A Wife's Lamp

September 7th, 2006

Today is my wife’s birthday.

Proverbs 31:1-31
The sayings of King Lemuel - an oracle his mother taught him: “O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel - not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 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. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I want my wife to feel loved. She is loved by me, by her son, by those around her, and by God. She has a healthy fear of God. I love this line, “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” I feel that describes her in so many ways.

Proverbs 31:11 full confidence:
bâṭach (verb)

• To trust


• To trust, trust in


• To have confidence, be confident


• To be bold


• To be secure


• To cause to trust, make secure


• To feel safe, be careless


• Figuratively to trust, be confident or sure: - be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

“Her lamp does not go out at night.” Now, there are several directions with this verse… she works all night long, which is probably the most talked about with it. But when I read it, I thought of something else entirely.

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’”

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’”

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’”

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.”

“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’”

“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

I thought of this because she’s prepared. She knows what to do in most situations and she has great spiritual advice in times of despair. A great encouragement to me and I know she’s a great encouragement to others. She has a good lamp and she has the oil to keep it burning. And when the bridegroom comes, she’ll be ready. I sure do love that woman. Well, uuuhhh… Johnny Out.