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.