Lesson 014 Leo and the Angelic Creation

Leo and the Angelic Creation

(Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28)

In the star chart drawings of the stellar sign of Leo is a magnificent and majestic lion pouncing on the head of a very large serpent that is fleeing for its life - fleeing from the wrath of the lion. 

This constellation introduces the serpent in the eternal covenant.  According to the scripture the serpent is the acknowledged adversary of the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).  Who is the serpent?  Where did he come from?  What is his purpose and why is he the adversary of the Seed of the woman? 

This lesson will address these questions and the next lesson will discuss the stellar sign of Leo. 

Before God created the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth and before He created man, He created the angelic beings.  The scripture refers to the angelic host as “morning stars, the sons of God” (Job 38:7).  Morning is the dawn of daybreak, a new beginning.  The first mention of morning in the scripture is in Genesis 1:5.  The morning stars, the angelic host, sang and shouted for joy as they witnessed the handiwork of their Creator in the work of His creation (Job 38:4-7). 

On the fourth day of creation, God placed prophetic revelation in the covenant luminaries.  In the message of the light holders in the heavens God declares His glory “…to give light upon the earth” (Genesis 1:17).  The number four speaks of the four corners of the earth.  The light holders in the heavens shine to the four corners of the earth for signs and for seasons, and for days and years. 

In the Hebrew, the word “signs” means “a mark.”  A sign is a mark of something other than itself.  “Signs and seasons” were ordained of God to indicate events in the life of the covenant Son, the coming Redeemer-Deliverer.  With “days and years,” the astronomical bodies measure time.  

The signs and the appointed events are not seen in the configurations of the stars.  The figures on the star charts were drawn around the meaning given the constellation.  Words give a picture.  Pictures tell a story.  Colors add life to the words and pictures that tell a story.  A picture is a vivid way to express a truth.  The stellar signs are pictorials. 

The twelve covenant luminaires are clustered in easily recognized groupings.  God reveals the message of the covenant Son and the kingdom He ordained in the star names.  Add the covenant colors and numbers to the message and the imprint stamped in the mind is engraved in the thinking. 

God reveals Himself and makes His will known in different methods; one of the most prominent methods is through pictures.  When He communicates His plan, He gives an overview and then fills in the details.  

With the placement of the covenant luminaries on the fourth day of creation, the signs and the appointed events of the covenant Son and His government on earth were pictured to the angelic creation.  The message in the picture provided the angelic creation the purpose of their being, which includes ministering to the heirs of salvation. 

The scriptures provide little detail concerning the image of these winged beings; the Hebrew word “cherubim” is a masculine noun of uncertain derivation and means an angelic being and is commonly translated cherub.  The verb seraph literally means burning; fiery (plural, seraphim) is used only in Isaiah 6:2, 6.  The angelic host is described as “ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4, Hebrews 1:7). 

The created ministers of flaming fire are personal beings with a mind, will and emotions.  They are personal beings of spirit.  They are messengers of God, and their ministry is to serve in His government on earth.  The angelic host of spirit beings is set apart unto God and lives with the otherness of God – His beauty, His holiness.  The movement of these spirit beings is musical; their movement expresses joy and praise in times of festivity and triumph (Ezekiel 28:13). 

In the scriptures, names and titles are important.  The person or persons bestowing the name consider the moniker.  Names have meaning and intimacy attached to them.  God named the stars, His garden, the first man, and His angelic host.  Frequently the name given or changed by God reflected the character of the person named and/or an attribute of God.  The three angelic beings mentioned by name in the scripture (Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer) were given names with prophetic reminders of the righteousness and justice of God. 

Michael, who has the honor of archangel, is a prince among the angelic host.  He is specifically the minister of God to the people Israel (Jude 9, Daniel 10, and Revelation 12).  His name means “Who is as God?”  Every time the nation Israel heard Michael’s name, it would be a perpetual reminder that Israel’s God is the only God. 

The angel Gabriel’s name means “man of God” (his name is in reference to the Man who prevails).  Who is the Man who prevails but the begotten Son, the Seed of the woman?  God gave Gabriel the privilege of delivering the good news to the Virgin Mary (a daughter of Israel) that she was highly favored of God (Luke 1:26-33). 

Lucifer (Isaiah 14) is named only once and is given the title “anointed cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14).  However, clear references are made of him in Ezekiel 28 and in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  The term “anointed” likely expresses the sense of sanctification for divine service. 

Lucifer’s name means “shining one” and “howling” – these names reveal the purpose of his creation and his destiny.  “Shining one” is a description of the perfection of his ways from the day of his creation until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15).  The name of “howling” implies rage for not obtaining that which is desired.  “Howling” also implies desolation and violence, weeping and wailing.  

It is thought-provoking to consider there is no reference to God or to those to whom Lucifer is to minister.  These facts reveal God’s foreknowledge. 

God knew that a creation other than Himself would be lawless; any creation other than Himself would be lawless.  Lawlessness is a state of being, and it manifests itself by setting one’s will above the will of his Creator and everyone else. 

Lucifer, as a created being, is neither God’s colleague nor his equal; he is a created being with the freedom of choice to set his will above the will of his Creator.  He is not the source of lawlessness, nor is he the initiator of lawlessness.  As a ministering spirit of the holiness of God, Lucifer was to do the commandments of the LORD and hearken to the voice of His word to do His pleasure.  In so doing, Lucifer would fulfill the purpose of his creation.  As a personal spirit being and a creation of the Creator, God gave Lucifer freedom of choice to believe Him and obey or not.  God instructed Lucifer along with the rest of the angelic creation as to the purpose of their being through the prophetic revelation of the covenant light holders. 

The ways of God’s works are unchangeable; the order is always the same.  First God reveals Himself and His plan; then is the test of obedience, which is to believe the truth revealed and submit to the purpose of the Creator or not? 

The record of the test of obedience is in the precious stones of covering, the stones of fire in Ezekiel 28.  These stones of fire are symbolic and are a memorial of the person and work of Christ; primarily, they are linked with the angelic host’s connection to their Creator’s established government and the host’s ministry on the behalf of God’s government − the heirs of salvation, Israel. 

At creation, God brought the angelic host into His presence in His heavenly dwelling.  There they walked up and down among stones of fire (Ezekiel 28:14).  The stones are arranged to be melodic in design.  The harmonious “music” of the stones begins softly until the last strain is heard in a resounding crescendo; the climax of which is portrayed in the colors and meaning of the stones. 

“Walking” is a symbol of conduct.  Walking among the stones represents the test of the angelic host.  First God reveals Himself and His plans; then is the test of obedience; will they believe the truth and submit themselves to minister in His government to the praise of His glory in their freedom of choice or will they act in lawlessness and rebel? 

