Proverbs 31:10 Commentary and Bible Study

This passage is unique in Scripture, singing the praises of a virtuous wife who is devoted to her husband and her family, and who makes such an enormous contribution to the family unit and indeed to the whole of society, since the family is at the heart of society. This last section of the Book of Proverbs may also be the words of the mother of Lemuel, but the reflective nature of the question at the beginning suggests that it could be Lemuel himself, that is, Solomon, who is speaking. Some of the expressions come most naturally from a husband who appreciates a wife perfectly suited to him and brought to him by the Lord. If this is Solomon speaking, then he has learnt the value of a godly wife through bitter experience, having despised her for a considerable portion of his life, by living as no wife would want any husband to live.The question tells us how rare such a woman is, a woman of moral strength. Who can find her when so many have self-advancement and deceit in their hearts? Who can find a woman with all the wonderful qualities and graces found described in this passage? These graces are not part of our nature as human beings; they are given by God to those who seek to him. The implication is that there are few who truly find the Lord, as Solomon also says in another place (Ecclesiastes 7:28). He had found many who were ready to put themselves across, who knew enough about what others wanted to hear to say the right thing, and yet the essence of the atter was missing from their hearts. True holiness and true humility which is not secretly trying to manipulate but which knows how to serve is rare indeed. It is not easy to read the hearts of other human beings, therefore the wise man believes what God has said about human nature and does not think he can work it all out for himself. To think like that is not prejudice in the modern sense, though there is a prejudgment made. Rather it is wisdom received from God and accepted as truth. Let the world disregard it and think it can work out everything based on its own independent assessment, but human wisdom is not sufficient for the task.The worth of a woman who does not have her own agenda, but who loves her husband and serves his household, submitting to the order that God has designed for this world without rancour and with cheerfulness and humility is beyond price. She cannot be found in the world but only among the people of God. There is not sufficient strength of determination to stick to such a policy in an unbelieving woman, whatever good intentions she thinks she has at the start of married life. She must draw on supernatural resources to succeed. Without these, traits of character will come into play which will thicken and grow inflexible like an aging branch. Such a woman is worth waiting for and worth searching for. Though we need not pay rubies for her, yet we would be prepared to. She stands out among the thousands of precious prize. The man who finds her counts himself most blessed by God. They are joined by God and they are rich. How can we fully enjoy what has not been given to us by the? But if God has provided us with the wife of his choice, we can thank him for his abundant goodness, for he understands perfectly what the nature of the helpmeet he has provided.