The Bryce Crawford Podcast - Proverbs Series Chapter 31 (EP 131)

Episode Date: July 31, 2025

Proverbs 31

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org slash tour, get your tickets, and we'll see you in Nashville, San Diego, Chicago, and Birmingham, this fall. What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another episode of the Bryce Cover podcast. I'm Bryce and today. We're on the final proverb. Proverbs 31 out of 31 chapters and Proverbs, guys, if you have been faithfully following along in this episode, guys, I pray that this rhythm of scripture keeps you in your word every day outside of the series, guys. Pray in the series, blesses you guys. Let's just dive right into Proverbs 3. One of the most famous passages of Scripture when it comes to looking at a godly woman. We're going to break it down, verse by verse here. This Proverbs and this proverb, Proverbs 31, is written

by King Lemuel. We don't really know much about King Lemuel, but King Lemuel is relating to you and I, relaying to you and I, an oracle that his mother relayed to him. So we're really getting the motherly wisdom that was given to King Lemuel, and then King Lemuel is passing it down to us. What we know about King Lemuel briefly is that it's the possibility

that King Lemuel could have been a pagan king that submitted himself to God. And now this is the wisdom that we're getting after this pagan king has submitted himself to God. It's a possibility. First one, the words of the words of him, King Lemuel and Oracle that his mother taught him. Now, verses two through three, there's this theme of adultery and sexual immorality. And there's a warning against the dangers of sexual immorality.

What are you doing my son? What are you doing son of my womb? What are you doing son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. The phrase, son of my vows, meaning that he was born after the covenant that was made to her husband. So he is a product of a godly birth. And she says, Don't give your strength to women your ways to those who destroy kings. An excessive sexual interest in women wastes a man's strength is what Proverbs 2 through 3 says. The practice of sexual immorality and sexual obsession gives away a man's strength in the sense of his spiritual strength, his self-respect, his self-control, his example and standing in community is all given away and all in the line and sacrifice when they practice sexual immorality and sexual obsession. And King Lemuel is relaying to us what his mother relayed to him.

Stay away from it. There's a massive warning. Now, verses 4 through 7 here, again, we have a warning against the danger of alcohol. Now, there's going to be an interesting take care of verses 4 through 7 on alcohol. So we're going to read together and break it down. I'm going to give you my opinion and what the scriptures are saying. It is not for kings, O Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to take strong drink,

lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. give strong drink to the one who's perishing and wine to those in bitter distress let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more okay so proverbs 31 versus four through seven are saying kings and those who lead should avoid drinking alcohol this is what provvary 314 4 through 7 is saying this idea is repeated three times for emphasis through these few verses and the reason that he's saying the reason that king will mule's mother was saying that it is that kings and those who are in leadership position shouldn't drink alcohol, the reason she's telling him this is because the responsibilities of a king and of a leader

are so great that it's essential that they be sober-minded and they don't be impaired or have partial judgment or their abilities are messed up in any way, shape, or form because they're drunk. And when we read the Bible, we understand that alcohol isn't a sin, drunkenness is a sin. And I think that there's a lot of wisdom in just flat out not drinking alcohol. Because we read earlier in the problems that alcohol can produce a mockery. You can produce strife and produce anger.

So it's not necessarily wrong. And what she's saying? She's saying, you know who deserves a drink? Not kings in those in leadership positions in verses 6 and 7. She goes, give a drink to someone who's in jail, someone who's suffering. Let them numb the pain away. But don't let you, who has wise decisions to make and strength to be had and judgment and sober mind is needed.

Don't take it. She gives an interesting perspective there. Verses 8 and 9. Open your mouth for the mute for the rights of all who are disdute. Open your mouth, judge righteously. defend the rights of the poor and needy. So now she's saying, a wise, godly man or woman

will defend the defenseless, defend the speechless, and take up calls for those who can't defend themselves. If we have the opportunity to write a wrong or see that a wrong is punished, we should do so. Speak up for truth. Stand for truth.

Now, the moment you guys have all been waiting for, I think, Proverbs 31, back half, verses 10 to close, now King Lemuel's mother is telling King Lemuel what a godly woman is. All throughout Proverbs, we've seen both attributes of godly men and women. We've seen a warning against sexual immorality and the adulteress, but now she is speaking to him the attributes of a godly woman. If you want to know women out there what a godly man looks like, what they look for when you're dating, look at 1st Timothy 3 and Titus chapter 1.

but I think that there's a couple things for the woman listening in this episode reflect on the character of the woman who fears the Lord in Proverbs 31 verses 10 through clothes reflect on these let's sit and dwell on them ask God to bear these fruits in your heart and for the man listen to this

and understand what you should be looking for verse 10, an excellent wife who can find she is far more precious than jewels precious gems like rubies in this time are both valuable and rare and King Lemuel's mom is saying a woman who fears the Lord is valuable and rare. Her worth is greater than what she does.

It's explained in the following verses. Her value or worth isn't limited to just the things that she does. It's not reduced to the performance of the qualities that we're about to read, okay? Versus 11 and 12. This is the godly, this is the relationship of a woman who fears the Lord with her husband. The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack or gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. All the time that we read about a,

a wife in Proverbs 1 through 30. It was about a querulous wife, one that provides strife. But now we're reading about a woman who fears the Lord. This is her husband trust her. He will have no lack of gain. She does him good and does not harm all the days of her life. A virtuous wife, a virtuous wife, not only has the trust of her husband,

but it's safely given. I mean that you're not freaking out on the inside. Several proverbs have explained the bad effect of a bad wife. and now we're getting the opposite right here. A virtuous wife does her husband good and not evil, but a quarrelsome wife does evil to the husband. Her goodness and faithful character, the goodness and faithful character of a woman who fears the Lord

becomes deeper and greater through the passing years. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. Versus 13 through 16 here. She seeks woolen flax and works with her willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant. She brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her husband. household and portions for her maiden, she considers a field and buys it. With the fruit of her hands,

she plants a vineyard. It's not the resume of a godly woman that we're reading in Proverbs 31. It is life-like examples and fruit of a godly woman. Okay? These things, these fruits that we're reading in Proverbs 31 of the godly woman aren't burdens because they're naturally coming out of her character because she loves the Lord. It's applying wisdom in her life. Do you understand what we're reading here? if you're reading these things and it is a burden to you, check your heart, women. Because Proverbs 31 is telling us that these things will naturally come out of the life of a godly woman. It's not a resume. It is the fruit of a godly woman.