The stones of fire warn the angelic host of judgment for their conduct.  “Fire” is a symbol of a “consuming judgment.”  Fire consumes, destroys, and transmutes into its likeness. 

In the covering, the nine stones are identified as sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle.  The beautiful covenant colors in the stones of fire are revealed in the luminaires of the heavens and they speak of the majesty and holiness of the covenant-keeping God in the eternal covenant. 

The number nine is a remarkable number.  In mathematical science, it possesses properties and powers that are found in no other number.  It is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end and is the conclusion of a matter.  That there should be nine stones directly related to the angelic host, Lucifer in particular, is no small coincidence − but a divine revelation. 

Verses 11-19 of Ezekiel 28 speak of Lucifer and the stones of fire. 

The pattern of the stones is significant.  The first two stones are paired together with the third stone connecting them with the word “and.”  Thus, there are three groupings of three with the covering of the stones “set” in gold (vs.13). 

The first stone is Sardius.  The blood-red sardius speaks of the shed blood of the promised Prince of Glory (the Last Adam), the One whose glory the heavens declare (Psalm 19, 1Corinthians 2; 2Corinthians 4).  Everything in His kingdom will be His doing through His obedience to the death on the Cross.  His blood is shed for the cleansing of all unrighteousness.  All is to be to the praise of His glory - to Him be the glory. 

The second stone, the golden yellow Topaz, shows the glory of the Prince.  The glory of the Prince is the absolute divine essence “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant …” (Philippians 2:6-7) – clothed in the flesh of humanity as the Servant of Jehovah.  He will bring reward to those who willingly choose to believe Jehovah and serve Him. 

The third stone follows with the connecting “and.”  The third stone of fire is the Diamond; the diamond speaks of victory and portrays the Prince of Glory as the Captain of Salvation.  The diamond is a clear stone.  It is crystal clear that the Prince of Glory willingly comes to earth in the likeness of man, the Servant of Jehovah in a mortal body, yet without sin.  He is the first Son of many sons of glory, the Captain of Salvation.  When the life-blood is shed, the lifeless body, which has seen no corruption, can be raised up out from the dead.  The Captain alone won the victory over sin and death.  The victory is assured.  He will be coming again to judge the earth.  When He comes to judge all nations, His heavenly host, His troops, will be with Him (Matthew 25:31-46). 

The next set of three stones begins with the Beryl.  The beryl stone is a greenish blue stone and in the pictorial of the stones portrays the Prince of Glory as the Judge of all the earth, who will do right - He will give a just retribution.  Having laid down His Life, the Prince of Glory will, at the end of the indignation of God for a lawless creation, send His ministers, the angelic host, to gather His people out of nations; they will minister judgment on the wicked (Matthew 24:29-31; 2Thessalonians 1:7-8; Jude 14-15). 

The stone paired with the beryl is the Onyx stone.  Many people preface onyx with the word “black”; however, this is misleading.  The onyx is a light colored stone.  In the gemological world, the term onyx refers to layered stones that exhibit different colors in multiple layers.  These varied colors include white, red, brown, black and banded – variegated, giving the appearance of colors woven together.  From the Greek, the word onyx means “claw” or “fingernail.”  With its flesh color, the onyx can be said to resemble a fingernail and is not considered to be particularly beautiful. 

The onyx stone is the fifth stone in the list of nine; the number five in the numerology of scripture speaks of grace.  The onyx stone therefore portrays the Prince of Glory, the Servant of Jehovah, the Captain of Salvation, and the Judge as Blessedness (“happy”) - Sanctification of God.  

The Hebrew word for onyx comes from the root to “flash forth splendor.”  In the onyx stone God pictures the blessedness and splendor and grace of God in sending the stone of Israel, the last Adam, clothed in a body of flesh woven in the womb of the virgin (Psalm 139:13).  He had no form or comeliness, no outward beauty that should be desired (Isaiah 53:2), but He held within the seed coat the pure white essence of deity to bring forth all the variegated colors of the beauty and glory of God. 

The third stone of this three-some that follows the “and” is the Jasper stone.  The jasper stone like the diamond is a clear colored stone and clearly portrays the Prince of Glory as the Prince of princes, the Ruler of rulers.  He is a Prince with God and man. 

Happy and blessed is the one who serves Him in obedience to the truth, that is, believes what God says.  Having wrestled against principalities and powers of wickedness in high places and having conquered them through the resurrection, there will be no more war.  His kingdom will be a kingdom of peace and righteousness.  In the end, the Prince of Glory will be Ruler over all. 

The last three stones of fire are the sapphire, emerald and the carbuncle.  The Sapphire stone is the most precious and valuable of blue gemstones.  The stone is desirable because of its color and durability.  In the pictorial of the stones, the sapphire portrays the Prince of Glory as the Prophet sent from God. 

Jesus, the absolute divine essence of deity, became flesh and sojourned on earth in the flesh of humanity, the Prophet sent from God.  Speaking the words of His Father and doing the works of His Father bear true testimony to the truth that the Father sent Jesus as His Prophet (John 5).  Paired with the testimony of the “heavenly” blue sapphire is the witness of the green Emerald.  The emerald portrays the Prince of Glory as the Son of Man, the Child born as the Son given to His people Israel (Isaiah 9:6-7).  God’s people, seeing the Son in the flesh, saw God. 

The last stone is the Carbuncle.  Like the third stone of the first two groupings, the carbuncle is a clear stone.  The carbuncle shows forth that the Prince of Glory is portrayed as the Son of Man (birthed Son of God) - Son of God (begotten Son of God).  He is the meeting place between God and man.  He is the Rock - a Refuge for whomever comes to Him to dwell in safety from the storm of destruction (Psalm 18:2; 62:7). 

The portrayal of the Prince of Glory, as told in the stones of fire, is true of the One for whom the angelic ministers were brought into being.  The heavenly host heard the truth and was given the choice to believe the One who would send the Prince of Glory to earth. 

With the naming of the last stone is the “and” of the final touché, the naming of the element of gold.  Gold is an element – a class of substances that cannot be separated and is therefore not made from any other element.  Consequently, gold is perfect in its type to symbolize deity.  Gold marks the end and conclusion of the matter.  The doxology so to speak of the music introduced softly builds toward the resounding crescendo – the climax of that portrayed in the pictorial.  The doxology is the Amen of music.  The so be it!  All the stones of covering are set in gold, sealed with the stamp of indestructible deity.  All is God’s doing; the gold is the outshining of all the glory; all is for His glory. 

Coveting is the lust of desire of something seen.  Having witnessed the purpose of God in the luminaires and brought into the otherness of God – His beauty, His holiness to live with His presence, Lucifer imagines himself other than he is.  Through the deceitfulness of his lawlessness, Lucifer imagines he can be “like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). 

Lucifer’s desire to contend for God’s glory – God’s desire for him caused him to be unwilling to be satisfied with the will of God for him.  Lucifer, the “shining one,” in his refusal of the love of God refused the high purpose of His creation.  He refused to be a minister in God’s government.  He became the adversary of God coveting that which could not justly be his; thus, he fulfilled the prophetic meaning of his name “howling.” 

Each angelic being that believed the truth and submitted himself to His Creator as a son of Elohim fulfilled his purpose for being.  If he chose not to believe the truth, he rebelled against the Creator and His creation and did not fulfill his purpose of being. 

Leaving the presence of his Sovereign, Lucifer led a third of the innumerable company of the angelic host with him in his rebellion.  Valuing the creation of God and desiring it for himself, Lucifer and those of the angelic host willing to follow him made their choice. 

Because the holy angels of God had understanding of the symbolism of the precious stones of covering, the stones of fire, they understood this test.  Theirs was a onetime decision to continue as a creation of God or be at enmity with God in their mind, be of no profit to God and be destroyed in the end. 

God’s strange work is to turn aside from His creation (Isaiah 28:21).  He is not an indifferent Creator who is uncaring or disinterested.  God loves His angelic creation of personal beings.  He did not think of them as indentured servants but as personal beings created with freedom of choice.  To allocate judgment to them is contrary to the personal being of Spirit Deity who is Love, Life and Light. 

Lucifer’s plan to overpower and overthrow God is through a city - a kingdom built through merchandising, a city where the creature is served rather than the Creator.  This city built through merchandising is a system of politics, economics and religion.  Because Lucifer is a spirit being, he must use a medium to achieve his desire to have the kingdom that belongs to God.  He set his plan to build a city in motion using a creation of God with a flesh body of the earth.  What creature of the earth did he choose?  He choose the first-born son of the man and woman, Cain, who was willing to cooperate and be mentored by him (Genesis 4, 5). 

Isaiah14:12-14 says, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! ...for you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:  I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation (of Israel) in the sides of the north (city of the King), I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” 

Lucifer, the deceiver of men, embraced the symbol of the serpent pictured in the luminaries; the serpent is the symbol of the pride of self will.  Lucifer took the symbol as his symbol of power. 

This understanding of the “serpent” – who he is – where he came from – what his purpose was – and why he is the adversary of the “Seed” of the woman brings us to the stellar sign of Leo.  In the sign Leo, the serpent’s strategy for overthrowing God’s government and the folly of that plan is seen as foiled.  Leo displays the just recompense of the righteous King – the Loving Creator of His creation. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

No Glossary for Leo and the Angelic Creation

Lesson 013 The Virtuous Woman (Israel) in the City of Jerusalem

The Virtuous Woman (Israel) in the City of Jerusalem

Part 3 – It is Finished!

Proverbs 31:21-31

Proverbs 31 relates to the Kingdom of God.  The instruction for the ruling of the kingdom is part one.  King Lemuel figures or types King David, who under the authority of the King-Priest, the covenant Son, will be the king of the government of God in Jerusalem.  The king’s mother, who figures the Spirit of Wisdom, instructs the king in the Wisdom of God. 

Part two, verses 14-20, describes the governing of the global government of the kingdom of God.  The bridegroom king has married the people and the people have married the land (Isaiah 61, 62).  The virtuous woman, in figure, is Israel, the head nation of the nations of the earth.  King David is the spokesman for the global government and Israel is the helper suited to run the government. 

There are two cities called “Jerusalem” in the scripture:  The Jerusalem above (Revelation 21:9-21) and the Jerusalem on earth.  The Jerusalem on earth is God’s city and is the key to understanding the difference between a bridegroom and a husband. 

God’s city is Zion the city of the King.  The King is “The Son” of God’s love, the covenant Son.  Jerusalem is the headquarters of the global government of God; Israel is the nation in charge.  Her maidens are the surrounding cities and are the inheritance of the twelve tribes. 

The city is the city of the King, because of the marriage covenant between Israel and “The Son” (Genesis 15 and 17); however, the city Jerusalem “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth” is God’s (Psalm 48:2).  The covenant Son (the Bridegroom King of Israel) has His own city, the New Jerusalem “…That great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10).  

When Israel enters into her marriage covenant with the covenant Son, the marriage contract is for the inheritance of the land promised Abraham because of the covenant Son (Genesis 15, 17). 

Part three of Proverbs 31, verses 21-31, concludes the narrative by proclaiming, “It is finished.”  The kingdom of a household of sons of God is finished; the earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24).  These verses are an intimate overview of the sovereignty and righteousness of Jerusalem and the nation’s devotion to God as a kingdom of priests over the global household.  These verses speak of the enormity of the kingdom – it is a universal kingdom; heaven and all the earth is the LORD’S. 

This last section of the proverb begins with the “end,” the everlasting kingdom.  The terms of God’s covenant with Himself have been met.  God has His kingdom of sons of God – born sons of the incorruptible Seed.  The Wisdom of God for the household of sons of God in a universal kingdom is fulfilled.   God’s plan for children is finished.  Man is in God’s image.  “Behold I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).  

Proverbs 31:21:  “She is not afraid of the snow for her household:  for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” 

The section begins “she is not afraid of the snow.”  How does snow make one afraid?  Snowy days are rare in Jerusalem.  What is the meaning of this figurative statement?  Maybe it is the fear of being buried beneath the snow. 

The word snow is used twenty four times in scripture; twenty of those references are in the Old Testament.  The word snow has three meanings.  Two are literal and one figurative.  The two literal meanings differ slightly – one definition is a verb for falling snow in the wintertime; the other is a noun referring to frozen falling crystals of water, implying ice-covered, solid – unmoving.  The figurative meaning emphasizes the white color of snow – the bright frozen crystals are glistening. 

The word used in Proverbs is the noun referring to the frozen falling crystals of water.  Figuratively the dark days of the dead of winter have passed.  She is not afraid of the snow; the remnant of Israel entered into the treasures of the snow of death with her Messiah (Job 38:22).  All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hers. 

The frozen winter of death produced the water of life for spring.  The Father brought forth the treasures that were buried beneath the snow; the Seed of Life - man in His image, a creation of sons of God, “all clothed with scarlet” in the covenant Son.  The whole kingdom is holy, pure and chaste; “all [are] clothed with scarlet.”  All is set apart and consecrated in the covenant Son, Jesus Christ. 

The winter days of death are no more; the royal covering of the shed “scarlet” blood has produced the household of God.  Acquitted of all charges of sin and guilt, the whole kingdom is justified freely through faith in God’s covenant Son.  It is finished! 

What God pictured in the message of the Eternal Covenant in the stars and what He said He would do in Genesis is accomplished.  He has a kingdom of sons of God in His image!  The kingdom of righteousness and peace is established as everlasting - finished. 

Scarlet is a picture word.  The word used for scarlet in Proverbs 31 is a masculine noun that describes a bright red color tinged with the color of orange.  Colors in the scripture speak of Christ, the person and His work.  Scarlet is the royal color red.  Red is the color of the dust of the ground, the color of the first man.  Red is also the color of the lifeblood of the dust body.  And red is the color of sin (Isaiah 1:18). 

Vivid truth is conveyed in the expressive color of scarlet.  The truth is that God’s second Man, in whom there is no sin, took the execution of the death penalty appointed unto man because of sin.  The blood flowed from the pierced side of the one who offered Himself in sacrifice to put away sin once for all (John 19:34; Hebrews 9:22-28).  In His death and resurrection, the beloved Son finished the work His Father sent Him to do.  Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins; there is no Life everlasting and there is no righteousness.  The red of that finished work flows into the orange – His nation is healed of her sin-sickness, justified, made righteous and regenerate.  Orange is the color that speaks of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings for His people, Israel (Malachi 4:2). 

Proverbs 31:22:  “She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.”  

The word for tapestry is a masculine noun and conveys the idea of a covering similar to an afghan or decorative blanket.  When Israel played the harlot, she was never content to stay home; she was loud and stubborn and her feet would not abide in her house (the house of her God, her maker, her husband, Isaiah 54:5).  She would wander the streets and lie in wait at every corner.  She decked her bed with coverings of tapestry, carved works, and the fine linen of Egypt (Proverbs 7).  In type, Egypt pictures man’s enslavement to and the oppression of the world’s system. 

Israel has left Egypt and the lust thereof and has become a kingdom of sons of God.  Her marriage bed is undefiled.  No foreign gods are in bed with Israel; her Beloved is hers and she is His, the covering of tapestry belongs to Him. 

“…her clothing is silk and purple.”  The clothing or garments of a person indicate the status of a person.  The garments of linen are made from such fine thread that it feels like silk.  In this passage, the word purple speaks of wool that has been dyed.  Royalty wears purple. 

Jerusalem is the crowned Queen - the people have married their land.  She is the Queen of the nations, Queen of many daughters who have done virtuously, but she excels them all (Proverbs 31:29).  Jerusalem is quite literally, Queen of everything.  “Thou [Jerusalem] shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God” (Isaiah 62:3). 

Proverbs 31:23:  “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” 

To sit among the elders of the city was to sit among those of dignity, rank and privilege.  The elders represent the nation.  In Old Testament times, Jerusalem had many gates, each with a name.  The main entrance or gate is where the elders met.  Execution of the nation’s business was transacted from the main city gate. 

The word known means to know relationally and experientially.  Israel’s husband, Jehovah, is known in the gates.  The coupling of the word “gates” with “elders” implies a city.  However, the verse reads gates among the elders of the land.  The word gate indicates the main entrance to a city or town, but it can be used to stand for a city or town.  One would think the land (city or town) to be Jerusalem, but the word used means earth and refers to the whole earth under God’s dominion.  The use of the word land refers to a kingdom that never before existed.  This kingdom is a global kingdom, a united household of sons of God.  The whole earth as a kingdom of sons of God will have a rapport with Israel’s husband in Jerusalem.  This knowing is not mere head knowledge but it is experiential.  In the understanding of their spirit being, He is known.  The whole earth will be a kingdom of sons of God. 

Proverbs 31:24:  “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” 

The “making” of fine linen is the execution of righteousness; the linen types righteousness.  Jerusalem “does” righteousness even as He [her husband] is righteous (1John 3:7).  The word linen refers to the garment wrapped or enfolded around a person.  The girdle is what keeps the garment on the person.

Wrapped in the raiment of righteousness and belted or held together in love, Jerusalem is a kingdom of priests unto God.  The economy, “the family budget” of the entire kingdom, is under the authority of the priesthood – the theocracy of Jehovah God (Numbers 18:6, 21, 24; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10, 17). 

The heart and hands of this world government are truly for the people.  The commerce of righteousness is doing righteousness, living by the royal law of love.  The delivering of the girdles - the belts or cords of love among the merchants is the expression of a government for the people.  

Proverbs 31:25, 26:  “Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”  

Because she is no longer termed “forsaken” and her land is no more “desolate” (Isaiah 62:4), the clothing of the city is the glory, splendor and majesty of God.  He is her strength; He is her honor.  The words of her mouth are wisdom; skilled in understanding, the law of kindness rules her tongue.  Kindness is a masculine noun indicating loving kindness, mercy, goodness and faithfulness; these attributes of God in the kingdom are the evidence that this kingdom is a kingdom of sons of God.  

Proverbs 31:27:  “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”  

The righteous city of Jerusalem keeps watch or keeps guard over the ways – the activity and lifestyle of the household of the family of God.  As the heart of the kingdom, she guards the heart with all diligence and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her diet is the Word of God, His wisdom, His law.  

Proverbs 31:28:  “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”  

Fed on a steady diet of truth, her children rise up - stand in a position of reverence and together with her husband call her blessed.  Mutually they pronounce her happy!  Why?  Why is she happy?  She has found wisdom and has gained understanding; mankind must be born again!  The end of such searching is blessedness - another meaning for the word happy. 

The praise and admiration of her husband is the highest compliment. 

Proverbs 31:29:  “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” 

Daughters refer to cities in general and Jerusalem figuratively refers to the one daughter of Zion who excels all others.  She alone is worthy to be praised.  

This daughter – Jerusalem:  

Is not afraid of the snow – her household is clothed in scarlet [vs.21]. 

Her tapestry is undefiled – her clothing is royal [vs.22]. 

Her husband is known in the gates [vs.23]. 

Her works are righteousness through love [vs.24]. 

Glory, splendor and majesty are her strength and honor [vs. 25]. 

Wisdom and kindness are the royal law of love on her lips [vs.26]. 

She keeps watch over her household – her diet is God’s word [vs.27]. 

Her children call her blessed – Her husband praises her [vs.28]. 

Many daughters have done virtuously – She excels them all [vs.29]. 

Proverbs 31: 30, 31:  “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain:  but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” 

Verses thirty and thirty-one are coupled.  These two verses contrast two different women.  They contrast the virtual with what is real, which is the eternal.  Each woman types a city and each is a figure of the true.  One entices with the deceitful intentions of her vain beauty and the other fears the LORD.   

The first represents the deceitful and vain beauty of the city mystery Babylon - the world system whose offers are an empty allurement of pleasures, the “substance” of that city - virtual (Revelation 17). 

The woman who "fears" the LORD is Jerusalem above.  Galatians 4:6 says "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."  The Jerusalem above is the throne of Jesus, the covenant Son who through his obedience made it possible for everyone to become a son of God.  Verses 30 and 31 point us to the Jerusalem above.  The inhabitants of both the Jerusalem below and the Jerusalem above have a reverential awe of God.  The industrious loving works of the Jerusalem below praise her - the Jerusalem above - "the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:1, 5).  Her own works praise her as the Jerusalem below manifests. 

In conclusion:  Proverbs 31:25 “…. she shall rejoice in time to come.” 

The word “rejoice” in verse 25 means to laugh and celebrate in the sense of a strong expression of joy.  

Established as everlasting - the kingdom of righteousness and peace is finished!  The time has come for a party; God has His universal kingdom of sons.  Let the celebrations begin; the heavens above and the earth beneath are filled with the glory of God – man in God’s image.  Hallelujah!!

“For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11).

Glossary for the Virtuous Woman (Israel) in the City of Jerusalem

Part 3 – Proverbs 31:21-31

Types and Figures of the True

Daughters – type cities. 

Egypt – types the enslavement and oppression of the world system that holds men in bondage. 

Gates – type the execution of a nation’s business. 

Land – types the whole earth that is under God’s dominion. 

Orange – types the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings. 

Scarlet – types the blood that flowed to put away sin and death. 

Snow – types the dark days of the dead of winter that have passed. 

Tapestry – types a covering for a marriage bed and the faithfulness of that union. 

Proverbs 31:30:  “Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” 

Two women: 

The city, mystery Babylon – the world system is deceitful and vain – virtual. 

The city, Jerusalem above, is the mother of all the sons of God – eternal – reality. 

Lesson 012 The Virtuous Woman

The Virtuous Woman – The Nation Israel

Part 2 – Governing the Government

Proverbs 31:14-20

During the thousand-year reign, the government will no longer include civil and military authority.  The sovereign God will be the loving authority of His kingdom; God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, one day very soon.  Verses 14 - 20 of Proverbs 31 give more details into this government. 

The current world system of politics, economics and religion will not exist.  God is the Sovereign of His kingdom.  The earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24). 

The Old Testament fathers of the nation – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob resurrected from the dead will have received their inheritance, the land of Jerusalem (Genesis 15).  They looked for the city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). 

King David along with the prophets and other under-shepherds will supervise the government of God.  They will have been resurrected in incorruptible bodies of glory, and it will be impossible for them to govern corruptly.  This will be a new creation.  A kingdom that never before existed will be in power – a united household – the global government and universal kingdom of God.  God will be all in all in heaven and on earth.  

The ruling global government of Israel will be headquartered from Jerusalem under the authority of the Chief Shepherd (Psalm 24) –  who is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (Psalm 22) – the Great Shepherd (Psalm 23), brought again from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20).  

The world system of politics, economics and religion will not exist.  The society will function through a barter system of exchange and trade work.  Goods and service will be exchanged for other goods and service.  The politics once fueled by economics and the economics once fed through politics will not have a place in the kingdom of God.  There will be no necessity for plastic or cash.  Commerce will be based upon personal need and not the lust of desire. 

The religion fanned by the fire of politics and economics will cease; rather, instruction in righteousness and true judgment personified in the covenant Son will rule the kingdom.  The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.  This will bring peace. 

When Israel enters into her marriage covenant with the covenant Son and the people marry their land, He will provide the covering for her nakedness.  In figure, the wool in verse 13 types the clothing for the spirit being of life (a body of glory) (2Corinthians 5:1-4).  The flax or linen types the righteousness for her personal being (Proverbs 31:13).  Her Lord and possessor will provide a complete covering – a body of life everlasting in the stead of the body of death.  His righteousness will take care of her lawlessness. 

The glory of the LORD will be seen in Israel, and the Gentile nations will be invited to enter into the kingdom.  A great number of the sea of humanity will be converted and the forces of the Gentile nations that have been at war with Israel will lay down their arms.  

This will be Israel’s opportunity to do “good” to those who had despitefully used her - an opportunity to love her enemies.  The city gates of Jerusalem shall be open continually. 

As for the nations and kingdoms that will not serve Israel, they shall perish; those nations shall be destroyed.  Violence will never be heard in Israel’s land, wasting nor destruction within her borders; but she shall call her walls Salvation, and her gates Praise …for the LORD shall be unto her an everlasting light, and her God her glory (Isaiah 60:18-19). 

The power of this universal kingdom will be the power of love.  God is love and the heartbeat of His government is the Son of His love.  This world government will be truly for the people.  King David will be the head of his household and the kingdom of Israel, the heart and hands of the government.

Industrious describes the activity in verses 14 – 20.  Love is not usually equated with industrious; however, Israel as a regenerate nation will have fulfilled the purpose of her creation.  She will be the helper suited to her Maker, her Husband.  Her industrious governing will be her loving reciprocal response.  She is willing to love and be loved of God.  

Jehovah has always loved Israel; however, she has never been willing to accept and experience His love for her.  The result of the understanding of His love experientially is the work of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  

The virtuous woman will have her hands in everything – no bread of idleness for her (Proverbs 31:27).  Nor will she be a meddler but rather praiseworthy as a woman who fears the Lord.  

Proverbs 31:14:  “She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.”  

How is she is like the merchants’ ships?  The merchants’ ships carried merchandise.  The merchants were commercial those who travelled the seas looking for profit from their merchandise.  Their ships were referred to as female and were sailing ships powered by the wind.  She is like the merchants’ ships – she too will be looking to sell her enterprising trade.  Like the ships that are powered by the wind, she too will be powered by wind, the wind of the Spirit of God. 

What is her merchandise?  What food is it that she will sail the seas of humanity hoping to sell saying, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). 

The word used for food in Proverbs 31:14 is a masculine noun meaning bread.  What bread is she “selling”?  She is selling the Bread of Life, the covenant Son.  Come, buy wisdom; “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  … Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5).

Psalms 2:10-12 says “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings:  be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way [of righteousness and peace], when his wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” 

Some of the nations will accept the instruction of righteousness and will serve the LORD; some will put their trust in Him, but others will feign their obedience.  The nation of Israel will “sail the seas, like merchants’ ships bringing her food from afar” to those who have not previously put their trust in Him and to those born during the thousand-year reign.  The profit she will seek is sons of God.  

Proverbs 31:15:  “She riseth also while it is yet night…”

The word used for night in the Hebrew is midnight, the portion of day between sunset and sunrise.  The figurative message conveyed is that the government is always working.  He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121). 

Proverbs 31:15:  “…and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” 

The King’s city, Jerusalem, is the headquarters of the governmental body of the nation Israel.  Her maidens are the surrounding cities, the inheritance of the twelve tribes.  As Israel pitched its tents around the tent of meeting (the tabernacle) in the wilderness with the promise of inheriting the land; likewise, the tribes will pitch themselves around the temple in Zion (in cities) when they gain their inheritance (Book of Joshua). 

The food or nourishment that her household and her maidens will receive is “meat” and is not the same food she will “merchandise” when she sails the sea.  The Hebrew word used for “meat” denotes a victim.  It indicates the prey of people or beasts, often the prey of a lion.  Figuratively, it expresses substance (spiritually and materially).  

Israel’s sustaining nourishment will be the victory of her King over His prey, the defeated foe.  The defeated foe is the devil, the roaring lion that walks about seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5:8).  

Before God promised the nation to Abraham, the adversary’s prey was prophesied to be the Woman and her seed (the Jews).  However, her adversary has no triumph of conquest because his head has been bruised (Genesis 3:15). 

Proverbs 31:16:  “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.”  

As the head nation of all the nations of the earth, the virtuous woman is “joint” owner of her husband’s possessions.  She has no need of merchandising for profit.  The earth is her Lord’s and the fullness thereof; He has redeemed all back to himself.  

Why then would she consider a field to buy?  What is the figurative meaning?  The noun used for field means domain or plot of land and indicates a land or territory that belonged to a nation or tribe.  The exact meaning of the word used for buyeth must be discerned from its context.  In its passive usage, it means brought in.  

Israel will extend a solicitation - an encouragement to the nation or tribe of the field under consideration that has been redeemed by the covenant Son the rightful owner.  Israel will invite the tribe or nation (field) to be “brought in” to the kingdom to receive the fruit of her hands – the planting of a vineyard.  This begs the question, why does the owner of the field extend an invitation.  The nations of the earth are His by rights of creation and redemption.  Yes, but Love is not rude.  Israel will extend the invitation of love, because for so long she refused to be loved.  Love is the best way to woo others to come to love. 

The word used for “planteth” means to establish or finish.  By the works of her hands, she intends to establish a vineyard in the plot of land.  Vineyard types Israel with the Lord as the owner of the vineyard.  Israel, the vineyard of the Lord, will seek to establish the Lord’s vineyard in this field that she is considering.  This will be a blessing to the nation “brought in” to the kingdom because from the vineyard she will receive the wine of the joy of salvation - the true Vine of the vineyard (John 15). 

Proverbs 31:17:  “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” 

Girding up one’s loins prepares one for action or battle.  In the east long skirts were worn and in order to work or prepare for action of any kind, they would gird up the skirt of their loins in a belt.  Israel will not be girding up for a physical battle of war because there will be no war; this will be a kingdom of peace and righteousness and Israel will be regenerate.  However, enmity exists in the thinking of some of the nations; not everyone in the global kingdom will desire His peace and righteousness. 

The word used for strength depicts the Lord as one’s strength and the word strengthen means determined, bold and courageous or conquer.  Israel, as a kingdom of priests to her Lord, must be prepared for the hostility of that enmity; Israel’s belt will be love, and she will gird up her loins in the belt of love.  To gird herself with love, she must continually experience the transformation of her mind in the Lord.  This will strengthen her arms to be equipped for her ministry of love.  In so doing, she will be bold and courageous in her service. 

Proverbs 31:18:  “She preceiveth that her merchandise is good…” 

What merchandise is it that she perceives as good?  The fear of the Lord, the merchandise of His wisdom, is the answer.  The wisdom of God is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain of understanding better than fine gold – yes – it is priceless!  

Not only does Israel have the benefits of wisdom and diligence gained through wisdom, she has understanding.  Discernment is gained through the experience of understanding.  The root of the word perceives means - to taste, eat.  In the spirit of her being, in her understanding – experientially, she perceives that her merchandise, the Wisdom of God, is good - pleasant to the senses, useful and profitable.  “O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him” (Psalm 34:8).  

Proverbs 31:18:  “…. her candle goeth not out by night.”  

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5).  Always in the light of His presence, she will have fellowship with the Father and His Son, the Son of His covenant perfected in love.  She will always declare the eternal life that is with the Father.  The priests were responsible to trim the wick and add the oil for the lamp in the tabernacle, so that the lamp of the Lord never went out (Exodus 27:20).  

Israel as a kingdom of priests is to let her light shine.  She will be the light of the world, the city that is set on a hill so that the light thereof cannot be hid.  She is to let her light shine before men so that they may see her good works and glorify her Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). 

The king of Proverbs 31 types King David.  He has his part as the spokesman for the kingdom.  God vowed the kingdom to David in Psalm 89.  Verses 19 and 20 are the helper’s part in the running of the kingdom’s household.  The last two verses in this section of the text are coupled much like verses eight and nine.  When both passages are linked together, they reflect the teamwork of a united household. 

Proverbs 31:19, 20:  “She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” 

The spindle and distaff are the tools used in the making of the material needed for garments of clothing.  The distaff is for holding a bunch of wool or flax from which thread is drawn in spinning by hand.  The rounded end is the spindle, which twists the wool or flax drawn from the distaff.  

What are the garments she will make from this thread?  They will be garments for covering nakedness.  Because she has experienced the love of having her nakedness covered, she will stretch out her hands to those poor and needy offering them the garment of salvation. 

Love ends the first two sections of the proverb.  The king was exhorted to open his mouth and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and to open his mouth to judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy.  So also, the virtuous woman, as the helper suited, will stretch out her hands to the poor and needy to offer the provision made through the wisdom of her husband, Jehovah. 

Glossary for the Virtuous Woman – the Nation Israel

Part 2 – Proverbs 31:14-20

Government of God – is under the authority of the sovereign God and King David along with the prophets and other under shepherds will supervise. 

God’s Household – is His universal kingdom of sons of God in bodies of glory in two realms – the heavenly and the earthly. 

Jerusalem – is the Headquarters of the global government. 

Types and Figures of the True – Proverbs 31:13-20

Field – types a plot of land and indicates a land or territory that belonged to a nation or tribe. 

Flax or Linen – types the righteousness of Israel. 

Food – types the Bread of Life, the covenant Son. 

Girding Her Loins in a Belt – types the preparing for work or action by the transformation of her mind in love. 

Maidens – type the cities that surround Jerusalem and are the inheritance of the twelve tribes. 

Meat – types the victory of Her King over His prey. 

Spindle and Distaff – types the making of garments of salvation that cover nakedness. 

Vineyard – types Israel who invites others to receive the wine of the joy of salvation – the true Vine of the Vineyard. 

Wool – types the clothing for the spirit being of life – a forever-living body. 

