Lesson 10 on biblical submission...

Proverbs 31:17 - She Can Dress Herself

(This Scripture-Picture was lovingly created by Lori @ I Will Take It Lord, All You Have to Give. Please be sure to click on this Scripture-Picture to visit her site and encourage her in accordance with Hebrews 10:24 & Galatians 6:6)

Today we will magnify Proverbs 31:17 and break it up into three delicious morsels, so we can fully savor the richness of this very, very short verse. It always amazes me how I often need so many words to make a little point, but our brilliant Father God can use so few words (only ten [10] in this verse) to make such a large statement. I found it peculiarly interesting that within the 22 verse acrostical poem of the Proverbs 31 woman, there are three (3) verses that contain exactly 10 words: Proverbs 31:13, and Proverbs 31:29, and the verse we're meditating on today, Proverbs 31:17. Very interesting, but we must move on.

The three (3) delicious morsels are:

1. She dresses herself.
2. She dresses herself with strength.
3. She makes her arms strong.

She Dresses Herself

A Proverbs 31, Biblically submissive wife, knows how to dress herself. The Hebrew phrase for "she dresses herself" is translated "she girds her loins". To "gird one's loins" is an idiom meaning: to prepare oneself for something requiring readiness, strength, or endurance. Wow, that does not sound like a weak-willed or stupid woman, does it?

Therefore, she dresses herself and does not require, nor does she expect others (i.e., her husband, children, friends, or anyone) to make it easy for her to live as God calls her and has already equipped her to live according to His word, as a Princess of The King of kings and the Lord of lords.

She does not use any worldly excuse to flaunt her freedom in Christ in order to be unsubmissive to her husband and find a way to disregard his guidance and position of spiritual head over her because she has "discovered" Scripture that she feels has set her free. Let me make this point clear, there is no such Scripture. God does not contradict Himself. If He states in one place (although God repeats this concept numerous times) that He commands wives to be submissive to their husbands (even if their husbands do not obey the Word), then you can be assured no Scripture exists that will contradict this command.

"Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants [bondservants] of God."
1 Peter 2:16

The Greek word used in 1 Peter 2:16 is "bondservant", which is actually different from a "servant".

bondservant n. ~ 1. a person who serves in bondage; slave; 2. a person bound to service without wages

servant n. ~ 1. a person employed by another, esp. to perform domestic duties.

Before you read this next verse I want you to know, you're going to need to dress yourself. Dress yourself with humility and an open and malleable heart because this Scripture below is certainly not a "feel good" Word from our Lord, but is good and perfect as He is good and perfect. This passage will be used to conform us more into the beautiful image of Christ our Savior, our First Love.

I trust that those of you who have traveled this far with me down this narrow and challenging path of Biblical submission are now ready to take and eat this very solid piece of food. Okay, have you properly dressed yourself? Then, let's go....

"Will any one of you who has a servant [bondservant] plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly [gird yourself], and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.' "
Luke 17:7-10 (emphasis added)

I hope you can see how necessary it was for me to share this Word from our merciful and kind Lord with you today. Many of you who are currently taking this study are not living in the "model Christian" marriage and I know how much harder it is for you to endure. Although this passage from Luke may have brought tears to your eyes and caused your heart to hurt, please know that because it is the Word of God, it is also used for great healing and to bring you comfort - especially during the most difficult times when your do not receive any affirmation from anyone for your faithfulness, love and devotion to Christ. Dear one, know that our Lord is not one that is far away, but grieves with you and weeps with you. Allow Christ our Lord to comfort you and affirm you when no one else on this earth will. For our husbands are our earthly husbands, but Christ Jesus, the King, the Son of the Most High God, has betrothed us to Himself, and we are His and He cherishes us with a love no man on earth can ever match, for the man Jesus alone is God.

Having this knowledge, we are honored to be called bondservants of Christ, as we strive to live according to His commands out of pure love and gratitude for Who He Is and what He has done for us...without expecting anything in return. A Proverbs 31, Biblically submissive wife receives her full reward in Christ Jesus that produces a joy that is hid in God our Father, so that no one can steal it nor will it fade away. For she does not pursue "happiness" as it is man-made and can be stolen and will fade away. No, instead she is at peace and full of confidence because one of her greatest strengths, is joy in the Lord. Being a wise woman, she is well aware that her marriage, her family and her life was not lovingly created by God for her to simply be happy, but to make her holy.

