GOD’S WISDOM FOR YOU
PROVERBS 31:18
18 In her experience, her trade is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
Hebrew has two or three ways of pronouncing the letter T. This verse begins with the hard T-sound, tet, in the word ta’amah, “she experiences.” Here we see that she has experienced that what she does, her trade (or “profits,” Isaiah 23:18) is beneficial. This is not just financial trading, but everything she does.
“Her lamp does not go out” carries our minds to the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). In the parable, the lamps are faith, the vessels in which we keep God’s grace. The foolish virgins did not tend to their lamps, and when the cry rang out, “Here comes the groom!” they were not ready. The arrival of the groom is the arrival of Christ on judgment day. Those who will be found without faith will be left out of paradise, and Christ will say, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you” (Matthew 25:12). Our Proverb can be applied the same way, even if it isn’t Solomon’s main point. The heroic wife does many things for her husband and her family, and they are profitable in many ways. Keeping her lamp burning takes a little effort, but not much. It really takes a little bit of time each day, every day, without fail. It’s the regular habit of doing what is necessary that allows her children to live comfortable, healthy childhoods in an environment where they can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. They will know the value of a good meal, of good exercise, of a good education, and of their Christian faith. All of those things will reinforce one another, making each child well-rounded, well-read, and well-adjusted for life in God’s creation.
There is another side to the heroic wife’s lamp burning through the night. In the next verse, we will hear about the extra work she does at home (spinning yarn and linen), work that lasts into the night. We will leave that work for that verse, but we see that the ideal wife and mother doesn’t demand “me” time after so many hours of being there for her children. She is wise enough to spend time on herself, on her children, on her marriage, and on various kinds of work. She will learn to enjoy herself while she does some of those things, involving the children by teaching them what she is doing, so that if a day comes when she cannot do one thing or another, her husband and children can pick up the work without there being a crisis.
I have seen my own dear wife doing many things year after year, sometimes with my help, sometimes with our sons’ help, and sometimes alone. In the fall she puts plastic on the windows. She spends hours every weekend raking. She spends her summers pulling weeds from our yard by hand, day by day, because she doesn’t like to use chemical weed killer. She tends her little garden outside, the flower beds around the house, and the plants she has growing indoors. We divide the labor of caring for our pet cats: She takes care of what goes in, and I take care of what comes out. She makes appointments for them, and I drive them there. We share the duty of wrestling them into the cat carriers and tend each other’s wounds.
When we started talking about a fourth child, it was my wife’s idea to add onto the house: a four-foot expansion of one bedroom, the bathroom, and our dining area. It was big enough to make a little more space and small enough that we could afford to do it. It is her constant industry, effort and wisdom that manages such things. These are just a few examples in our life together. I pray that you have many other examples from your own life. Praise your spouse for what they do and for their accomplishments. Give glory to God for it all. God’s idea in bringing men and women together in marriage was to give Adam an ‘ezer, a “helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18). This kind of helper is someone to bring help and advantage (contrast the lack of such help in Isaiah 30:5, someone who brings only “shame and disgrace”). An ‘ezer gives what is needed: strength for the warrior (Psalm 89:19), aid to family or neighbors (Deuteronomy 33:5), spiritual help for those who doubt or are persecuted (Daniel 11:34), or whatever help there might be to give. God told Israel, “If you see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet” (Deuteronomy 22:4).
Thank God for your husband; for your wife. Let them know how dear they are to you, and the many things that they do that you notice and appreciate. Men, show your wives that you know and love the way that they are ideal for you, and that God was glorious and righteous in his gift for you. May you always appreciate and praise his holy name for your heroic wife.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
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Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota