Pro 31:13 | KingComments | STEP | In , the enumeration of activities begins. She appears to be a wife of whom the adornment, “as it suits women who confess to be pious”, consists of “good works” ( ). Her first concern is that the family be well clothed ( ). She neither buys the clothes nor outsources the making of them. She might well do that because, after all, she has the means to do so. She does not even buy the fabrics for the clothing in the market, but the raw materials “wool and flax”, to make the fabric herself. Even purchasing the raw materials she does with care. “She looks for”, meaning she tries to get the best material. Once she has the raw materials, she goes to work. She does not work reluctantly, but with pleasure. This is evident from the expression that she “works with her hands in delight”. Wool comes from sheep and flax grows on the land. Wool is made into clothing that keeps the body warm when it is cold. From flax, linen is made for airy clothing more suitable for warmer days. She has the appropriate clothing for every temperature. As a spiritual application, the following can be said of this. If it is about the wool, it indicates that the church is a place where there is a warm or loving interest in each member. Linen represents righteous deeds ( ). The church is also a place where each is given what he is entitled to. Each is recognized for his specific qualities. Space is given to develop them. The church looks for that. That means that the church prays for that. It seeks from the Lord what it needs to radiate loving interest and justice. In addition to providing clothing, she also provides food ( ). Just as she diligently seeks out the materials for the clothing she makes, she also diligently seeks out the food. In her search for it, she is compared, not to “a merchant ship” but to “merchant ships”. There is versatility in her activities to get food. She takes the best from everywhere. It is “her food” and she “brings” it “from afar”. It is food from which she lives and which she also gives to her house. She has no food for her household members other than what she herself eats. The spiritual application is about the spiritual food for the church and for all who belong to it. That food comes “from afar”, from heaven, where Christ is. He nourishes and cherishes the church ( ), that is, He gives it food and warmth. The food must not only be purchased but also prepared and put on the table ( ). For breakfast, this must be done before everyone wakes up and comes to the table. She does not instruct the maidens to prepare and set everything, but she does it herself. For that, she gets out of bed early. She wants to make sure that her husband, her children and also the maidens start the day with a good meal. The church is made up of believers who aim to serve each other with the food of God’s Word. They realize they need each other in this. One learns from the other. The believers are not only members of God’s house with all the privileges that go with it, but they also all have a task. To perform that task well, they need the strength of the food of God’s Word. Each receives his assigned portion, as much as is needed to perform the service.

‏ Proverbs 31:13

She Provides Clothing and Food

In Pro 31:13, the enumeration of activities begins. She appears to be a wife of whom the adornment, “as it suits women who confess to be pious”, consists of “good works” (1Tim 2:10). Her first concern is that the family be well clothed (Pro 31:13). She neither buys the clothes nor outsources the making of them. She might well do that because, after all, she has the means to do so. She does not even buy the fabrics for the clothing in the market, but the raw materials “wool and flax”, to make the fabric herself. Even purchasing the raw materials she does with care. “She looks for”, meaning she tries to get the best material.

Once she has the raw materials, she goes to work. She does not work reluctantly, but with pleasure. This is evident from the expression that she “works with her hands in delight”. Wool comes from sheep and flax grows on the land. Wool is made into clothing that keeps the body warm when it is cold. From flax, linen is made for airy clothing more suitable for warmer days. She has the appropriate clothing for every temperature.

As a spiritual application, the following can be said of this. If it is about the wool, it indicates that the church is a place where there is a warm or loving interest in each member. Linen represents righteous deeds (Rev 19:8). The church is also a place where each is given what he is entitled to. Each is recognized for his specific qualities. Space is given to develop them.

The church looks for that. That means that the church prays for that. It seeks from the Lord what it needs to radiate loving interest and justice.

In addition to providing clothing, she also provides food (Pro 31:14). Just as she diligently seeks out the materials for the clothing she makes, she also diligently seeks out the food. In her search for it, she is compared, not to “a merchant ship” but to “merchant ships”. There is versatility in her activities to get food. She takes the best from everywhere. It is “her food” and she “brings” it “from afar”. It is food from which she lives and which she also gives to her house. She has no food for her household members other than what she herself eats.

The spiritual application is about the spiritual food for the church and for all who belong to it. That food comes “from afar”, from heaven, where Christ is. He nourishes and cherishes the church (Eph 5:29), that is, He gives it food and warmth.

The food must not only be purchased but also prepared and put on the table (Pro 31:15). For breakfast, this must be done before everyone wakes up and comes to the table. She does not instruct the maidens to prepare and set everything, but she does it herself. For that, she gets out of bed early. She wants to make sure that her husband, her children and also the maidens start the day with a good meal.

The church is made up of believers who aim to serve each other with the food of God’s Word. They realize they need each other in this. One learns from the other. The believers are not only members of God’s house with all the privileges that go with it, but they also all have a task. To perform that task well, they need the strength of the food of God’s Word. Each receives his assigned portion, as much as is needed to perform the service.