The Husband

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The HusbandsPerfect Wife

• Proverbs 3110-31

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Rest in peaceuntil we meet again
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• If you are for pleasure, marry. If you prize
  rosy health, marry. A good wife is heavens last
  best gift to a man his angel of mercy minister
  of graces innumerable his gem of many virtues
  his box of jewels her voice, his sweetest music
  her smiles, his brightest day her kiss, the
  guardian of innocence her arms, the pale of his
  safety the balm of his health the balsam of his
  life her industry, his surest wealth her
  economy, his safest steward her lips, his
  faithful counselors...and her prayers, the ablest
  advocates of heavens blessing on his head.

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• The author of this mornings text knew well the
  peace tranquility wives bring.

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PROVERBS 3110-31

• The author of this mornings text knew well the
  peace tranquility wives bring.

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• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.

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• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).

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• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).
• We dont know who King Lemeul was.

9

• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).
• We dont know who King Lemeul was.
• It doesnt matter, for this are Spirit-inspired
  words.

10

• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).
• These words were originally taught to King Lemeul
  by his mother.

11

• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).
• These words were originally taught to King Lemeul
  by his mother.
• This is likely a poem that King Lemuels mother
  prepared to teach him whom he should marry.

12

• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).
• These words were originally taught to King Lemeul
  by his mother.
• This is likely a poem that King Lemuels mother
  prepared to teach him whom he should marry.
• This poem is an acrostic.

13

• Proverbs 31 was not composed by Solomon.
• The words of King Lemeul. An oracle that his
  mother taught him (v 1, ESV).
• These words were originally taught to King Lemeul
  by his mother.
• This is likely a poem that King Lemuels mother
  prepared to teach him whom he should marry.
• This poem is an acrostic. Therefore, it would
  have been easy to remember.

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Predictableprofitablepraiseworthy

• The perfect wife is

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The husbands perfect wife is predictable

• vv 11-12

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• Some things in this world are quite predictable.

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• Some things in this world are quite predictable.
• King Lemuels mother taught them that The Perfect
  Wife is predictable.

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• Some things in this world are quite predictable.
• King Lemuels mother taught them that The Perfect
  Wife is predictable.
• The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he
  will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and
  not harm, all the days of her life (v 11-12,
  ESV).

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• The husband will never have a lack of gain.

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• The husband will never have a lack of gain.
• The KJV translates this as he shall have no need
  of spoil.

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• The husband will never have a lack of gain.
• The KJV translates this as he shall have no need
  of spoil.
• The word is sometimes usedas seems to be the
  case hereto mean dishonest gain.

22

• The husband will never have a lack of gain.
• The KJV translates this as he shall have no need
  of spoil.
• The word is sometimes usedas seems to be the
  case hereto mean dishonest gain.
• The idea of trust goes quite well with dishonest
  gain.

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• The husband will never have a lack of gain.
• The Perfect Wife is predictable, for she makes
  her living honestly.

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• The husband will never have a lack of gain.
• The Perfect Wife is predictable, for she makes
  her living honestlyShe is never going to take
  advantage of someone.

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• The husband knows that his wife will do him good
  not evil all the days of her life.

26

• The husband knows that his wife will do him good
  not evil all the days of her life.
• She never brings reproach upon her husband.

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• The husband knows that his wife will do him good
  not evil all the days of her life.
• She never brings reproach upon her husband.
• No matter what the situation, The Perfect Wife
  will do the right thing.

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• Because The Perfect Wife is so predictable, the
  heart of her husband trusts her.

29

• Because The Perfect Wife is so predictable, the
  heart of her husband trusts her.
• He never has to worry about what shes doing.

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Sisters, how predictable are you?
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• The New Testament calls upon wives to be
  predictable.

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• The New Testament calls upon wives to be
  predictable.
• As the church submits to Christ, so also wives
  should submit in everything to their husbands
  (Eph 524, ESV).

