PROVERBS LESSON 49

    We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 31:1 "The words of king
Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him."

    The name "Lemuel" means unto God.  There is no record of a king
Lemuel other than here.  Many believe this ,too, is from Solomon to
God.  So much of this has already been uttered by Solomon in previous
lessons .

    Proverbs 31:2 "What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and
what, the son of my vows?"

    These 3 questions, as we stated before, make the person listening
more attentive.

    Proverbs 31:3 "Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to
that which destroyeth kings."

    The prince, here, is reminded by his mother not to give his
strength and power into the hands of a woman.  She is reminding him
that someday he will be king, and he must retain his power for the
throne.

    Proverbs 31:4 "[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for
kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:"

    Kings and princes are called upon to make decisions that affect
all of the kingdom.  They must be sober and able to make clear headed
decisions.  Alcohol affects your ability to function properly.  A
drastic mistake could be made under the influence of strong drink.

    Proverbs 31:5 "Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert
the judgment of any of the afflicted."

    A person under the influence of alcohol cannot think clearly and
could not remember the laws of the land.  A drastic injustice could be
done.

    Proverbs 31:6 "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts."

    Strong drink is to be reserved to kill pain.  Those who are
grieving need wine to help them forget.  Strong drink as a medicine
dulls the senses and helps to forget.

    Proverbs 31:7 "Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember
his misery no more."

    Just as in this verse here, drinking is for those who cannot face
reality.  Drinking is a symptom of a greater problem.

    Proverbs 31:8 "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all
such as are appointed to destruction."

    This is saying to speak up for those who, for one reason or
another, cannot speak for themselves.  Plead their case, if you will.

    Proverbs 31:9 "Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the
cause of the poor and needy."

    Don't just stand there and let them be punished, because they are
unable to defend themselves.  Speak up for the poor and needy.  Tell
the truth and get them set free.

    Proverbs 31:10  "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is]
far above rubies."

    This "virtuous woman" is a woman of high morals who is upright in
all her ways.  This is just saying that her worth cannot be measured
in earthly things, such as rare stones (rubies).

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

    This woman is totally faithful to her husband.  He can have
confidence in her, because she will not let him down.  He will not
need spoil from another, because his wife will always be faithful to
him in every situation.  She will not even give the appearance of
evil.

    Proverbs 31:12 "She will do him good and not evil all the days of
her life."

    She is on his side.  She is beside him helping in everything.  She
loves to please him.  She respects him and builds him up when he is
down.  She does not tear him down, but instills confidence in him.

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

    She is industrious and helps him produce for the family.  She is
not lazy.  She works willingly, because she wants to help.

    Proverbs 31:14 "She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her
food from afar."

    We see, here, that she goes forth wherever the food for her house
is and brings it home.

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

     She is not a sleepy-head.  She gets up early and sees that her
family and her maidens are fed.  Her first concern is the welfare of
her family.

    Proverbs 31:16 "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the
fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

    I believe this is an indication that she is a business woman.  She
takes on responsibility in buying the land.  She works outside the
house when she plants the vineyard.  She doesn't say to the husband
that making the money for the family is his job.  She helps him in
this, too, when she can.

    Proverbs 31:17 "She girdeth her loins with strength, and
strengtheneth her arms."

    We see, here, that hard work makes her very strong.

    Proverbs 31:18 "She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her
candle goeth not out by night."

    She protects what is her own.  She appreciates her husband and her
family and works to keep them.

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

    We see here, again, that she looks for useful work to do.  She is
not lazy, as we said before.

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

    She is not selfish, but shares with the less fortunate.  She is
generous in helping the poor and needy.  She has a big, giving heart.

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

    She has seen to it that her whole family have warm, comfortable
garments, even for snowy weather.

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

    She looks nice for her family.  She takes care of herself, as we
read earlier, and dresses nice so her husband will be proud to tell
people that she is his wife.

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

    She builds her husband up, and he has respect in the town.  She
never does things to make him ashamed.

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

    Here, again, we see her making money away from the home to help
her husband.  "Fine linen", of course, means righteousness
spiritually.

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

    This woman is upright in all of her ways, and the Lord will reward
her.  She will be among those who will hear Him say, "Well done thy
good and faithful servant".  She is well covered in the spiritual
things of righteousness.

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

    Her speech conveys her wisdom and kindness.  Her words build up
and don't tear down.  She is not a gossip or a slanderer.  When she
speaks, it is to help.  Her wisdom instructs her children.

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

    We said before, she is industrious; and her first thought is for
the well being of the members of her own house.

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

    Her husband and her children (who know her best) see her
unselfishness, love, and care that she has for all of them.  They are
proud of her.  She is a good mother and wife, and they let her know
it.

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

    This is saying that many women are faithful to their husbands, but
fall short in some of these other areas; but she has done the best of
all toward her family and God.

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

    Here, we see that doing favours can be good.  To have a wife who
is attractive to look at is nice, but the very best you can do is to
have a wife who fears God and keeps His commandments; and she will
have all of these other things as an extra.  She is to be praised,
because she has chosen the best: salvation through the Lord.

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

    Her works speak for themselves.  She has earned her praise.  We
see in this, the Lord is pleased with her, because she has done His
will in her life.
                        Proverbs 49 Questions


1.  What does "Lemuel" mean?
2.  Who is he, probably?
3.  Why are there 3 questions in verse 2?
4.  Why was he warned against giving his strength to women?
5.  Who were not to drink wine or strong drink?
6.  When they drank, what were they likely to forget?
7.  Who should strong drink be given to?
8.  What is given to those of a heavy heart?
9.  Drinking is for people who cannot do what?
10. Who are we to speak up for?
11. What is the price of a "virtuous woman"?
12. Her husband has no need of spoil.  Why?
13. She will do him ------- and not ------.
14. How does she work?
15. What is meant by "bringing food from afar"?
16. When does she get up out of bed?
17. Who does she feed?
18. What Scripture indicates she is a business woman?
19. What is intended by her perceiving her merchandise is good?
20. How does she feel about the poor and needy?
21. What is her household clothed in?
22. What does she do to help her appearance?
23. What does she make and sell to the merchant?
24. What two things are her clothing?
25. In her tongue is the law of --------.
26. She is -------- not idle.
27. What do her husband and children call her?
28. Beauty is ----------.
29. Who shall be praised?
30. What kind of works does she have?