A Comparison of the Virtuous Wife to the Bride of Christ
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:10
Part One is here. Please read prior.
This is a passage read at many Christian marriages. This is not just about the couple here on earth but it has a spiritual side: Christ & His Bride.
EPH 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
“The Virtuous Wife”
(verses 23-31)
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
GATES: The gates to the city are where the courts of law and justice are held and where the elders would gather. Wisdom is dispensed there.
PROV 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me [wisdom],
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me [wisdom] finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
HUSBAND: Ultimately, this husband is the King of Kings, Yeshua HaMashiach, and He is seated upon a throne.
JER 17: 25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.
The Lamb of God who is seated on the throne in heaven where He is honored and praised.
2 … and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads … 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; Rev 4:2-4, 11
So Jesus said to them [the apostles], “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration [create again/renewal], when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28
THE BRIDE:
As the Bride, she will make known the LORD’s deeds far & wide! She will advance His causes for the betterment of the His Kingdom. She is truly a helpmate in all that she does!
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband … (Proverbs 12:4)
O LORD, King of Kings, we are not worthy to be called your Bride but You are transforming us into what You desire: a Bride “without spot or wrinkle”! You change us from glory to glory! May we proclaim Your awesome, mighty deeds and Your salvation in the gates of our city!
2 COR 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
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24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
LINEN: “Linen” (sadin) is not the same Hebrew word as Proverbs 31:22 (shesh). These linen articles were deluxe underwear.
MERCHANT: The word for “merchant” would be “canaanite” . The Canaanites were generally merchants and many idolized baal.
SASHES: The virtuous wife sold these sashes or girdles to the merchants/Canaanites. Spiritually, the Bride-to-be sells a “belt of Truth”.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness… Ephesians 6:1
The Bride so influences the Canaanites that the laws of the land are not so outwardly immoral. The righteousness of the Bride will carry an impression on the world system! Her agape love has shown the way! The Church has made a difference in cultures. The Church influenced freedom. The Church ended slavery in many countries. The Church has impacted education and health.
What a hostile and decadent society it would be if the Bride were not here! This country (USA) was founded on the Holy Scriptures, but there are forces that want to end this. So please go vote for Biblical truths! It is a shame now that many in this world system have rejected these proven principles and turned back to heathen days! However, we are in the last days …
2 TIM 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Such is the sad condition of our world today! Yet, there is one more world-wide revival taking place!
Help us, LORD Adonai! May we impact the culture even in these perilous times! Raise up from the Church those who would not cower to the unrighteous! May we seek to edify, exhort, and correct in love! Let us always set an example. Let us lead them to salvation in Christ, by which men can be transformed into Your likeness!
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25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
STRENGTH: As mentioned in the first part, this wife is a “woman of strength”! (Benson Commentary)
Strength, not of body, but of mind. The church is clothed with strength, as her Lord, head, and husband, … and which she has from him; for though she is the weaker vessel, and weak in herself, yet is strong in him; and is able to bear and do all things, with a fortitude of mind to withstand every enemy, and persevere in well doing: and she is clothed with “honour”; with honourable garments, suitable to her rank and dignity; in cloth of gold, in raiment of needlework; with the garments of salvation, and the robe of righteousness; Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece. Meditate on that in relation to the Bride of Christ! But spiritually, though she is a queen, the Bible usually portrays her as the Bride. Some earthly queens are conniving and manipulative like Jezebel. Yet, the Bride of Christ is submissive to her Husband!
She is not disquieted by any fear of what may happen, knowing in whom she trusts, and having done her duty to the utmost of her ability. Pulpit Commentary
REJOICE:
More than one translation, has the word “rejoice” as “laugh”!
…. and she can laugh at the days to come. BSB
The Bride will be laughing along with Her LORD!
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; Psalm 2:4
The Bride should rejoice NOW for she definitely will rejoice when she is at last with her King! In the Book of Esther, it says they rejoiced beforehand because they knew that God always keeps His Word!
Esther 8:16 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. 17 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Psalm 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
LORD, You have written Your Holy Words in the book and we know the end! Let us be confident of that happy ending, when You wipe away every tear from our eyes, when the Bride will dance and rejoice and laugh gloriously with Her King!
Someday I’ll see, My King in all His beauty
Someday I’ll see, My King enthroned in majesty
Someday I’ll see, My wondrous God and King in glory
Someday I’ll see. Oh, glory be! Oh, let it be.
Yes, my soul is afire, With one burning desire
To see My King, to see My King.