Verse 17 through 20. Versus 17 through 20 now, we're about to read about the strength and compassion of a godly wife. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. she puts her hands to the staff and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. These characteristics that we see in verses 17 through 20 have been echoed all throughout the

Proverbs. The virtuous wife is noted for what? Her strength and it's strength and action. She's not idle. She doesn't sleep. We've read about sleep and slumber all of the Proverbs chapter. She doesn't sleep. She's not idle.

Her strength is what she's noted for and her strength is found in her action. The virtuous wife is much more than just a skillful manager, though. She's a woman of great compassion. Verse 20 tells us she opens her hand to the poor. Meaning that the woman isn't just a task handler. She has integrity. Both go hand in hand. Now, verses 21 through 23, to my godly women out there,

there's a special blessing that you receive for being a woman who fears the Lord. And this is what verses 21 through 23 tell us that the blessing for a godly woman. woman is. She is not afraid of snow for her household for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. Okay. What is what, what is versus 21 through 23 saying that the blessing of a godly woman is okay? The virtuous wife has the wisdom, diligence, and preparation to ready her household for all kinds of challenges and adversity.

That's what, that's why saying in verse 21, she's not afraid of snow for her household. being the woman, the godly woman has prepared and taken care of her household so well that they are ready for any kinds of challenges. Okay. And saying with God's blessing on her wisdom and diligence, the virtuous woman does what? The virtuous wife makes good things for herself and enjoys personal marks of God's material blessing on her family. That's why verse 22 says she makes bed coverings for herself. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Purple was a sign of royalty.

And so because God is blessed with the wisdom and blessed diligence on, the godly woman, she reaps the benefit of enjoying things in this lifetime. And verse 23 says what, her husband is known in the gates. The virtuous wife not only gets to experience physical blessings, but the blessing is on her family as well, meaning that the husband is well respected in the community. Because this character of the wife is rubbing off on the husband. Submission is mission for the wife.

When a godly wife submits to a husband, as we read in 1st Peter, you don't submit to their sin, but when you submit to the husband, it is actually mission that convicts the husband to walk out in uprightness and righteousness, okay? Versus 20, let's read verses 24 and 25 really quick. She makes linen garments and sells them. She delivers sashes to the merchant, strength, and dignity or her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

Now, verses 26 through 27 are a reflection of the inner life of the godly woman. You ready? If you read verses 26 and 27, this is what the inner life of the godly woman looks like. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Wise speech and words that show the law of kindness flow from the godly woman's mouth. And the virtuous wife is observant of the family's ways. Meaning that the virtuous wife, the godly woman, is not so quick to speak.

But when she opens her mouth, you know that there's weight to it because she uses wisdom with her words very carefully. 28 through 29. Another blessing that the godly woman has on her family is a family's respect, not just the husband, but the children as well. Let's read it. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her. Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. A woman of such character and wisdom rightfully receives the blessing and praises of her family. Her children and her husband not only see these things, but also speak of the blessedness of the woman. so the children call the wife bless because the woman of god because a godly woman is submitted to the lord because she walks out the wisdom of god in her life her children see it and are grateful for it

and bless the wife the husband sees it and blesses the wife and they they respond her by saying many women are great but you are the best of them all meaning you receive high praise for your character and submission to the lord and submission to the law of wisdom and now verses 30 and 31 to close out the entire Proverbs series. Proverbs chapter 31, the last two verses is a big and bold statement for the woman of God. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her work praise the gates. Anyone can have charm, not anyone can have character.

Be careful. A lot of people are wooed by charm. This verse is saying, hey, look, charm can pass. Charm doesn't last. Physical looks also don't pass. So don't date for those things. Don't do those things because charm is manipulative and beauty can be manipulative, right? Anyone can have charm, like we said.

Few have character, but a woman who fears the Lord has a beauty that doesn't fade, but that lasts a lifetime. A woman who fears the Lord has charm that does not deceive people. A woman who fears the Lord has this beauty that is sustainable and doesn't fade. And the virtuous woman, verse 31, give her of the fruit of her hands and let her work praise her in the gaze. The virtuous woman will be rewarded by God, by the God that she fears,

and rewarded by what she has accomplished for her family and for herself. So the men listening to this, don't be deceived by just looks and charm. Look at the fruit of their life. Because beauty isn't a bad thing. God cares about aesthetics. And charm isn't a bad thing.

It's that chemistry. But if that's all you go off of and you don't look at the fruit of someone's life, then you're going to be rocked by the quarrelsome wife. but if the fruit is what lasts, then the woman of God, the woman that fears the Lord, her charm is not going to deceive you

and her beauty will be enjoyed but her fruits will sustain your relationship. Guys, this series has been absolutely incredible and I pray that it has been a blessing to you guys. I love you guys. It is amazing. Comment down below what we should do next as a book of the Bible series.

I love you guys and we'll see you guys next week for next week's podcast. guys thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode if you guys like it subscribe to us on youtube follow us on spotify instagram and tick tock bless you guys and see guys next week for the next episode