THE WOMAN WHO IS PRAISEWORTHY
INTRODUCTION
A. An ACROSTIC is a poem or series of lines in which letters, usually the first in each line, form a name, motto, or message when read in sequence.
a. example of MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Drivers
b. example of Camp JOY – Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last
B. Why do we use acrostics? Answer: to aid in memorization & to highlight an assortment of qualities.
C. Did you know that the Bible contains an acrostic? It is found in Proverbs 31:10-31. In the Hebrew Bible, each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet until all 22 letters of its alphabet are used.
a. King Lemuel presents 22 praiseworthy things about the idea woman
b. he is not building an argument like in Romans, but stringing together pearls
D. As we want to honor mothers on this Lord’s Day, I would like to use Proverbs 31:10-31 as the means to do so.
I. THE ROOT CAUSE FOR A MOTHER BEING PRAISEWORHTY
A. (Psa.127:1) Behind every enduring structure, there has to be a good foundation. Behind every successful business there is hard work. And, behind every successful military campaign, there has to be careful planning.
B. What is the root cause of a mother who is praiseworthy? Lemuel’s answer - She is “a woman who fears the Lord” (v30b).
C. What does it mean to fear the Lord? When the Israelites gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai, God descended the mount with a demonstration of His majesty through a sound of a trumpet, lighting flashes, thunder rumblings, & the mountain shaking. The reaction of the Israelites was one of fear (Ex.20:19). Moses’ response to them was “…Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” (Ex.20:20).
a. they were told not to fear, yet they were to keep “His fear” before them
b. the “fear” they needed to get rid of was the fear of coming near to God, while the “fear” they needed to keep was that of respecting God’s power & His wrath against sin
c. the proper fear will drive a person to God for mercy
E. (Prov.14:1) Mothers, if you want to establish a strong home where love reigns supreme & no storm of life can collapse it, then be “a woman who fears the Lord” (Prov.1:7; 9:10).
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF A MOTHER WHO FEARS THE LORD
A. When a woman “fears the Lord,” you can expect the following:
a. her husband is blessed
a. trust is in her husband's heart (v11a)
b. she partners with her husband for the home’s well-being (v11b-18; Gen.2:18)
c. she brings him honor (v23; 12:4)
b. her children are blessed
a. she provides for their necessities (v21; 2Tim.1:3-5; 3:14,15)
b. she keeps a watchful eye over them (v27)
c. the poor are blessed - “extends” & “reaches” (v20)
d. she is govern by wisdom & kindness (v26)
B. (Prov.31:30) I have seen women who use “charm” & fool people. I have also seen women who use their “beauty” to get their way. But inevitably the “charm” & “beauty” ends & the person’s true nature come to light. It is only the woman who “fears the Lord” in which you can depend.
CONCLUSION
King Lemuel concluded his acrostic tribute with the words, “28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29“Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” 30Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”