown as a woman who takes seriously the duties of her home and obviously she has much pleasure in them. She hates to sit still and do nothing for she eats not the bread of idleness. Even though she has an estate to support her and she need not work for her bread, yet she will not eat it in idleness because she knows that none of us came into this world to be idle. She also knows that when we have nothing to do then the Devil will, soon enough, find us something to do.
She is well aware that it is not fit that those who will not work should eat.

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

She does not interfere in the concerns of other people's houses, for she thinks it is enough for her to look well to her own. Nor does she relish fashionable entertainments for these are the eating of the bread of idleness, similarly she does not give or receive idle visits or idle talk. She is a source of strength and example of diligence for her family, and her great concern is to build (not to destroy) her home wisely in a godly manner, and all for the Glory of God.

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

 

31:28
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her

She receives the respect and praise she deserves, hinting that her training of the household has avoided many tragedies:

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Pro 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness of his mother.

Pro 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame.

A natural outcome of her conduct is the way in which she becomes the object of spontaneous praise and admiration from her husband, children, and others.
It is said that if one really wants to know who one is really like, then ask your children. This virtuous woman needs not ask for she is readily and greatly honoured by those who know her best.

Her children grow up in her home, and they call their mother blessed. They give her their good words and they esteem greatly their mother. They pray for her, and thank God for such a good mother. They gladly honour and respect her, in addition to the debt which they owe as required by the fifth commandment to be paid to father and mother. Infact they give with joy the double honour that is due to a good father and a good mother. Indeed these well behaved children are themselves a visible commendation to her.

Eph 6:2-3 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

She is a great blessing to her relations, especially to her husband who thinks himself so happy in her that he takes all occasions to speak well of her with high praises for her conduct toward him and his family. It is known that the man is by nature the initiator and the woman is by nature the responder and this is shown well here for she values her husband's praises by responding in doing him good all the days of her life.
We see here a picture of laudable conjugal love, and an example to be imitated for it is lovely to dwell in peace and for husbands and wives to give one another their due praises.

 

31:29
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all

These words are those of her husband, praising her virtuosity as a confirmation of vs. 10. In effect he is positively saying: "you are a woman of noble character and you have done well".
In addition to her husband's praises she is also honoured by the good word of all her neighbours, just as Ruth did, whom all the city of her people knew to be a virtuous woman, Ruth 3:11. Her good deeds are plain for all to see.
Virtue will have its praise,

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

From verse 10 we learn that virtuous women are rare and valuable, far above precious jewels, and here we see that many have done virtuously, but such one as this one cannot be compared for she is in a class all of her own. Clearly she excels them all, and her aim and desire are to keep excelling in virtue.
We see here a comparison to dedicated daughters: many daughters have done virtuously [worthily], in their father's house as single women, respectful, caring and obedient such as Zelophehad's who were concerned that their father's namewould disappear for he had no sons and bravely went to Moses: Num 27:4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us [therefore] a possession among the brethren of our father.
Subsequently after obtaining the land they were told that they had to marry within their father's tribal clan to retain the inheritance. These noble women obeyed the Lord: Num 36:10 Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:
Nevertheless a good wife, if she be virtuous, excels them all for Zelophelah's daughters were also interested in their own personal inheritance and were looking at a nest of theit own, whilst the good wife is on her nest already and therefore her diligence to it is superior thus a man cannot have his home so well kept by good daughters as by a good wife as her home is her castle where she is the queen.

 

31:30
Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feared the LORD, she shall be praised

Favour (charm) is deceptive and beauty of face is fleeting:

Pro 5:3-5 For the lips of a strange woman drop [as] an honeycomb, and her mouth [is] smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Pro 11:22 [As] a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion.

Job 14:1,2 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he is fleet also as a shadow, and continues not.

Beauty does not recommend any one to God, nor is it any certain indication of wisdom and goodness, but it has deceived many a man who has made a foolish choice of a wife by it. There may be an impure deformed soul lodged in a nice and beautiful body, indeed many have been exposed by their beauty to the temptations of the flesh to the ruin of their virtue, their honour, and their precious souls. Beauty is but a fading investment at the best, and therefore vain and deceitful. Sudden sickness will taint and mar it in a moment and any accident may blast this flower in its prime, and of course, old age will certainly waste it and death and grave consume it.
But the fear of God, reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul and it is this that recommends those that have it to the favour of God, for in His sight, this is of great price. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, lasting forever in defiance of death itself, which consumes the beauty of the body, and will remain with the soul as we go to rest our heads on the bosom of our marvellous Lord.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This woman that fears the Lord shall be praised, for this completes and crowns her character. With all these good qualities she lacks not that one thing needful, for she has chosen wisely, and whether she eats or drinks, or whatsoever she does, she does all to the glory of God which is far preferred to beauty, which is by its own nature vain and deceitful.
True piety alone commands permanent respect and affection :

1Pe 3:3-5 Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

 

31:31
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates

Give her the reward she has earned, let her enjoy the fruit she has planted:

Pro 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Real honour comes through humility and the fear of the Lord:
Pro 22:4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life.
Some are praised above what is their due, but those that praise our good woman do it so simply as a recognition of the fruit of her hands, this honour she has truly earned and it is justly due to her, quite plainly seen by all.
Our Lord has said:

