Sunday, August 21, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31
The Sayings of King Lemuel
1These are the sayings of King Lemuel, an oracle F48 that his mother taught him.
2O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my promises, 3do not spend your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.
4And it is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave liquor. 5For if they drink, they may forget their duties and be unable to give justice to those who are oppressed. 6Liquor is for the dying, and wine for those in deep depression. 7Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. 9Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Notice she said women plural, we know why this is, both naturally and spiritually speaking. We are to give our bodies in living service to the one who created us and paid for us with His life. We are to love the Lord Our God with ALL of our strength, and when we love others this way, we jip God, we cannot do both, we’re not made that way. When we love God that way, we love people in a whole different light, in a way that does not give all we are up, leaving nothing for God, but to Christ we give all and what we need for others he gives us in a miraculous way, we could never do on our own strength apart from Him.Liquor is a dependency drink, if we depend on it, we do not depend on the Holy Spirit, and in depending on it, we grieve the Holy Spirit, because we are refusing to rely on Him, believing He is God and is able to help us out.This is intercession. How will one speak on behalf of others if one is not aware of others? This Does not mean fight and war with natural means for others, like shooting abortionists or yelling, screaming, throwing rocks at workers who in our personal opinion may be mistreating the elderly. It means PRAY, and be available to serve and educate in the spirit. (such as befriending a pregnant mother who is considering abortion, loving her praying for her and spending your life on and with her to lead her straight.) We live in such a violent society, that we actually think everything we take back for God has to be accomplished by physical or mental force, or by arguments. This is Not the way to walk in!

One day in a prayer meeting I saw so clearly how impossible it could be for one woman alone to be this virtuous woman, not that one woman could not be this valuable, but the tasks and duties seemed so extensive. I wondered how she would ever have time for sleep. As I was praying I saw the plural bride of Christ, the virtuous woman (singular = ONE. She is One because of the communion of God’s spirit inside of her individually, but plural in number, as in many, yet many as one could easily be this woman! I realized this is the Divine description of Christ’s bride, the church, this IS who we are in the prophetic way of how He sees us and this is how we should pray in line with His will about His body. Read this from that angle. You (plural and singular, as ONE) ARE this virtuous wife (men included!)

A Wife of Noble Character
10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. 11Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12She will not hinder him but help him all her life.
13She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14She is like a merchant's ship; she brings her food from afar. 15She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls. 16She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. 19Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
20She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
21She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm F49 clothes. 22She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth.
23Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.
24She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. 26When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. 27She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.
28Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. 31Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
FOOTNOTES:F48: Or of Lemuel, king of Massa. F49: As in Greek version; Hebrew scarlet.