So I have had this word web on my heart for a while, ever since @queenlucythevaliant pointed out that Proverbs 31 is treated as a Text Applying Only to (Married or Future Married) Women and I thought "too true ā shouldn't this be about the Church?" Unfortunately I have no skill in making webs so you will have to put up with me using bold and not-bold regular Tumblr text instead.
A wife of noble character who can find?
Ā Ā Ā Ā She is worth far more than rubies.
This is a profound mysteryābut I am talking about Christ and the church.
Her husband has full confidence in her
Ā Ā Ā Ā and lacks nothing of value.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
She brings him good, not harm,
Ā Ā Ā Ā all the days of her life.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
She selects wool and flax
Ā Ā Ā Ā and works with eager hands.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
She is like the merchant ships,
Ā Ā Ā Ā bringing her food from afar.
The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
She gets up while it is still night;
Ā Ā Ā Ā she provides food for her family
Ā Ā Ā Ā and portions for her female servants.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
She considers a field and buys it;
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Ā Ā Ā Ā out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes?
She sets about her work vigorously;
Ā Ā Ā Ā her arms are strong for her tasks.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
Ā Ā Ā Ā and her lamp does not go out at night.
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
In her hand she holds the distaff
Ā Ā Ā Ā and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
She opens her arms to the poor
Ā Ā Ā Ā and extends her hands to the needy.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
Ā Ā Ā Ā for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
She makes coverings for her bed;
Ā Ā Ā Ā she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
Ā Ā Ā Ā where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
Ā Ā Ā Ā and supplies the merchants with sashes.
Make tunics, sashes and caps for Aaron's sons to give them dignity and honor./But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light./Honor one another above yourselves.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā she can laugh at the days to come.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
She speaks with wisdom,
Ā Ā Ā Ā and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
She watches over the affairs of her household
Ā Ā Ā Ā and does not eat the bread of idleness.
On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
Ā Ā Ā Ā her husband also, and he praises her:
āMany women do noble things,
Ā Ā Ā Ā but you surpass them all.ā
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
Ā Ā Ā Ā but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
Ā Ā Ā Ā and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
āHallelujah!
Ā Ā Ā Ā For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
Ā Ā Ā Ā and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
Ā Ā Ā Ā and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
Ā Ā Ā Ā was given her to wear.ā
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of Godās holy people.)
taken from Proverbs 31 and Ephesians 5, Ephesians 1, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 21, Acts 2, Matthew 13, 1 Corinthians 9, Hebrews 12, Matthew 13 (again), Matthew 25 (twice), Acts 2 (again), Galatians 3, Colossians 3, Revelation 4, Exodus 28/1 Peter 2/Romans 12, Ephesians 6, Romans 8, Titus 1, 2 Thessalonians 3, Revelation 19. All quotations NIV.
