In “Proverbs 31: Part Nine”, we learned about this woman's husband. He’s on the counsel of elders, a prestigious position. That will factor in, in a little bit here.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:25-27 — New International Version
Oh, lawdy! The theobros are not gonna like this part. It says she has strength. That does nor denote the quiet, malleable women they try to pretend make “good, Christian wives.” Strength doesn't come from acting like a doormat. This particular part of the chapter is simply read over, but never really discussed. Things that make you go 🤔hmmm….
The fact that she speaks wisdom with kindness isn’t acknowledged either. That would mean it would have to be admitted that women are worth listening to. Being the wife of an elder of the land would mean others would seek her out for wise counsel and advice. (The theobros need a moment to collect themselves from the floor.) This is not a narrative that patriarchal Christians are willing to accept. It’s quite bewildering how little knowledge most of them actually have of the Bible and what it really says. Yet…some of them hold “pulpit positions” and hold sway over others. And “they, like sheep, have gone astray” because they don't seek out their own relationship with God by studying the Word of God for themselves.
This depicts someone who isn't worried about her future. She knows Who has knowledge of the outcome. If only it were that easy IRL….
Idleness here isn't pertaining to physical laziness. It’s pertaining to gossip, discontent, self-pity, i.e. the laziness of taking the easy way out.
Gossip is borne from the laziness of not finding out facts and, instead, passing on false tidbits of information. It is, after all, easier to do that than find out the truth. Gossip is named a sin for a reason, yet people are busy pointing fingers at those they’re gossiping about (perceived sinners), all while sinning themselves by engaging in gossip, thus, giving true Christians a bad reputation. This is an example of why people think Christians are hypocrites. And when it’s pointed out, instead of going to God with a humble heart and asking for forgiveness they just shrug 🤷♀️ and say, “Well, no one’s perfect.” And that is a case in point of a cold and unrepentant heart. No concern with those they hurt with their gossip, only for making excuses why they won't go to God for forgiveness.
Discontent is borne out of the laziness of not changing. If someone is unhappy with something; their circumstances, their job, their weight, etc. they’ll do something about it. A lazy person makes excuses why they can't change and then proceeds to whine and complain. It then leads them into bitterness, envy, and hatred of others who are happy, because they choose to stay in misery and can’t stand to see others thriving, since they refuse to thrive themselves. Their life then revolves around trying to sabotage others and bring them down to their level. “Misery loves company,” and all that. This person should be avoided at all costs. They are toxic.
Self-pity comes from the laziness of not taking responsibility for one’s actions. This person blames everyone else for their problems. It’s a narcissistic trait that I know too well. My abuser loved engaging in this game…and still does with others.
That’s what it is to this person…a game. They like to see how long they can play the victim before someone calls them out. And the person who calls them out and stands up to them WILL suffer the consequences. I was that person, unfortunately, and had my kids taken from me, my whole life turned upside down, and the abuser was aided by his ultra religious family (a.k.a. a cult) who talk about God, but don’t really know Him. Since their whole reputation is built on lies (I know how they behave outside of church; it’s not Christlike), others believed the lies they told about me, and it was accepted as truth. I mentioned something particularly vile in “Proverbs 31: Part Two”, which they then subsequently took out their anger on one of my kids for telling me the truth. Not repentant at all for something they knew was wrong. And it caused my child to back track and claim what they told me wasn't true and everything they had previously confessed to, were lies. That’s the power this cult has. From what I understand, they were most upset by the fact that “people know who they are.” So…you know, their reputations could be ruined….by something they shouldn't have done in the first place! But they aren’t concerned with their hearts. In fact, they further spread their evilness by sending messages to a few of my friends...who didn’t believe them, and told me immediately. I learned a lot about myself I didn’t know like, I had made death threats and caused physical harm to them. They're all literally twice my size so I dunno how that was supposed to work. I do think they got the death threat idea because in my journal…the same one they had my kids photograph pages from…I did repeatedly ask God to take them out and annhiliate them… not unlike some of the Psalms King David wrote about his own oppressors. (I guess they don't read the Psalms…or maybe they do and that's what scared them….) I do see why they would be scared, knowing they incurred God’s wrath with their behavior toward me, His daughter. But, like the good, patriarchal society they are, they can’t possibly confess that out loud. I don’t think they know that gossip, slander, and flat out lying are sins….🤦♀️
This woman is then lauded with looking out for the affairs of her household. We already know that she cares for them physically and spiritually. This part alludes to her being a trusted person to come to with issues or concerns. She is someone her children, husband, and even her servants can come to for advice and a listening ear.
