The Woman of Proverbs 31 (#2)

In this part of the sermon: The first dominant virtue is a godly stability and trustworthiness of character, enabling her husband to trust her completely. This character is formed by anchoring attitudes in…

Martin quotes Martin Luther on his wife Katie, describing a pious, amiable, God-fearing spouse as the greatest gift, emphasizing the value of a trustworthy wife.

What she is on any given day, she is in all of her days. Luther said of his Katie, quote, The greatest gift of God is a pious, amiable spouse who fears God, loves his house, and with whom he can live in perfect confidence. Luther says, The greatest gift of God is a trustworthy wife. Proverbs 25, 19 sets forth the contrast.

15:17 - 15:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first dominant virtue is a godly stability and trustworthiness of character, enabling her husband to trust her completely. This character is formed by anchoring attitudes in…

Proverbs 25:19 is used as an analogy to describe the unreliability of an untrustworthy person, comparing it to a broken tooth or a foot out of joint, highlighting the pain and hindrance caused by unfaithfulness.

Where it speaks of the person who is not trustworthy. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. You try to run away from evil or towards some good and your foot is out of joint. You want to bite down on a nice juicy steak and your tooth is broken.

15:56 - 16:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second virtue is a godly attitude towards hard work and enterprising labor, evidenced by her willingness to work diligently, take initiative, and avoid idleness. Martin…

Martin contrasts the Proverbs 31 woman with a 'lady-in-waiting' who might be shown off but does not labor, emphasizing that the virtuous woman is not idle despite her social position.

And verse 27b. She does not eat the bread of idleness. Though she's in a socio and economic position where she could have been the lady-in-waiting, to be shown off by her husband at state affairs and public gatherings. No!

19:07 - 19:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second virtue is a godly attitude towards hard work and enterprising labor, evidenced by her willingness to work diligently, take initiative, and avoid idleness. Martin…

The saying 'idle hands are the devil's workshop' is used to illustrate how idleness, particularly for women, can lead to gossip and busybody behavior, making the tongue an instrument of evil.

Because, he says, if they are not look at verse 13 of 1 Timothy 5 and with all they learn to be idle. And what grows out of their idleness? Going about from house to house and not only idle but tattlers also and busybodies speaking things which they ought not. When their hands are not engaged in hard work and enterprising labor the devil sees to it that their tongues become his instrument for evil among the people of God.

21:08 - 21:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third virtue is a godly ability to organize and structure her time and tasks to fulfill responsibilities with efficiency. This is seen in her early rising, preparedness for…

Martin recounts his wife's description of the Ingalls/Wilder household's structured weekly tasks (wash day, iron day, etc.) from the Little House on the Prairie series, illustrating how organization was essential for managing household duties in the 1860s without modern conveniences.

And the whole aspect of God being an orderly God just oozes through the whole creation account. It is a godlike quality. And there is no way that a totally disorganized, avalpated woman can begin to fulfill, her manifold task as wife, mother, and homemaker if there is no cultivation of this virtue of organization and structure of time and task. Now, my wife is a great lover of the Little House on the Prairie series.

31:33 - 32:09 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If they fundamentally disrupt domestic order, junk them.

Martin quotes Bridges on the principle of order in the virtuous woman's household, emphasizing that nothing belonging to order, sobriety, economy, or general management is neglected.

But nonetheless, there was the kind of structure that made it possible for them to carry on their tasks. Listen to Bridges' comments. In her household, order is the principle of her rule. Timely orders are given, and they must be obeyed.

33:29 - 33:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The seventh virtue is a godly perspective concerning the relationship between inward piety and outward appearance. She makes her home and herself attractive, not for vanity, but…

Martin contrasts the use of 'cushions of tapestry' by the seductress in Proverbs 7 to entice a young man with the Proverbs 31 woman's use of them to make her marriage bed attractive to her husband, illustrating a godly perspective on marital intimacy and aesthetic beauty.

Upon herself and things external. Now let's park for a minute. What are these cushions or carpets of tapestry? Well, Solomon has already used that terminology in exact parallel phrase.

46:51 - 47:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Frumpiness is not godliness.

Martin describes a hypothetical demonstration of 'frumpiness' (pulling hair down, loosening tie, shirt tail out, slouching) to visually explain what it means and to contrast it with godly modesty.

You know what frumpiness is? You know what frumpiness is? If you don't know. I'm sorely tempted to show you.

50:32 - 50:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Frumpiness is not godliness.

Martin notes the congregation's nervous laughter at the idea of a husband being ashamed of his wife's appearance, highlighting the unspoken acknowledgment of the link between a wife's appearance and a husband's pride.

You're laughing. Why are you laughing? Because there's a nervous acknowledgement that there is indeed a relationship between a husband's genuine pride in his wife and her unfrumpiness. Now listen to Bridges.

51:32 - 51:52 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Frumpiness is not godliness.

Martin quotes Bridges on the balance between inward piety and outward appearance, arguing that sobriety in dress does not mean neglecting exterior grace, which is a component of an attractive profession and commands a husband's respect.

They say the old writers were puritanic and prudish. Listen to Bridges. This is a beautiful comment. Her clothing is silk and purple.

51:52 - 52:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for these virtues and ask God to give you keen eyes to see them in a potential wife, and to see through deceitful grace and vain beauty.

Martin shares his personal experience of being initially taken with his wife's face and form, but quickly seeing her inner virtue, and how after 46 years, they both know that 'grace is deceitful and beauty is vain' as wrinkles and gray hair come.

She wasn't parading her pretty face and her fair form. I was taken with it nonetheless. But it wasn't long before I saw beneath that face and form was virtue. And after 46 years, we know by experience grace is deceitful and beauty is vain.

62:35 - 63:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for these virtues and ask God to give you keen eyes to see them in a potential wife, and to see through deceitful grace and vain beauty.

Martin uses the example of using hair dye (Clairol) to fight the reality of aging, noting that there comes a point where it looks ridiculous, illustrating the vanity of trying to cling to fading beauty.

The wrinkles come. The hair turns gray. And it's only for so long that Clare-All can help you. There comes a point where you continue to use it and you look ridiculous.

63:08 - 63:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He then addresses young boys and single men, encouraging them to pray for these virtues in themselves and for keen eyes to discern them in a potential wife, looking beyond…

Martin quotes Beveridge, who argues that choosing a spouse for beauty leads to fleeting love, but choosing for virtue ensures lasting happiness, reinforcing the sermon's emphasis on inner character.

But these things should be the grid through which you pass your assessment of any woman upon whom you are contemplating setting your eyes. And setting your heart. Listen again to Bridges. Let virtue not beauty be the primary object.

63:56 - 64:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Impart the wisdom of Lemuel's mother to your daughters, nurturing them to think in biblical categories and cultivating these virtues through painstaking, hands-on parenting.

The cultivation of virtues in children is compared to the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, emphasizing that it happens 'a drop at a time,' requiring painstaking, consistent effort from parents.

Generally speaking, they are inculcated like stalactites and stalagmites. A drop at a time. A drop at a time. A drop at a time.

65:23 - 65:33 Read in full sermon