Lesson 011 The Virtuous Woman

The Virtuous Woman – the Nation Israel

Part 1 – Instructions to the King

Proverbs 31:1-13

Proverbs 31 is a kingdom prophecy of the nation Israel and a fitting closure to the Book of Wisdom as it concludes with a detailed narrative of the kingdom of God governed with the Wisdom of God – instruction in righteousness and true judgment.  The definition of the word prophecy means a burden or load – a revelation or forewarning.  

Some commentators believe Lemuel to be a pet name for Solomon.  However, given Solomon’s history in governing the kingdom of Israel, it is highly unlikely that King Lemuel is King Solomon. 

Although Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom and received wisdom, he did not gain the understanding of the wisdom of God pertaining to the governing of the kingdom as described in this passage. 

Proverbs 31 is divided into two halves.  The first half (verses 1-9) is the instruction of Lemuel’s mother concerning the burden or load of governing the kingdom of God without the Wisdom of God. 

The Proverb most likely was written by Solomon near the end of his reign as King of Israel.  Finally, he has gained understanding of the Wisdom of God.  Figurative in narration, King Lemuel, his mother and the virtuous woman type figures who shall participate in the end of the age when the covenant Son will establish His kingdom with Israel as the governing nation over all the earth.  

God’s covenant with Himself for a kingdom of sons of God on earth is fulfilled in the virtuous woman who figures or types the ruling nation of Israel.  Israel is one of the works of the Wisdom of God – the virtuous woman is of the family tree of the covenant Son.  

The covenant God made with Himself calls forth a nation from the loins of Abraham, the initiation of the family tree of the covenant Son – who is the Tree of Life of sons of God (Genesis 17:7, 21). 

In the day of her redemption, the regenerate nation Israel will be the virgin that the sign of Virgo declares she is.  

Jesus the Christ of God – the covenant “Son,” Israel’s Messiah – her “Longed For” and “Desired” King will be the recognized and acknowledged authority.  He will be the universal ruler of heaven and earth that the heavens declare He is. 

The “Heretofore” – Jesus as the “Despised One” – “Sin offering” has become the “Hereafter” at His second coming, “Gloriously Beautiful.”   

The resurrected Shepherd King Priest, “The Most Beautiful” who is the “The Son” – “The Branch” of the family tree Israel is the Tree of Life of sons of God.  The covenant Son is the rod of God’s authority of peace and righteousness and the staff of comfort and longsuffering. 

The Tree of Life of the family of sons of God is “rooted” in the covenant Son Jesus, “The Branch” before the eternal ages.  The first branch of the tree began with the first man Adam, then the branch Seth for all mankind, then Noah for nations, then Abraham for God’s nation.  

God establishes the nation with Isaac and confirms it in Jacob (Leviticus 26:42).  His servant David from the tribe of Judah establishes the branch of the kingdom of God and His throne in Israel forever (2Samuel 7:13). 

The Man planted like a tree by the rivers of water brings forth His fruit in His season down through the ages (Psalm 1) – from Adam until the end of the age – including the 1000 years when Israel as the head nation will bring forth sons of God. 

Lemuel means unto God or (belonging) to God.  King Lemuel in type figures King David.  David as a man after God’s own heart is the king of God’s choosing.  The Lord vowed the kingdom of Israel to David (Psalm 89:20-37, Amos 9, Hosea 3:5). 

King Lemuel’s “mother” in figure is the Spirit of Wisdom, the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of Wisdom enlightens the eyes of the understanding to the Wisdom of God.  Her instruction contrasts the worldly wisdom of the kings that is earthly, sensual, and devilish (James 3:15) to the Wisdom of God – its value exceeds all merchandise – it is priceless.  The instruction is to evoke a reverential awe of Jehovah and to encourage him to heed the instruction in righteousness and true judgment.  Lovingly the “mother” pleads for him not to buy the wisdom of man’s own thinking but to trust in the Lord with all his heart and lean not to his own understanding. 

Proverbs 3:13-14:  “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  For the merchandise of it (wisdom) is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” 

The virtuous woman is the nation Israel, the family tree of the covenant Son.  

The second half of the Proverb is the prophecy of the far fulfillment of the nation Israel beginning with verses 10-13.  These verses refer to the nation Israel as the virtuous woman – the helper suited to King David, a son of the covenant Son.  Verses 14-20 speak of the virtuous woman’s many hands – the outworking of the government of God through the nation.  Verses 21-31 refer specifically to the running of the household of Israel.  

In Proverbs 31:1-9, she instructs him to: 

Not give his strength to women nor give his ways to that which destroys kings.  The way of the kings was to make an allegiance using the women of that nation as a covenant to secure the deal.  This covenant with the women brought strength to the king because it built his kingdom – the strength of his numbers – his subjects and armies increased because of the covenant with the women.  For King Lemuel to give his strength to women places the source of his strength on the building of armies rather than the Wisdom of God.  This of course was not God’s way.  The way of the kings ends with harems.  This perversion destroys God’s way - one man, one woman for life, a united household.  

Second, he is not to drink wine, nor his princes strong drink – lest they forget the law and pervert judgment of any afflicted.  The drinking of wine distorts the powers of judgment and is not wise.  The king was the representative of God.  He was the government of righteousness and judgment.  God’s Wisdom must not be forgotten or perverted.  

Third, give strong drink to him that is ready to perish and wine to those that are heavy hearted; let the heavy-hearted drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more (Proverbs 31:6-7).  The strong drink was different than wine.  The “strong” drink was used as a sedative for the one about to die.  Giving wine to those who are in bitterness of heart also carries the idea of impending death; hence, he forgets his poverty and remembers his misery no more.  

Fourth, open his mouth for the dumb – in the cause of all appointed to destruction (Proverbs 31:8). 

Fifth, open his mouth to judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9). 

The word “mouth” couples verses eight and nine.  The mouth serves two purposes – the receiving of food and the giving of speech.  There is a time to keep silent and a time to speak.  The “food for thought” is this:  for what purpose is the king to use his mouth?  

The king is to open his mouth – speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (the dumb).  He is to uphold and affirm the rights of those who are appointed to destruction – those who are destitute.  The king is to open his mouth to judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy.  This will require the Wisdom of God.  

So ends the loving instruction for the king unto God (Lemuel) from the Spirit of Wisdom (his mother).  Her exhortation encourages him to rule the kingdom in the Wisdom of God – in righteousness and true judgment. 

Proverbs 31:10-13 addresses the far fulfillment of the nation Israel as the virtuous woman – the helper suited to her husband Jehovah; God’s pattern or design is repeated, first the man and then the woman – then man is of woman. 

First, the personal being of God is willing to become flesh – in the likeness of man – male, and then the woman, the nation Israel, female. 