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• The New Testament calls upon wives to be
  predictable.
• As the church submits to Christ, so also wives
  should submit in everything to their husbands
  (Eph 524, ESV). The Perfect Wife is
  predictableshe submits to her husband in
  everything.

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• The New Testament calls upon wives to be
  predictable.
• As the church submits to Christ, so also wives
  should submit in everything to their husbands
  (Eph 524, ESV).
• Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that
  even if some do not obey the word, they may be
  won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
  when they see your respectful and pure conduct
  (1 Pt 31-2, ESV).

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• The New Testament calls upon wives to be
  predictable.
• As the church submits to Christ, so also wives
  should submit in everything to their husbands
  (Eph 524, ESV).
• Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that
  even if some do not obey the word, they may be
  won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
  when they see your respectful and pure conduct
  (1 Pt 31-2, ESV). The Perfect Wife is
  predictableshe always has respectful and pure
  conduct.

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Trust in a marriage is so important.
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Trust in a marriage is so important.

• How predictable are we?

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The husbands perfect wife is profitable

• vv 13-27

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• She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing
  hands. She is like the ships of the merchant
  she brings her food from afar. She rises while
  it is yet night and provides food for her
  household and portions for her maidens. She
  considers a field and buys it with the fruit of
  her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses
  herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
  Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her
  hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the
  spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and
  reaches out her hands to the needy.

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• She is not afraid of snow for her household, for
  all her household are clothed in scarlet. She
  makes bed coverings for herself her clothing is
  fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in
  the gates when he sits among the elders of the
  land. She makes linen garments and sells them
  she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength
  and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at
  the time to come. She opens her mouth with
  wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her
  tongue. She looks well to the ways of her
  household and does not eat the bread of idleness
  (vv 13-27, ESV).

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• These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.

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• These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.
• Its intriguing that these verses present a
  businesswoman in a patriarchal society.

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• These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.
• Its intriguing that these verses present a
  businesswoman in a patriarchal society.
• Scripture only presents a handful of women who
  worked in business.

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• These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.
• Its intriguing that these verses present a
  businesswoman in a patriarchal society.
• Scripture only presents a handful of women who
  worked in business.
• Lydia was a seller of purple goods (Acts 1614,
  ESV).

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• These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.
• Its intriguing that these verses present a
  businesswoman in a patriarchal society.
• Scripture only presents a handful of women who
  worked in business.
• Lydia was a seller of purple goods (Acts 1614,
  ESV).
• Both Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers by
  trade (Acts 181-3, ESV).

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• These verses present a shrewd businesswoman.
• Its intriguing that these verses present a
  businesswoman in a patriarchal society.
• Scripture only presents a handful of women who
  worked in business.
• Lydia was a seller of purple goods (Acts 1614,
  ESV).
• Both Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers by
  trade (Acts 181-3, ESV).
• Women typically had no means of being
  self-sufficient.

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What are we to make of this woman?
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Why is this woman involved in business?

• The more appropriate question to ask is

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• The text answers that question Her husband is
  known in the gates when he sits among the elders
  of the land (v 23, ESV).

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• The text answers that question Her husband is
  known in the gates when he sits among the elders
  of the land (v 23, ESV).
• The elders played an important role in ancient
  Israel.

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• The text answers that question Her husband is
  known in the gates when he sits among the elders
  of the land (v 23, ESV).
• The elders played an important role in ancient
  Israel.
• According to the Law of Moses, they judged many
  cases even carried out the death penalty in
  some.

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• The text answers that question Her husband is
  known in the gates when he sits among the elders
  of the land (v 23, ESV).
• The elders played an important role in ancient
  Israel.
• According to the Law of Moses, they judged many
  cases even carried out the death penalty in
  some.
• The Perfect Wife has a husband who is fulfilling
  an important role among Gods people.

