Laine's Letters. Prepper or Proverbs 31 Woman.

Dear Sisters,

 

There is so much ado about prepping these days as if it was something new. But I think that the original prepper was the Provers 31 woman. If I could condense the whole passage about her into one sentence, I would say:

 

"A woman that fears the LORD is worth far above rubies looking wisely to the ways of her household, which includes food, fabric, and field, to the glory of her husband and the virtuous welfare of her family."

 

FOOD: 

 

"She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far."  Proverbs 31:14

 

"She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens." Proverbs 31:15

 

The word "ships" is plural. This is significant. She is likened to more than one merchant ship! That is a whole lot of food coming from a whole lot of merchants from far away places in ships. Plural. She must have been bringing in a year's supply of food to her house. She must have been an amazing forager and very frugal in where and when she bought her foods. Her pantry must have been well supplied with foods and herbs for cooking and sickness, and even some delicacies from so far away. Her pantry must have also been readied for those harsh winter months with many grains, oils, and dried foods. I can't believe how much is said in so few words about how she brought so much food into her household! The original prepper!

 

Her food was prepared early before the sun rose for the strength of those that lived in her house to begin their day's work. Simply amazing Words about her habits. She got everything and everyone going early in her household - including her servants. It must have smelled good in her home in the very early morning. And a lot must have been accomplished before the sun even arose.

 

FABRIC

 

"She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands." Proverbs 31:13

 

"She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." Proverbs 31:19

 

"She makes herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple." Proverbs 31:22

 

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

 

Wool fabrics for winter, and then flax and linen fabrics for summer. She is clothed in silk and purple, a very elegant color and a very elegant, soft fabric which distinguished her as the lady of the house.. She is covering her household for the seasons of the year and seeking it out, just like she did with the different foods. When it mentions that all that her household are clothed with scarlet, it means they had double garments for the winter. Her household is warm in the winter and cooler in the summer by the fabrics she makes and provides. Fabrics for all their summer and winter clothing, bedding, rugs, bathing, tapestries, and other necessary household materials were made by her with help from others in her household. She was well prepared for winters and storms. The original prepper!

 

FIELD

 

"She makes fine linen and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant." Proverbs 31:24

 

"She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard." Proverbs 31:16

 

"She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms." Proverbs 31:17

 

"She perceives that her merchandise is good; her candle goes not out by night." Proverbs 31:18

 

"She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Proverbs 31:26

 

"She stretches out her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20 

 

This woman was trained in several skills regarding the making of fine linen, girdles, and supplying the merchant with her fine merchandise. She had also financial skills to buy a field and viticulture skills to plant a vineyard.  All these fields were her expertise. She was strong for her tasks, but this was purposeful as she was trying to strengthen her body for her ongoing work. We take our habits with us, and the habits she took with her were exceptional. Her candle did not go out at night signifying the bills were paid. Her handiwork was of fine quality which helped in keeping the lights on in her home.  When she opens her mouth with wisdom, I suspect she was teaching her children, younger women, and her servants her skills. And she was a patient teacher in that she was kind. She was also kind to the poor and needy, which is a field that is in constant need of care. Her hard work and labor of love not only helped her family, but extended beyond their home. The original prepper!

 

No wonder...

 

"The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." Proverbs 31:11

 

 

Spoil were all the riches of a war or a city takeover. This is an amazing verse declaring how much peace and trust this husband had in his wife. He had all the riches he needed with this virtuous woman running his home. He didn't need anything else. His heart was safe in her care. She would do him only good. She was a wise woman who built her home. 

 

"She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:17

 

 

Which is why he praises her,

 

"Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all." Proverbs 31:29

 

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." Proverbs 31:28

 

 

He felt he had "the best of the best" in her. As did her children. They called her blessed, and they were all blessed in her.

 

 

And it is also perhaps why her husband is mentioned in the middle of all her work:

 

 

"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land." Proverbs 31:23

 

 

She brought him so much glory by the fruit of her hands and the kind wisdom on her tongue in his role as a leader in the community. 

 

 

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." Proverbs 31:31 

 

 

He was honored as a leader in the gates surrounded by her work of food, fabric, and field in the fear of the LORD, which in turn praised her in the gates. The original prepper!

 

 

FEAR OF THE LORD

 

 

"Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that fears the LORD she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:20

 

"Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

 

 

 "Favor" means a woman who uses charm to lure a man, which is deceitful to a man looking for a wife without the fear of the LORD. Physical beauty is a vain thing, for that beauty can vanish so quickly, especially when the charmed realizes his deception. A man can't find a wise, virtuous wife and helper without God's guidance and fear of the LORD. And a man can't pay a high enough brideprice for her.

 

A woman who fears the LORD is downright beautiful in His Love. A woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised! And without the fear of the LORD she wouldn't have this wisdom from her hands which brings her praise in the gates and glory to her husband. For the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. 

 

"Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a prudent wife is from the LORD." Proverbs 19:14

 

Prepper or Proverbs 31 woman?

 

I think both.

 

Love,

 

Laine