31:1 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:
Lemuel means “devoted to the Lord.” The name of Solomon was Jedidiah, meaning “beloved of the Lord.” Since there were no kings in Judah or Israel named Lemuel, and since these were most likely not the words of a pagan king, then many believe Lemuel was possibly a pet-name for King Solomon.
31:2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,
Jewish tradition teaches that the king was Solomon and the mother was Bathsheba, but there is no internal evidence to support this view. If Lemuel is Solomon, then this is one of the few chapters of Scripture which was written by a woman (See also Judges 5; Luke 1:41-55). In verses 1-9, the Queen Mother gave marriage advice to her royal son.
The word for “son” is בַּר (bar), which is Aramaic and not Hebrew.
It seems as though the Queen Mother may have made a vow to the Lord (which was similar to the vow of Hannah).
31:3 Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings.
The Queen Mother advised her royal son to not spend his royal power and authority on women. If he did so, then he would be ruined as a king.
31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, 31:5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove from all the poor their legal rights.
The Queen Mother advised her royal son to not be addicted to alcohol. Leaders needs a sharp mind to make life-and-death decisions for their nation. Alcohol clouds the minds of leaders and causes them to make foolish decisions. Many nations have been toppled by alcoholism. It is sinful for political leaders to become involved in cocktail parties in Washington D.C. They have been elected to make life-and-death decisions for the nation. They need a clear head and an intellect filled with Bible doctrine.
31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; 31:7 let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.
The Queen Mother mentioned that beer and wine may have been used for anesthetics or drugs to deaden physical or mental anguish of pain. Jesus did not drink any anesthetics when he was on the cross. The Queen Mother may have been telling her royal son that he was not to use alcohol as an escape. People who have strong Bible doctrine will become intoxicated with the Word of God. The study of Bible doctrine is a healthy addiction.
31:8 Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. 31:9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Queen Mother advised her royal son to speak on the behalf of the poor and needy. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Most kings throughout history were absolutely corrupt, so they cared nothing for the poor and needy. Laws were made to protect kings and punish the people. The Mosaic Law was the opposite, because it was the only ancient law which protected the people. Prophets were raised up by God to keep the kings in check. Prophets were the check and balance system of Israel.
31:10 Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies.
In verses 10-31, the Queen Mother wrote an acrostic poem to her royal son on how to find a good wife. Each of the last 22 verses began with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet (alef, beth, gimmel, etc.).
A wife with noble character is the wife who possesses strong Bible doctrine. Women who possess strong Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God are very rare. Most wives have never studied the entire counsel of the Word of God via a pastor-teacher. They have studied bits and pieces of the Bible, which causes them to become fragmented in their theology. A wife who has studied the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level is very difficult to find. If one can be found a wife such as this, then she is more valuable than rubies.
31:11 The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain.
The husband places great trust in a wife with strong Bible doctrine. She is an asset and not a liability to him.
31:12 She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine will bring her husband a life full of good and not evil.
31:13 She obtains wool and flax, and she is pleased to work with her hands.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine is skilled in making beautiful clothes for her family.
31:14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine knows how to shop at the market and bring home food to make delicious meals.
31:15 She also gets up while it is still night, and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine wakes up early in the morning to cook meals for her family. She also possesses strong leadership skills when supervising her female servants.
31:16 She considers a field and buys it; from her own income she plants a vineyard.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine understands and applies strong economic principles in her home.
31:17 She begins her work vigorously, and she strengthens her arms.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine works vigorously in her home and keeps her body in great shape.
31:18 She knows that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out in the night.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine is a good business woman at home. She produces merchandise that sells. She make so much profit, that her lamp never goes out at night. The five virgins whose lamps did not go out were praised for their foresight and work ethic.
31:19 Her hands take hold of the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine makes clothes for her family by spinning wool or flax on a spindle.
31:20 She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine sells some things for profit, but she also gives some of her earnings to the poor.
31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine does not fear the winter, because she has clothed her family well.
31:22 She makes for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine makes beautiful bed coverings for her family. She also makes beautiful clothes for herself. She dresses well. She is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside.
31:23 Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine enhances her husband’s standing among the judges who sit at the city gate.
31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
Linen garments were expensive and profitable. The wife with strong Bible doctrine is a work-at-home Mom. She runs her clothing business from her home so that she can still care for her family.
31:25 She is clothed with strength and honor, and she can laugh at the time to come.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine clothes herself with strength and honor. She is not one of the weak, frail, career-minded, and adulterous creatures in which Hollywood falsely portrays her. She can laugh at the future, because she has prepared for it.
31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
When the wife with strong Bible doctrine speaks, then she speaks with divine viewpoint. She gives loving advice to others. She gives out strong instruction, perhaps to her children in which she schools at home. She will not allow lesbians, atheists, transgenders, and agnostics in public schools to educate her children.
Satan’s purpose of public education is to take the children away from the one-on-one biblical homeschooling of their Mom and feed them the false doctrines of secular humanism. Secular humanism is a part of the satanic world system. It teaches children how to live and die in a world without God.
31:27 She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine supervises her household. She is not a lazy person. She does not feed on idleness. She is continually working for her family.
31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praises her: 31:29 “Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all!”
The wife with strong Bible doctrine is loved by her family and praised by her husband.
31:30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine is physically charming and outwardly beautiful, but those qualities may not last. When those qualities leave, then the wife will still be just as beautiful because of her godly character.
A wife cannot hold a husband with sex. She can hold a husband with strong Bible doctrine and godly character.
31:31 Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
The wife with strong Bible doctrine was to be praised publicly in the public courtrooms at the city gate.