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. Proverbs 10:31, 32 — King JamesVersion
Ouch! Paints quite the picture, doesn't it? Fair warning: God’s not messing around!
Froward: Hebrew: tahpuka (tah-poo-caw); a perversity or fraud: — froward, very froward, frowardness, froward thing, perverse thing
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. Psalm 37:30 — New International Version
Succinct verses are the best!! They leave no room for misinterpretation. 😉
Remember, this is for true Christians, not the posers who go around making people feel bad “in God’s name.” To quote Wat in A Knight's Tale, “William, that's blasphemous.” Yes, yes it is blasphemous to willingly misrepresent God for your own agenda.
“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37 — Revised Standard Version
First of all, I don't think it's ever a good thing when Jesus calls someone a brood of vipers. These are red letter words in some versions, meaning words actually spoken by Jesus Himself. It’s not being told second-hand from someone else. Shame on those who don't heed them. He’s speaking to the Pharisees here — ya know, religious leaders, whom He’s not fond of [I always say Jesus wasn't ‘religious’ for this very reason] — so if a person's guilty of this, they are no better than the Pharisees. I know more than a few people like this. This goes along with what I said a little bit ago: if you mentally focus on positive things, you’ll speak encouragement. But if you’re a bitter person, your words will be like spewed poison, harming everyone in your path because you choose to be a miserable person.
CHRISTIANS!! Be careful with your words!! Jesus doesn't lie. Giving account of our words should be a Very. Sobering. Prospect. Some will be frightened, with good reason. Others know they have nothing to worry about. The words you speak will either trap you and trip you up, or they will set you free. The choice is yours.
I find it quite noteworthy that Jesus calls the religious leaders evil. And being that He follows this with warnings about speech, He means it. They. Are. Evil. Sounds familiar….
Remember: words eventually reveal a person's true character
On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding. Wise men store up knowledge, but with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand. Proverbs 10:13, 14 — New American Standard Bible
This reminds me of another Proverb: Spare the rod, spoil the child. Maybe if the evil/foolish person had been disciplined as a child, they wouldn't have turned out evil and foolish. Throughout the Bible, evil and foolish go hand in hand. It doesn't seem that God views foolishness as something silly, i.e. a court jester-type; imbecile, idiot, moron. He views foolishness as evilness, wickedness.
F O O L I S H N E S S
Wise people know when to speak up and when to shut up. Fools open their mouths with folly. Everyone probably knows someone who's bragged about something they did, thinking they’d never get caught, but their words out them because they can’t keep their mouths shut. It's basic psychology. The person who did the deed can’t keep it to themselves because they think they are smarter than everyone else. In other words, they cause their own destruction. The Bible calls them fools. It’s like God has a degree in psychology or something…. 🤔
The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the [self-confident] fool pours out folly. Proverbs 15:2 — Amplified Bible
God’s Words - not mine! 😉
This one reminds me of the “Christians” who spew out their “knowledge”, but are really turning people against God because they act nothing like Him, thus missing the whole point! They act judgmental and holier-than-thou, then get confused when people don't listen to what they have to say. No wonder people think Christians are hypocrites!
Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness; they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future. Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 — New Living Translation
I listen to a lot of true crime, and you know what this reminds me of? When the killer is finally caught and they immediately start tripping themselves up with lies, all while trying to prove their innocence. BTW, murderers are most definitely wicked and evil. Lies upon lies upon lies… that's what foolishly wicked people do. They can't keep their stories straight or their mouths shut, and so confuse themselves in the telling, because they don't even know where their own words are taking them! You know who doesn't have to worry about that? A wise person. It’s much easier to remember facts than a made up story.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. Proverbs 14:3 — New Analytical Edition
A wise person’s words will be proven true. They will save them because the truth will set you free!
A fool’s words come back to bite them.
Hebrew: Rod: sebet (tsz-ee-bet): from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan: - correction, dart, rod, scepter, staff, tribe
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. Proverbs 12:6 — New International Version
A fool thinks they can use a person's words against them. And they can't wait to gossip! They. Are. Out. For. Blood. Do not trust a gossip!
But a wise person’s words are truth and can’t be used to entrap them. The truth will always prevail and thwart the enemy - the wicked’s lies. Lies are an abomination to God.
Hebrew: Abomination: to'ebah (tow-ee-bah): “abomination; loathsome, detestable thing”; properly, something disgusting (morally), an abhorrence - abominable, abominable custom, abominable thing, abomination
When used in reference to God, this is anything; people, things, acts, relationships, characteristics that are detestable to Him because they are contrary to Who He is. He cannot be in the presence of sinful things. So, don’t disgust God.
Have a blessed day!