Legacy of Biblical Womanhood: "What is God’s plan for me as a wife?"

I. Proverbs 31:11-12
Being able to fully trust your marriage partner is one of the fundamental foundations of a strong God-honoring marriage.

The term "husband" is the common word for husband in the Old Testament.

• It also means "lord" or "owner."

Why the heart of the husband can trust his virtuous wife

• The first reason a husband can safely trust his wife is found in the second part of verse 11 ("so that he shall have no need of spoil": his wife is not a financial liability)
• the second reason is found in verse 12 ("she shall do him good and not evil")
• READ Prov. 18:22; Proverbs 12:4

The verb "will do" is of interest.

• It is not the common Hebrew verb for "do."
• It means to deal out, to deal fully, to deal bountifully.
• This verb is also used of the LORD who deals bountifully with his servants.
• READ Psalm 13:6; 116:7; 119:17; 142:7.
• The virtuous woman deals out to her husband that which is good. She dishes out to him and serves him that which is good and not evil.
• She wants only God's highest and best for him.
• Her life and her deeds are a constant benefit and blessing to her husband.

All the days of her life

• In doing good to her husband she is consistent.
• She doesn't serve him that which is good one day and that which is evil the next day (no PMS excuses... aarrrrgh)
  
• Her godliness is marked with consistency.
  

II. Genesis 3:6

• She saw. A great deal of sin comes in at the eye. Let us not look on that which we are in danger of lusting after, Mt 5:28.
• She took. It was her own act and deed. Satan may tempt, but he cannot force; may persuade us to cast ourselves down, but he cannot cast us down, Mt 4:6.
• She did eat. When she looked perhaps she did not intend to take; or when she took, not to eat: but it ended in that. It is wisdom to stop the first motions of sin, and to leave it off before it be meddled with.
• She gave it also to her husband with her. Those that have done ill, are willing to draw in others to do the same. This is clearly a contempt of what God had bestowed on them, and a desire for what God did not see fit to give them. He would have what he pleased, and do what he pleased.
• Who then can say that this seemingly minor sin had but little harm in it? See here what dishonour and trouble sin is; it makes mischief wherever it gets in, and destroys all comfort. Sooner or later it will bring shame. The excuses we make to cover and lessen our sins, are vain and frivolous; like the aprons of fig-leaves, they make the matter never the better: yet we are all apt to cover our transgressions as Adam and Eve. Before they sinned, they would have welcomed God's gracious visits with humble joy; but now he was become a terror to them. No marvel that they became a terror to themselves, and full of confusion. This shows the falsehood of the tempter, and the frauds of his temptations.

(from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible)

III. The following are key words from those Scriptures that I had you look up in the NT Greek Lexicon:

A. submit: (Ephesians 5:24)
Hupotasso (verb)

1.to arrange under, to subordinate
2.to subject, put in subjection
3.to subject one's self, obey
4.to submit to one's control
5.to yield to one's admonition or advice
6.to obey, be subject

A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use,it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".

B. Head: (Ephesians 5:23)
Kephale (noun feminine)

1. the head, both of men and often of animals. Since the loss of the head destroys life, this word is used in the phrases relating to capital and extreme punishment.
2. metaph. anything supreme, chief, prominent

• of persons, master lord: of a husband in relation to his wife
• of Christ: the Lord of the husband and of the Church
• of things: the corner stone
  

C. reverence: (Ephesians 5:33) KJV
Phobeo (verb)

1. to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away)

• to put to flight, to flee
• to fear, be afraid

2. to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm

• of those startled by strange sights or occurrences
• of those struck with amazement

3. to fear, be afraid of one
4. to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm)
5. to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience

• to venerate: to regard or treat with reverence; revere

Origin of venerate:

• Latin: venerātus, to solicit the goodwill of
• to treat with deference: respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
• respectful or courteous regard: in deference to his wishes
  

D. duty: (I Corinthians 7:3-4)
Opheile (noun feminine)

1.that which is owed
2.a debt
3.metaph. dues: specifically of conjugal duty

conjugal of, pertaining to, or characteristic of marriage; pertaining to the relation of husband and wife

this Scripture is in the context of avoiding/ preventing/ abstaining from sexual immorality

E. desire: (I Corinthians 14:35) as in “desire to learn” or “inquire about something”
Thelo (verb)

1. to will, have in mind, intend

• to be resolved or determined, to purpose
• to desire, to wish
• to love

2. to like to do a thing, be fond of doing

• to take delight in, have pleasure

IMPORTANT NOTE: this Scripture is in the context of the church. Thus, if during the church service, a woman has a question about something or desires to learn further about something that the pastor is currently preaching, make a note of the question and talk with your husband. Do not interrupt the worship service or preaching with your question, as this would be disruptive and irreverent to God and your husband. The women needed to especially here this admonishment in the church in Corinth because they tended to be disruptive and unsubmissive.

There will be times when what is preached may seem unclear to us, convict us or even anger us. We must yield ourselves to the Word of God, with humble and teachable minds. Being willing to be convicted of our sin even as it is preached, taking it both patiently and thankfully. When it comes to the Word of God being preached, we are especially to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.

READ James 1:18-25 if you question whether or not this applies to the preaching of God's Word

F. improper: (because the rest of I Corinthians 14:35 says "for it is improper for a woman to speak in church"... to disrupt the church service as the preacher was proclaiming the Truth according to God's Word... see "IMPORTANT NOTE" above)
Aischros (adjective)

filthy, baseness, dishonour


self-exalting because the focus shifts from worshiping the Lord to the person disrupting

disgraceful, improper, sordid

WARNING: The world will take all of what is written here and twist it. This is not at all about being a doormat, ladies.

"[Biblical Womanhood] is a gift, a Divine gift, to be accepted with both hands, and to thank God for. Because remember, it was His idea."- Elizabeth Elliott

Press on in His truth and His love for His glory and remember to be more Berean than the Bereans,
Lisa

BTW, we also had great discussions on the questions in the booklet. Especially in regards to the following:

• "Am I completely trustworthy... in the way I talk about my husband to others?"
• "Does my response to my husband demonstrate to the world the beauty and blessing of submission to Christ?"
  
• "Do others know that I reverence my husband?"
• "By my words, example and counsel, do I encourage other women to reverence their husbands?"
• "Do I reserve intimate communication, looks, words, and touch for my husband?"
• "Do I motivate my husband to grow spiritually by seeking his counsel, input, and direction, or am I quick to run to my pastor to another counselor for answers to my questions and problems?"
  
• "Does my husband feel that I value and respect his input and counsel?"