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• The text answers that question Her husband is
  known in the gates when he sits among the elders
  of the land (v 23, ESV).
• The elders played an important role in ancient
  Israel.
• According to the Law of Moses, they judged many
  cases even carried out the death penalty in
  some.
• The Perfect Wife has a husband who is fulfilling
  an important role among Gods people. Sitting at
  the citys gates, he is unable to provide
  financially for his family.

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what application can we make for today?
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what application can we make for today?

• The husband is fulfilling his role The Perfect
  Wife is helping him.

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• In this passage, we have the fulfillment of
  womans creation.

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• In this passage, we have the fulfillment of
  womans creation.
• It is not good that the man should be alone I
  will make him a helper fit for him (Gn 218,
  ESV).

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• In this passage, we have the fulfillment of
  womans creation.
• It is not good that the man should be alone I
  will make him a helper fit for him (Gn 218,
  ESV).
• The Hebrew word for helper basically means
  assistant.

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• In this passage, we have the fulfillment of
  womans creation.
• It is not good that the man should be alone I
  will make him a helper fit for him (Gn 218,
  ESV).
• The Hebrew word for helper basically means
  assistant.
• The Perfect Wife is assisting her husband so that
  he can sit at the citys gates.

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sisters, are you a profitable woman?
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sisters, are you a profitable woman?

• Are you helping your husband?

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the husbands perfect wife is praiseworthy

• vv 38-31

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• The Perfect Wife receives praise from three
  sources.

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• The Perfect Wife receives praise from three
  sources.
• Her children rise up and call her blessed her
  husband also, and he praises her Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all.
  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a
  woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give
  her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works
  praise her in the gates (vv 28-31, ESV).

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• The Perfect Wife receives praise from three
  sources.
• Her children rise up and call her blessed her
  husband also, and he praises her Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all.
  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a
  woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give
  her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works
  praise her in the gates (vv 28-31, ESV).
• She receives praise from her children, from her
  husband, from her works.

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• Its very telling that The Perfect Wifes
  children husband praise her.

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• Its very telling that The Perfect Wifes
  children husband praise her.
• They know her like no one else, but they praise
  her.

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.
• It would be difficult not to agree with the
  husband.

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.
• It would be difficult not to agree with the
  husband.
• This is a one-of-a-kind woman.

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.
• Im persuaded that each husband should be able to
  say these words to his wife.

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.
• Im persuaded that each husband should be able to
  say these words to his wife.
• But, doesnt the wording here making that
  impossible?

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.
• Im persuaded that each husband should be able to
  say these words to his wife.
• But, doesnt the wording here making that
  impossible?
• Thats the point.

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• The husband says to his Perfect Wife Many women
  have done excellently, but you surpass them all
  (v 29, ESV).
• Im not convinced that this text is pure
  hyperbole.
• Im persuaded that each husband should be able to
  say these words to his wife.
• But, doesnt the wording here making that
  impossible?
• Thats the point. Every wife should surpass
  every other woman in her husbands eyes.

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• The works of this woman also praise her.

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• The works of this woman also praise her.
• It seems that the husband praises his Perfect
  Wife in the citys gates so that everyone can
  hear.

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• The works of this woman also praise her.
• It seems that the husband praises his Perfect
  Wife in the citys gates so that everyone can
  hear.
• That isnt necessary, for her works praise her.

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• The works of this woman also praise her.
• It seems that the husband praises his Perfect
  Wife in the citys gates so that everyone can
  hear.
• That isnt necessary, for her works praise her.
• Yet, his testimony dovetails perfectly with his
  wifes works.

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• Our works speak volumes about us.

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• Our works speak volumes about us.
• Through his faith, though he died, he still
  speaks (Heb 114, ESV).

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• Our works speak volumes about us.
• Through his faith, though he died, he still
  speaks (Heb 114, ESV).
• The Perfect Wifes works speak volumes about
  faithfulness to God dedication to family.

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What do your works say about you?