Pro 31:26 | KingComments | STEP | What characterizes her is reflected in the way she dresses. Her clothing shows who she is ( ). In , her clothing is mentioned again, but now in a different way. Her clothing, what is seen of her, is “strength and dignity”. She is a woman who radiates strength and excellence. Everything about her is dynamic and extremely beautiful. She faces life with a smile every morning. This is not hubris, but firm trust in God Who leads her life and gives her the strength for everything she does. The church owes all strength and dignity with which it is clothed to the Lord Jesus. Strength and dignity belong to Him and He has placed them on her, clothed her with them ( ). Strength and dignity are Divine attributes. They are attributes of God Himself and she exhibits them. In this we see the picture of the church as the Lamb’s wife who has made herself ready in a clothing of linen. On the one hand, she has made that clothing herself, for it speaks of the righteous deeds she has done. On the other hand, that clothing has been given to her, for it is God’s grace that has enabled her to do those righteous deeds ( ). That awareness enables the church to “smile at the future”. We can think of this in terms of looking forward to the Lord’s coming for His own and also His coming afterward to earth with His own. She looks forward to what is coming, because everything is connected to Him Who is coming. Therefore, she rejoices in Him Who is coming. She loves His appearing ( ). The excellent wife is not known as a talker and certainly not as a chatterbox or slanderer (cf. ; ). That it says here that she opens her mouth means that she does not usually talk. But when she speaks, words of wisdom come out of her mouth. Then it appears that there is “teaching” on her tongue that she gives in “kindness”. Her discussions to persuade someone come from a sound mind. And her teaching, the instruction she gives, is trustworthy. The second sentence of literally says that “the law of kindness” is on her tongue. What she says does not repel, but invites one to adopt the saying. It is pleasant to listen to her. Teaching in the church is characterized by wisdom and kindness. Kindness does not mean characterless sweetness. If opponents are to be reprimanded, it should be done in no uncertain terms. Yet it is important that it be done out of kindness, that is, the motive is to win the other person ( ). Before in others speak about her, the last of her virtues that is pointed to is her watchfulness ( ). She does not let herself be deceived by her prosperity, as if because of all her efforts and the desired results, she can now go on her way carefree. No, as she works, she keeps a close eye on everything in her home. There lies the focus of her pursuits. Everything revolves around her family. She knows what each member of the family is doing. She is alert to who and what enters her family and what the consequences are. This allows her to intervene in time if she perceives something that threatens a family member’s devotion to serving God. Resting on her laurels is not one of them. Even when she is ‘successful’, she does not eat “the bread of idleness”. She does not withdraw complacently to look at the results of her efforts with a sense of self-satisfaction. Her task is not finished as long as she has a family to manage. Nor should the church believe that all is well and no one can deprive her of the blessings she has. It is against this kind of complacency that Paul warns the Thessalonians. He says to them, while including himself: “So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” ( ). The command is: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with [an attitude of] thanksgiving” ( ), “and having done everything, to stand firm” ( ).

‏ Proverbs 31:26

Wisdom and Prosperity

What characterizes her is reflected in the way she dresses. Her clothing shows who she is (Pro 31:22). In Pro 31:25, her clothing is mentioned again, but now in a different way. Her clothing, what is seen of her, is “strength and dignity”. She is a woman who radiates strength and excellence. Everything about her is dynamic and extremely beautiful. She faces life with a smile every morning. This is not hubris, but firm trust in God Who leads her life and gives her the strength for everything she does.

The church owes all strength and dignity with which it is clothed to the Lord Jesus. Strength and dignity belong to Him and He has placed them on her, clothed her with them (Lk 24:49). Strength and dignity are Divine attributes. They are attributes of God Himself and she exhibits them. In this we see the picture of the church as the Lamb’s wife who has made herself ready in a clothing of linen. On the one hand, she has made that clothing herself, for it speaks of the righteous deeds she has done. On the other hand, that clothing has been given to her, for it is God’s grace that has enabled her to do those righteous deeds (Rev 19:7-8).

That awareness enables the church to “smile at the future”. We can think of this in terms of looking forward to the Lord’s coming for His own and also His coming afterward to earth with His own. She looks forward to what is coming, because everything is connected to Him Who is coming. Therefore, she rejoices in Him Who is coming. She loves His appearing (2Tim 4:8).

The excellent wife is not known as a talker and certainly not as a chatterbox or slanderer (cf. 1Tim 5:13; Tit 2:3). That it says here that she opens her mouth means that she does not usually talk. But when she speaks, words of wisdom come out of her mouth. Then it appears that there is “teaching” on her tongue that she gives in “kindness”.

Her discussions to persuade someone come from a sound mind. And her teaching, the instruction she gives, is trustworthy. The second sentence of Pro 31:26 literally says that “the law of kindness” is on her tongue. What she says does not repel, but invites one to adopt the saying. It is pleasant to listen to her.

Teaching in the church is characterized by wisdom and kindness. Kindness does not mean characterless sweetness. If opponents are to be reprimanded, it should be done in no uncertain terms. Yet it is important that it be done out of kindness, that is, the motive is to win the other person (2Tim 2:24-26).

Before in Pro 31:28-31 others speak about her, the last of her virtues that is pointed to is her watchfulness (Pro 31:27). She does not let herself be deceived by her prosperity, as if because of all her efforts and the desired results, she can now go on her way carefree. No, as she works, she keeps a close eye on everything in her home. There lies the focus of her pursuits. Everything revolves around her family.

She knows what each member of the family is doing. She is alert to who and what enters her family and what the consequences are. This allows her to intervene in time if she perceives something that threatens a family member’s devotion to serving God. Resting on her laurels is not one of them. Even when she is ‘successful’, she does not eat “the bread of idleness”. She does not withdraw complacently to look at the results of her efforts with a sense of self-satisfaction. Her task is not finished as long as she has a family to manage.

Nor should the church believe that all is well and no one can deprive her of the blessings she has. It is against this kind of complacency that Paul warns the Thessalonians. He says to them, while including himself: “So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1Thes 5:6). The command is: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with [an attitude of] thanksgiving” (Col 4:2), “and having done everything, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13).