Strength and Honor – Daily Inspiration P. 503

Proverbs 31: King James Bible

Strength and Honor – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter thirty one, Verses 24-25

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Daily Inspiration from These Verses – Strength and Honor

I went into this particular devotional a bit uncertain concerning what to talk about. You’ve got one verse talking about selling girdles, and another about the virtuous woman’s clothing being strength and honor.

I couldn’t imagine that there would be any correlation between the two, but the Lord kept prompting me to write up this devotional using both of these verses. After doing some praying and a bit of research, I can now say, I understand why he prompted me to do so.

Four Points

There are four points to scoop out of these two verses.

She sold fine linen as a material, not something she crafted such as an article of clothing or an object of some sort. Just the fine linen in it’s basic form.
She delivered girdles to the merchants. Like the fine linen, she’s crafted these by hand. Perhaps these could be what a previous verse was referring to when it mentioned that she knows her merchandise is good? She’s got a lot going on, so it’s hard to say.
Strength and Honor are her Clothing. Something to think about… She’s delivering clothing in the form of girdles to the merchants. Who delivered her clothing to her? Where did all that strength and honor come from?
She will rejoice in time to come. Not might, or could. She “shall rejoice.” No, not because she gets to spend the money being made from selling girdles to the merchants. There is a piece of her nature that is doing things that create increase, not just profit. There is a joy that comes with well earned success.

Connection between Girdles – Strength and Honor

So what’s the connection between fine linen, strength, honor, and girdles? Why did the Lord throw these verses together?

There is a wide range of spiritual significance given to both fine linen and also girdles in both the Old and New Testaments. Between the two through the pages of the Bible, we can find spiritual representations such as:

Chastity
Purity
Righteousness
Faithfulness
Wealth
Honor
Strength
Power
Obedience
Boldness
Readiness for service
Preparation

All of the above have already been on display concerning this woman of virtue through this chapter. Of these traits or spiritual heart conditions, the Holy Spirit makes a point to include that she is wearing strength and honor.

What is our Merchandise?

We can see the significance of the woman’s merchandise in the aforementioned list. What’s your merchandise? What’s mine? What are we purveying to others?

Of all the spiritual gifts, materials, and currencies that we have at our disposal as citizens of Heaven, what are we bringing to the merchants to sell to others?

In other words, what fruit of the Spirit of the Living God are we giving other people to talk about? We’re all being watched and observed by someone; what are they saying, thinking, observing, or learning of you? What are they learning through you?

Are they learning the nature of the Lord? Are others taking in (even subconsciously) what the nature of Christ Jesus could be through your representation?

We are the ones that are supposed to be this woman collectively. This is supposed to be an illustration of the Bride of Christ; all the saints banded together as a whole.

But we can only immediately impact ourselves, and use wisdom and good judgement through the Spirit’s lead, to impact others through our good and just example.

Not everyone could have a chapter of the Word of God dedicated to them personally, as is the case of the woman of virtue, and have a glowingly positive light to be shined through it. But that’s not to say that we shouldn’t make that our goal.

Nothing is impossible to those who believe, and should we will to succumb to the will of the Lord, learn of him, be led by him, fight our flesh tooth and nail against slotherly behavior, sin, or the iniquities that tarnish, and also the ways of this world, we can get there.

This isn’t a path to earning salvation. This is talking to those who are already saved, and have the benefit of harboring a born again spirit.

If the merchants won’t buy what you’re selling, neither will anyone else. Be instant in season and out of season, well verses in the Word, and strong in the Father.

A time will come where our toil will be rewarded with eternal rewards, not just temporal. Or as the scripture says above: we shall rejoice in time to come.

Related New Testament Scripture

Luke 1: King James Bible

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 10: King James Bible

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

John 5: King James Bible

43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

Acts 9: King James Bible

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Romans 2: King James Bible

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Ephesians 3: King James Bible

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Prayer

Father,

Thank you for your insights, and for those times where you grant us some prompting in order to do things the way you see fit, rather than how we see fit. Help us to be as the woman of virtue as it relates to the qualities you wish to see in us. Anchor these traits to our souls, and uproot any bad habits or traits that are unprofitable in your eyes. May the merchandise that you’d have us distribute be reinforced by the quality of our walk with you, ever purified and deeply refined. Cause for us to be wrinkle and spot free in your sight and to be solid representatives of your Kingdom. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen

Question

Do you live a life that would cause a casual observer to think that you lived one of strength and honor in Christ?

Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 31 P. 503 – Strength and Honor