Wednesday Walk: Thirty-One (King James Version)

Proverbs 31:10-31 (King James Version)

Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good
and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships;
she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household:
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth the LORD,
she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands;
and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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Verse 18b in particular can be referenced in a number of ways:

“Her candle goeth not out by night.”

Some women think that this means having to work yourself into the ground, burning your candle at both ends; others, simply, staying up that bit later. Still others refer to it as meaning to look forward, preparing the way and keeping the family safe. Today I’ll focus on the latter definition for this phrase.

Above Rubies included references to this particular scripture in one of their devotions (though of course I can’t find that particular devotion). The devotion spoke that the candle staying lit was in fact more of a lamp that was oil fed and it stayed lit because you couldn’t just switch on a light, rather you had to light a light and, as this was a process, to allow for this you kept a lamp lit. It was kept going throughout the night so if you had to get up because you were in danger or more likely to see to a nursing infant or sickly child then you could because there was always a light to see by.

This took preparation – you had to have enough oil pressed and in the lamp to keep it burning until daybreak, (give me oil in my lamp keep me burning-that sweet and true little chorus springs to mind). You had to be prepared for the coming of the night.

As brides we have to be ready for our bridegrooms; whether for our earthly bridegroom’s return from work or our heavenly Bridegroom’s return to earth. As mothers we have to be ready to look to the ways of our families.

Are we ever ready for the next thing to face our family? Either through practical preparation (having dinner planned for the day, laying out our clothes the night before, getting that backpack ready for the next day’s activities, saving for a quarterly bill, saving for that college fund) or spiritual (preparing our hearts for the day through washing in the Word and communion with God in prayer, preparing ourselves and those we love for the future whatever it may hold by laying them before the Lord in prayer, preparing our children to be warriors for Christ – well-versed in Scripture and battle-ready).

This is a hard won, oft learned lesson for me – when I remember it I’m more relaxed, more cheerful, infinitely more organised, when I forget this lesson I forget so many other things – to have food ready, which shift my husband’s working, to ring or text a friend in need of contact, I’m frustrated and this spreads to those nearest and dearest.

Prayer
Lord help me to remember the lessons You are trying to teach me, help bring to mind the days ahead so that I may best prepare for them today.
Amen

We as women are called to prepare our families and in order to do that we must first prepare ourselves. Please journey with me into the coming days with this message upon your hearts:-

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PREPARE - BE READY - LOOK AHEAD

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