© 2008 HIM/CAVenable
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26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
WISDOM: Wisdom comes from the Bride’s lips because her conversations are based on Scripture. She is conscious of what she speaks, wanting only to please her LORD. No gossip, no backbiting, no malicious words. She desires to impart grace and truth in her speech. She wishes people “shalom” – peace, soundness, serenity, safety, well-being and to be complete, which could only be in Christ!
KINDNESS: Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit! (Galatians 5:22)
EPH 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
1 PET 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing
We are called to “inherit a blessing” by being a blessing!
Dear “Yahweh-shalom”, our Prince of Peace, we pray that Your loving-kindness will flow through Your Bride, bringing peace and completeness in You! We pray that your Bride will demonstrate kindness and let it show in her words and deeds! May she express wisdom from Your Word, giving the gentle truth in love!
Children’s Book on KINDNESS: The “Good Samaritan” story using a FROG & TOAD.
by Granny Vee
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27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
HOUSEHOLD: The virtuous wife provides for her family. The Bride of Christ watches over the ways of the household of faith!
GAL 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
NOT IDLENESS: The Bride will benefit others through these talents or gifts:
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Cor 12
Every believer is called to pray, but the Bride intercedes: asking the LORD to intervene; pleading for “impossible” things; sometimes down on her knees, and even wailing.
I had the chance of being associated with a group of intercessors known as “Wailing Women”. They were mostly from Nigeria yet here in Texas. These women, directed by the Spirit, would sometimes wail loudly. Their homeland is most persecuted, dealing with the radical Islamists, yet they would pray for revival here in the States!
Also, the Bride, through the Spirit, will go into “labor” for someone or something, and she “births” a new creation in Christ or a new move of God in the Spirit. You’ll know when this happens!
ROM 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Dear family of God, we are here on earth but a second compared to eternity, so let’s make the most of it! Your prayers make a difference! Let us store up treasures in heaven for eternity!
MATT 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…”
Abba Father, lead us through Your Spirit in intercession! Help your Bride to focus on the eternal, that which is spiritual. Focus us on Your Word which is Spirit. Let us lovingly watch over the house of God and Your everlasting Kingdom. Amen.
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28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
CHILDREN: In the beginning of this chapter of Proverbs, it is written:
PROV 31:1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
King Lemuel had a wise mother for she taught him sage advice! (It is possible that King Lemuel was really Solomon but there are other theories also.)
The virtuous mother’s has this to commend her: that she “beams forth Your [- the Messiah’s -] love and teaches [her young ones] Your grace.” Though she does discipline, the children bless her as she joyfully serves the family and God.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12
As the Bride of Christ, our “children in the LORD” should bless us, also. Those we lead to Christ should become disciples of the LORD, and they may imitate us, so be fruitful. The Apostle Paul wrote:
1COR 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
HEB 13:7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
HUSBAND: Spiritually, the Husband is Christ. The LORD has blessed us:
EPH 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
He also praises the Bride:
MATT 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
The JOY of knowing the LORD! The Bride will be wed! She speaks to Him, sometimes softly, sometimes desperately, “Come!”
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Rev 22:17a
Oh, Yeshua, how we long for you to come! Not just to be delivered from this world of sin, but to be forever in Your Presence! You are my Joy of Joys! You are my “rhapsody so sweet!”
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29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
MANY DAUGHTERS: The “Parable of the Ten Virgins” has what would now be called bridesmaids. Some of these were wise ones and others foolish. The wise ones had there lamps ready. Possibly the foolish ones were playing “church”, not really believers. One must have the light of Christ burning inside to be ready when He comes.
Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:9b
Is there a difference between the bridesmaids and the Bride? There is! “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” Meditate on this. Think on the passages that would make one a Bride of Christ. We are saved by grace, not by works. However, the Bride of Christ excels in good works!
REV 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
See: “Every Believer May Not Be a Bride” under The Mysterious Bride.
In the Song of Songs, there are the “daughters of Jerusalem”. This would be comparable to “wise virgins” for they are delighted for her, make ornaments for her (SOS 1:11) and call her “O fairest among women” (SOS 1:8;5:9;6:1). There is also Shulamite, who later becomes the bride, and Solomon who represents Christ. (Most foreshadowings or glimpses of Christ in the OT can never compare to Him in reality!)
I suggest that you read the Song of Solomon and it should give you new insights. The last verse of this Song is:
SOS 8:14 Make haste, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle [symbolizing swiftness & vitality]
Or a young stag
On the mountains of spices. [symbolizing the consummation of spiritual communion]
Doesn’t that sound like the last chapter in Revelation: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (REV 22:20)
So the Bride awaits in anticipation for the coming of her Beloved!