Then man (the child born) is of the woman (a daughter of Israel, the Virgin Mary) – her seed; this is the Wisdom of God.  There is no man-child to rule all nations without the woman. 

The Wisdom of God took the living flesh of the woman (Mary) and prepared a body in the likeness of man, a seed coat that housed eternal life; the body of human flesh of Jesus was the seed coat for the seed grain to fall into the ground and die to bring forth much fruit.  

The body raised up out from the dead seed coat of humanity is the body of the Son Jesus; he has become the begotten Son, the covenant Son of the kingdom of God.  

The word virtuous is a masculine adjective that means strength, wealth, influence, and the word woman is a feminine noun.  The origin of the word is first recorded in Genesis 2:23 “…she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” 

“Taken” out of the man, the once forsaken woman, Israel, is now a kingdom of sons of God, a virtuous Woman - a nation fit to rule the subjects of God’s kingdom.  Her fear of the Lord makes her virtuous – her reverential awe of Jehovah and her instruction in righteousness and true judgment as the ruling nation of the government of God places her worth far above coral.  Israel, the virtuous woman, is desired exceedingly!  Why is she desired above all things?  It is through the nation that the Seed came; Israel is one of the wisdom works of His hands.  

Nothing compares to the Otherness of God and the beauty of His Holiness.  

The Otherness of God and the beauty of His Holiness will be seen in how Israel leads the other nations – that is the reason she is exceedingly desired – a righteous and just rule that is incomprehensible. 

Israel is a virtuous woman because she awakes to righteousness and clothes herself in garments of beauty and glory (Isaiah 52:1).  Her virtues of strength, wealth and influence exist because of the covenant Son.  Jerusalem is at peace; she and her bridegroom king are reconciled. 

The inheritance of the land that God promised Abram is established.  God has a city in Jerusalem, Zion – the city of the King.  “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2). 

Because the covenant Son redeems in His first coming and restores Israel at His second coming – the salvation of Jehovah is possible for all. 

Israel is no longer forsaken and no longer barren.  She has fulfilled the purpose of her creation – children, sons of God for her Maker, her Husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; her Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called (Isaiah 54:5). 

This day, God’s day, is the day when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.  This brings peace.  Peace brings righteousness.  They belong together.  When peace and righteousness reign, there is freedom from fear.  “The heart of her husband” – the very being of her Lord, possessor, or owner is confident, secure, and without fear.  He “safely trusts in her so that he shall have no need of spoil” (Proverbs 31:11).  

The word spoil relates to the spoils of war.  In war, the spoil is taken by force or violence.  “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).  War will be no more, ever!  

Zephaniah 3:14-17 says, “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy:  the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee:  thou shalt not see evil any more.  In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, fear thou not:  and to Zion, let not thine hands be slack. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.”  

All the enemies of God will have been destroyed.  After the sorrow of grief is the joy of a new beginning.  The kingdom of God will have come; His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  To the victor belongs the spoil. 

Isaiah 53:12 speaks of the spoil of God’s victory, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death:  and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”   

Proverbs 31:12 says, “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”  

Having received the righteousness of God as sons of God, the nation [she] has become good, well pleasing and fruitful in her conduct to God.  Righteous is her very being; her doing is righteousness.  Her conduct no longer includes playing the harlot.  

The great persecution and devastation of the trial the nation of Israel suffers during the great tribulation brings about the just recompense of repentance – Life everlasting.  

Proverbs 31:13:  “She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.”  Verse 13 is the transition verse for the next part of the proverb that speaks of the many hands of the woman – the outworking of the government of God through the nation.  

The first part of the verse states the attitude of the heart of the nation in her relationship to her Husband.  The second half of the verse begins the figurative narrative of Israel’s industrious government and her overwhelming provision for those under the sovereign care of her Husband.  

The kingdom of the Shepherd – “The Most Beautiful” is an agrarian society; in a figurative sense, the wool and flax affirm this.  The shorn coat of sheep produces wool.  Flax is a widely cultivated plant with long stalks crowned with pale blue flowers.  A textile fiber known as linen is produced from the slender stalks. 

The two items she seeketh, wool and flax, are used in the production of clothing.  One wonders why she is seeking wool and flax when her own clothing is silk and purple and that of her household scarlet.  What is the figurative meaning? 

The word seeketh is a verb meaning to inquire of, to examine, to require, to seek with care.  Figuratively it may refer to seeking out or inquiring about lovers. 

The purpose of the wool and flax garments was to cover nakedness.  Israel, as an unregenerate nation, always played the harlot.  She was always going after – seeking lovers to satisfy the selfishness of her own self-love, rather than seeking the Lover of her soul.  

Insistent and willful in her rebellion she said, “… I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink” (Hosea 2:5).  She would have her own way.  She thought she would find heart satisfaction with other gods; she would not mix the truth (you must be born again) with faith.  While she played the harlot, Israel was naked because she would not let her husband clothe her. 

Speaking of Israel in Hosea 2:9-10, the Lord says, “(I) … will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.  And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.” 

The word nakedness implies physical nakedness; however, a common idiom for entering into a marriage contract is implied when combined with the word for “cover.”  Thus, we understand that now instead of seeking her own way – she seeketh the wool and flax, the covering of her nakedness provided through the marriage covenant of the covenant Son, her Lord and possessor. 

When Israel enters into her marriage covenant, a new beginning will take place.  All things will be new.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth - a new creation.  A kingdom that never before has been will be in power – a united household – the government of the kingdom of God; an incorruptible government of peace and righteousness will literally rule the earth.  

Government will no longer include civil and military authority.  The Sovereign will be the loving authority of His kingdom; God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, one day very soon. 

Glossary for The Virtuous Woman – the Nation Israel

Prophecy – means a burden or load – a revelation or forewarning. 

Types – Figures of the True: 

          King Lemuel – figures King David. 

          King Lemuel’s Mother – figures the Spirit of Wisdom, the Holy Spirit. 

          Virtuous Woman – types Israel, the family tree of the covenant Son. 

Virtuous Woman –  Israel, the family tree of the Covenant Son – figures or types the ruling nation of Israel after she is restored at His second coming. 

Star Names in the lesson are bolded and in quotes

Star Names from the Constellation Virgo

“The Son”

“The Branch”

“Gloriously Beautiful”

Coma, first decan in Virgo, also known as:

“Longed For”

“Desired”

Centaurus, second decan in Virgo, also known as: 

“Despised One and Sin Offering”

Star Names from Centaurus:

“Heretofore”

“Hereafter”

Bootes, third decan in Virgo, also known as:

“The Herdsman – He Who Is Coming.” 

Star Names from Bootes: 

“The Most Beautiful”