The Virtuous Wife (verse 27)

Proverbs 31:27 NKJV
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
She sees to it that no-one in her household goes without food, no-one is treated unfairly, no-one goes without warm garments...
Idle: (of a person) avoiding work; lazy, and, without purpose or effect; pointless, and, spend time doing nothing. (Google).

Do not covet

Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. NKJV

Deuteronomy 5:21 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. NKJV

Covet: yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another). (Google).

The children of God knew these laws. 

If we now look at the Book of Joshua in the Bible we see that Achan admits to coveting a Babylonian item and silver and gold. 

The instruction for the beautiful Babylonian garment was to abstain from it so that God's child did not become accursed and so that Israel did not become accursed. Joshua 6:18.

Accused: under a curse. (Google)

The instruction for the silver and gold was that it was consecrated to the LORD; these items were to come into the treasury of the LORD.

Achan coveted something accursed, and something of the LORD's. 

He knew that he had done wrong, as he hid it - buried it - kept it secret. 

So Achan not only coveted something accursed (which was going to affect his whole nation), he also coveted something that belonged to God.

So who did it affect? 

• Himself.
• His family.
• His livelihood.
• His nation. 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 26)

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She is wise, but not in her own wisdom. 
Wisdom comes from the LORD. Proverbs Chapters 2-3. 

She speaks kindness.

 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 25)

Proverbs 31:25 NKJV

Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come. 

She wears strength and honor like a garment.

Because of this, she will not be ashamed in time to come.

The Virtuous Wife (verse 24)

Proverbs 31:24 NKJV
She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

The Virtuous Wife (verse 23)

Proverbs 31:23 NKJV
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
The gates were important places. 

• They were places of watching and being watched. 
• People would come and go through the gates of cities and towns constantly. 
• It was a place where the elders would gather.
• Transactions, oath taking and/or judging would often be done at the gates in front of the elders (as witnesses).   

Her husband is known to others when he goes and sits among the elders of the land. He is known in the community. 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 22)

Proverbs 31:22 NKJV
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She does not sit idle. Idle: (of a person) avoiding work; lazy, and, without purpose or effect; pointless. (Google).

The Virtuous Wife (verse 21)

Proverbs 31:21 NKJV

She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

This wife is not worried about the winter each year in regards to those in her household. For she makes sure that everyone in her household has scarlet to wear. 
Scarlet = woolen cloth.
Scarlet = good quality garments.
Scarlet = more expensive. 
Scarlet = warmth. 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 20)

Proverbs 31:20 NKJV

She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She sees and helps not just those in her own household but also those who are outside of her household. 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 19)

Proverbs 31:19 NKJV

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle. 

The distaff and the spindle are both related to the spinning of flax or wool, into yarn. This is the physical meaning. 

But, yet again, I find another meaning, which is directly linked to the female.

The word, distaff, was/is also used to refer to the female side of the family. 

There are distaff races, in which all female horses race.

 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 18)

Proverbs 31:18 (NKJV)

She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

She deems that her merchandise is of good quality. 

Her lamp does not going out by night. Again, this could be literal. She works through the night to produce her good quality merchandise.

There may be another thought here. In Matthew 25:1-10. 

What keeps a lamp burning, is the oil. 

She is prepared. 

She has enough oil to keep her lamp burning through the night, so that she can be completely ready for when it's time to go.

The Virtuous Wife (verse 17)

Proverbs 31:17 NKJV

She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

Gird: secure (a garment or sword) on the body with a belt or band, and, surround; encircle. (Google).

Strengthening her arms could of course be literal, for heavy work and/or a heavy workload. 

But it is interesting that this verse is in between two verses about her business ventures. Strengthens her arms, may refer to different arms of her businesses.   

The Virtuous Wife (verse 16)

Proverbs 31:16

She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

Consider: think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision. (Google).

She doesn't make rash decisions.

She does not squander her profit. Rather she secures something that is of benefit to her household.

The Virtuous Wife (Verse 15)

Proverbs 31:15

She also rises while it is yet night, 
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

This wife does not slumber if there is a need to rise while it is still dark and prepare food for those in her household.  

She sees it as ennobling. 

A Well Laid Track

Before a train can move, a track has to be laid. 

The track has to be strong, sturdy, and immovable.

We focus on the train, 

but the track is equally important.

Have you laid your track?

Philippians 4:8-9, Colossians 2:6-7, 1 Peter 5:9, 2 Peter 1:5-8.