EXCEL: Daniel was said to have “an excellent spirit”. (Dan 5:12) He had a keen mind, knowledge and wisdom! But this faithful Bride with the “excellent spirit” makes her Husband’s heart go ga-ga! “You have ravished my heart, With one look of your eyes…” (Song of Solomon 4:9)
Songs for the Bride
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3
“There is no one, my love, who can compare with You, with You
Who alone but You can satisfy the deepest needs of mine?
Who alone but You can sanctify and woo me to be wholly Thine?“
“Now forever, let us meet, in this garden pure and sweet, where love eternal blossoms full.”
Prayer
May I please You, My Beloved, for You are worthy! I adore You!
May I have a spirit of excellence as You are my excellent King!
Let my love deepen. May I decrease, and You increase! (John 3:30)
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30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
CHARM & BEAUTY:
Yes, physical beauty is passing! Here today and gone tomorrow. We all age, a consequence of the fall of man. The real beauty of a person is in their character. Character is the only thing you personally take to heaven!
As the excellence of steel is strength, and the excellence of art is beauty, so the excellence of mankind is moral character. – A. W. Tozer
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1Peter 3:3
MODEST IN DRESS:
Therefore, in keeping with this above passage, women should also dress modestly, so that they are not a distraction from worship.
… the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation … (1Timothy 2:9)
GENTLE SPIRIT
Yeshua had a gentle spirit!
MATT 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
FEARING GOD: This “fear” is a holy, reverent respect and obedience of the LORD. In her humility, the Bride is quick to obey, knowing that the LORD knows best.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
Holy Savior, King of Kings, as you were “gentle and lowly in heart”, may we also have a gentle and quiet spirit. As you transform us from glory to glory, into Your likeness, let us be humble. Let us listen, let us hear what the Spirit says to us.
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31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
FRUIT: Fruit is symbolic of these spiritual blessings: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23) These are expressed through acts of kindness, a “mitzvah”, in the Hebraic sense. By the exemplary lifestyle of the Bride, she gathers souls for Christ her LORD.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30
This Bride is an overcomer – overcoming all the temptations of life and zeroing in on the tasks at hand: her own godliness through Christ, helping lost souls come to Christ, and her adoration of her Messiah! So as an overcomer, in the pearly gates of Heaven, she will be granted “the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.” (Rev 2:7)
WORKS:
The virtuous wife “needs no farfetched laudation; her life long actions speak for themselves. Where men most congregate, where the heads of the people meet in solemn assembly, there her praise is sung, and a unanimous verdict assigns to her the highest honour.” Pulpit Commentary
And for the Bride:
“… Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:1-2
The Bride is happy and will be awesomely joyful when she is wedded to her loving Husband! They are one Spirit.
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1Cor 6:17
The true Church is already one Spirit with Him. Our souls have not yet caught up to the task. But when the LORD returns…
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1John 3:2
This means all true Christians!
“we shall be like Him”: in body, fashioned like to his glorious body, in immortality and incorruption, in power, in glory, and spirituality, in a freedom from all imperfections, sorrows, afflictions, and death; and in soul, which likeness will lie in perfect knowledge of divine things, and in complete holiness; Gill’s Exposition
Think of someone that you don’t particularly like in the body of Christ. (One does not have to like someone, in order to love them.) Yet they will be with you in heaven. Maybe you don’t want to spend an eternity with them. However, they will be perfected! God sees us in the future, all that we can be in Christ! He is molding us to perfection! God is the Potter. We are the clay.
O My Beloved! Without You, I can do nothing. I owe all that I have to You! You are the Vine to which I am gratefully attached, therefore, I do bear much fruit. (John 15) It is Your Spirit that allows me to be a partaker “of the divine nature”. On that Holy Day of matrimony, impart to me, an immaculate heart to cherish You, Yeshua, El Olam, the Everlasting God, forever and always… into endless eternity!
CONCLUSION: 4 points:
Women are called to be spiritual soldiers (EPH 6); and men to be the spiritual Bride of Christ! Spiritual relationships are very mysterious!
The Bride of Christ someday will be not only virtuous, but truly have an immaculate heart – due to His promises and the lavish good graces of Our Savior!
The virtuous wife builds a home for her family whereas the Bride of Christ is building an eternal Kingdom!
“Tis a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, washed in the blood of the Lamb….”
Words & Music: Arranged by E. T. Rinehart
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