"And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:10c

Therefore, she dresses herself. She does not require nor expect anyone to lay out her clothes for her day to day and tell her what she must wear, what the weather is like or what is appropriate for her to wear for each day's activities.

She is wise and has learned to be self-controlled, pure, holy and modest in everything. She does not need others to constantly tell her what to "put on". She is intelligent, and full of godly wisdom from much time spent in God's Word, and is very capable of discerning the current weather conditions (the circumstances of her life), whether it is bright and sunny, dark and gloomy, or thundering with fierce winds that will blow her way (persecutions). No matter the weather, she is not afraid, but she is ready because her trust and hope are only in Christ Jesus her Lord. And who will come up against the Lord God Almighty and prevail? NO BODY!

Therefore, she dresses herself. She does not require nor expect anyone to lay out her "clothes" and daily be told what she must wear. She realizes that although the world may look upon her submissveness and wonder if she's had a lobotomy, she is fully aware that she has not...but she has had a heart transplant, and this is where her confidence lies.

And so she dresses herself; with self-control, discipline, and wisdom, she dresses herself daily with the fruit of the Spirit, as she knows that this "adornment" is required for every activity and is appropriate for any occasion.

She Dresses Herself With Strength

1. The Word of God: Psalm 1:1-3; Ecclesiastes 12:11; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:15 , 3:16
   
2. The Full Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-19
   
3. The Joy of Christ: John 15:10-11; Romans 14:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1-2; James 1:2-4
   
4. The Peace of Christ: John 14:27; John 10:30; Philippians 4:7
   
5. The Humility of Christ: Isaiah 53:4-5; 66:2; Philippians 2:5-8; Romans 12:16-21; 1 Peter 2:23
   
6. The Attitude of Christ: Luke 5:16; Luke 6:22-23, 6:27-36; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; 2:5-7, 3:4-6; Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 5:1-2
   
7. The Wisdom from the Holy Spirit: Ecclesiastes 7:5, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, 3:18-21, James 3:13-17

"He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.
Isaiah 53:2b

She Makes Her Arms Strong

by exercising...

1. Excellent care of her husband by preferring his needs above her own, or that of her children(s), or anyone else on this earth. A Biblically submissive wife never puts her children before her husband or allows them to come between her and her husband; for she is well aware that God has made them one. (Genesis 2:23-24; Mark 10:9)
   
2. Tender and wise guidance/counsel for her children, diligently training them in the Way they should go, and loving them enough to discipline when necessary without anger or frustration, but with great love and self-control. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Ecclesiastes 8:11, Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:4)
   
3. Her faith by carrying the burdens of other brothers and sisters through prayer and good works. (Romans 12:10-13; Galatians 6:2, 10; Ephesians 6:18)
   
4. Her love for Christ with the outpouring of love to her community as she strives not to contain herself in a "Christian Bubble", but is effective in sharing the Gospel of Christ to a lost and depraved world through words and deeds - which, if separated, all her efforts will be in vain. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-5)
   

So put on a pretty dress, comb your hair, wash your face and "gird your loins"! Take off your princess heals and walk with the lowly and work diligently with your hands - and do this all while fully dressed in your "royal robe"! (Like the woman pictured above!)

Homework:

1. Take more than one day to do this lesson. And as always, look up EVERY SCRIPTURE.
   
2. Choose 4 Scripture passages to memorize, share it with your husband and recite it to him by next week. If you feel you don't fully understand a passage, kindly ask your husband to explain it to you with great humility and reverence.
   
3. Practice diligently the 4 Scripture passages you chose to memorize so that you can "work out your salvation". There is no need to ever memorize Scripture if you never intend to put it into practice. Otherwise, the Word of God only because just another thing you know, but do not really understand. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
4. Ask your husband out on a date. Plan something that would be relaxing or enjoyable for him. You'll be surprised at how much you begin to enjoy his activities, just because you love watching him experience God's joy.

And now, I leave you with this:

"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ."
2 Thessalonians 3:5