Mat 7:16,17 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

The tree is known by its fruits, and therefore if the fruit is good, then the tree must receive our praises. If her children be obedient and respectful to her, and conduct themselves as they ought, they then give her of the fruit of her hands. She therefore, reaps the benefit of all the care she has given to them, and thinks herself well rewarded by their behaviour.
The fruit of unjust men will speak for itself, but in her case her own works will praise her in the gates, openly before all the people. She leaves it to her own works to praise her, and does not chase after approval of man, rather she does all things for the glory of God for it is not comely for truly virtuous women to love to hear themselves commended. Even if relations and neighbours say nothing about her, her own works will praise her, and that is enough.
The weeping widows gave the best eulogy of Dorcas when they stood by Peter showing the tunics and garments she had made for the poor. Similarly her neighbours ought to let her own works praise her, and do nothing to hinder them. Those that ..... do that which is good, ... shalt have praise of the same: Rom 13:3.
Therefore let us give honour where honour is due without malice or envy and do what the Apostle Paul said: "follow me as I follow Christ" and let no evil communication proceed from our mouths for one day we will have to give account to God of every idle word that proceedeth from our mouth.
And so ends this beautiful mirror for women for them to adorn with and, if they do so, then they will fulfil what God requires of them, viz. 1Ti 2:15 ...she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
 

The Perfect Woman - Conclusion

The Good Wife.
Nothing can add to the simple beauty of this admirable portrait of the Biblical woman, even though modern western readers may notice in this hymn of praise a lack of emphasis on relationships or a rather unromantic view. They are welcome to have beauty and charm in their list of desirable qualities provided they keep the other qualities (given here) on their list as well:
 
10 virtuous
 11 faithful
 12 committed
12 loyal
 13 active
 14 good shopper
15 early riser
 16 enterprising
 17 hardworking
18 late retirer
 19 dextrous
 20 generous
20 compassionate
 21 secure
 23 respectful
23 submitted
 24 industrious
 25 honourable
26 wise
 26 kind
 28 blessed
30 God fearing
 31 praiseworthy
 
And not only does she possess a long list of attributes, but also she matches well Paul's description of love (charity, agape) in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
 
Love is patient
 12 all the days of her life
love is kind
 26 her tongue [is] the law of kindness
it does not envy
 29 but thou excellest them all
it does not boast
 31 her own works praise her in the gates
it is not proud
 30 beauty [is] vain
it is not rude
 26 she openeth her mouth with wisdom
it is not self-seeking
 28 her husband ..... praiseth her
it is not easily angered
 21 she is not afraid of the snow
it keeps no record of wrongs
 10 who can find a virtuous woman
Love does not delight in evil
 12 do him good and not evil
but rejoices with the truth
 30 a woman [that] feareth the LORD
it always protects
 21 her household clothed with scarlet
always trusts
 11 her husband doth safely trust in her
always hopes
 25 she shall rejoice in time to come
always perseveres
 18 her candle goeth not out by night
Love never fails
 31 her own works praise her
 
The point here is that beauty and charm can be deceptive and fleeting by comparison with the fear of the LORD and the good works in Him.
Love in marriage is not often remarked in the OT, but it is there in a most exquisite way, not to be mistaken with the distorted view of "love" as shown on the screens of the modern man.

Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death].

Gen 29:18,20 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.

1Sa 1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
1Sa 18:20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Est 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

In Proverbs we see joy and passion expressed in a very positive way with all personal and intimate relationship between a man and his wife, speaking of faithfulness and the bed undefiled.

Pro 5:15-19 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, [and] rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. [Let her be as] the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

 

Romantic love is not absent from the OT, but romantic love cannot sustain a family or a deep relationship for a lifetime. What we see in the virtuous woman is real solid applied love that hopes all things and never fails and is Biblical.
Furthermore Proverbs shows respect for the mother and wife as a woman of worth if she be virtuous (noble) and is here commended for the dignity and credit she adds to her husband, contrasted to she that maketh ashamed who is a constant erosion to his position as the head of the home as the order prescribed by God for humankind.

Pro 12:4 A virtuous (noble) woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

Often pointing out how fortunate a husband is to have so good a wife:

Pro 18:22 [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Pro 19:14 House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD.

 

So we see that this eulogy is not only praise of the ideal wife but also sound advice to the would-be husband in what to look for and how to choose a good wife that is well disposed for all moral and practical duties for the rest of his life.
A woman that will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Pro 31:12
In summary Proverbs 31:10-31 depicts the perfect will and call of God to the woman who would be a perfect wife and a godly woman:
That she fears the LORD
That she respects and does good to her husband all her life
That she brings honour to her husband by her voluntary submission
That she looks personally after her own children
That she performs home duties
That she provides good food and clothing for her family
That she is a hard worker
That she cleverly invests household money
That she be softly spoken
That she be not decked with vulgar apparel and fancy hairstyle but adorned instead with good works.
That her virtuosity is known far and wide
That she is blessed by her family and rewarded praises from her husband
That she is a public example of a godly woman
That, indeed, she is a ruby above measure
 
Which are all repeated in the NT:
1Ti 2:9,10; 5:10,14 and Tit 2:3-5 and 1Pe 3:1-6
 
With much help from Matthew Henry -- Puritan expositor