The Husband’s Perfect Wife

1. The Husband’sPerfect Wife Proverbs 31:10-31

2. Rest in peace—until we meet again

3. “If you are for pleasure, marry. If you prize rosy health, marry. A good wife is heaven’s last best gift to a man; his angel of mercy; minister of graces innumerable; his gem of many virtues; his box of jewels; her voice, his sweetest music; her smiles, his brightest day; her kiss, the guardian of innocence; her arms, the pale of his safety; the balm of his health; the balsam of his life; her industry, his surest wealth; her economy, his safest steward; her lips, his faithful counselors...and her prayers, the ablest advocates of heaven’s blessing on his head.”

4. The author of this morning’s text knew well the peace & tranquility wives bring.

5. The author of this morning’s text knew well the peace & tranquility wives bring. PROVERBS 31:10-31

6. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.

7. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV).

8. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV). • We don’t know who King Lemeul was.

9. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV). • We don’t know who King Lemeul was. • It doesn’t matter, for this are Spirit-inspired words.

10. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV). • These words were originally taught to King Lemeul by his mother.

11. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV). • These words were originally taught to King Lemeul by his mother. • This is likely a poem that King Lemuel’s mother prepared to teach him whom he should marry.

12. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV). • These words were originally taught to King Lemeul by his mother. • This is likely a poem that King Lemuel’s mother prepared to teach him whom he should marry. • This poem is an acrostic.

13. Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon. • “The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v 1, ESV). • These words were originally taught to King Lemeul by his mother. • This is likely a poem that King Lemuel’s mother prepared to teach him whom he should marry. • This poem is an acrostic. Therefore, it would have been easy to remember.

14. The perfect wife is: Predictableprofitablepraiseworthy

15. vv 11-12 The husband’s perfect wife is predictable

16. Some things in this world are quite predictable.

17. Some things in this world are quite predictable. • King Lemuel’s mother taught them that The Perfect Wife is predictable.

18. Some things in this world are quite predictable. • King Lemuel’s mother taught them that The Perfect Wife is predictable. • “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (v 11-12, ESV).

19. The husband will never have a lack of gain.

20. The husband will never have a lack of gain. • The KJV translates this as “he shall have no need of spoil.”

21. The husband will never have a lack of gain. • The KJV translates this as “he shall have no need of spoil.” • The word is sometimes used—as seems to be the case here—to mean “dishonest gain.”

22. The husband will never have a lack of gain. • The KJV translates this as “he shall have no need of spoil.” • The word is sometimes used—as seems to be the case here—to mean “dishonest gain.” • The idea of trust goes quite well with “dishonest gain.”

23. The husband will never have a lack of gain. • The Perfect Wife is predictable, for she makes her living honestly.

24. The husband will never have a lack of gain. • The Perfect Wife is predictable, for she makes her living honestly—She is never going to take advantage of someone.

25. The husband knows that his wife will do him good & not evil all the days of her life.

26. The husband knows that his wife will do him good & not evil all the days of her life. • She never brings reproach upon her husband.

27. The husband knows that his wife will do him good & not evil all the days of her life. • She never brings reproach upon her husband. • No matter what the situation, The Perfect Wife will do the right thing.

28. Because The Perfect Wife is so predictable, the heart of her husband trusts her.

29. Because The Perfect Wife is so predictable, the heart of her husband trusts her. • He never has to worry about what she’s doing.

30. Sisters, how predictable are you?

31. The New Testament calls upon wives to be predictable.

32. The New Testament calls upon wives to be predictable. • “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (Eph 5:24, ESV).

33. The New Testament calls upon wives to be predictable. • “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (Eph 5:24, ESV). The Perfect Wife is predictable—she submits to her husband “in everything.”

34. The New Testament calls upon wives to be predictable. • “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (Eph 5:24, ESV). • “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (1 Pt 3:1-2, ESV).

35. The New Testament calls upon wives to be predictable. • “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (Eph 5:24, ESV). • “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (1 Pt 3:1-2, ESV). The Perfect Wife is predictable—she always has “respectful and pure conduct.”

36. Trust in a marriage is so important.

37. How predictable are we? Trust in a marriage is so important.

38. vv 13-27 The husband’s perfect wife is profitable

39. “She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

40. “She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” (vv 13-27, ESV).

41. These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.

42. These verses present a shrewd businesswoman. • It’s intriguing that these verses present a businesswoman in a patriarchal society.

43. These verses present a shrewd businesswoman. • It’s intriguing that these verses present a businesswoman in a patriarchal society. • Scripture only presents a handful of women who worked in business.

44. These verses present a shrewd businesswoman. • It’s intriguing that these verses present a businesswoman in a patriarchal society. • Scripture only presents a handful of women who worked in business. • Lydia was a “seller of purple goods” (Acts 16:14, ESV).

45. These verses present a shrewd businesswoman. • It’s intriguing that these verses present a businesswoman in a patriarchal society. • Scripture only presents a handful of women who worked in business. • Lydia was a “seller of purple goods” (Acts 16:14, ESV). • Both Aquila and Priscilla were “tentmakers by trade” (Acts 18:1-3, ESV).

46. These verses present a shrewd businesswoman. • It’s intriguing that these verses present a businesswoman in a patriarchal society. • Scripture only presents a handful of women who worked in business. • Lydia was a “seller of purple goods” (Acts 16:14, ESV). • Both Aquila and Priscilla were “tentmakers by trade” (Acts 18:1-3, ESV). • Women typically had no means of being self-sufficient.

47. What are we to make of this woman?

48. The more appropriate question to ask is: “Why is this woman involved in business?”

49. The text answers that question: “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land” (v 23, ESV).

50. The text answers that question: “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land” (v 23, ESV). • The elders played an important role in ancient Israel.