A PEOPLE CONFIRMED IN IDOLATRY

Jeremiah 44:1-45:5 / Keywords 45:5

Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.

Disaster Because of Idolatry

44:1 This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes and Memphis—and in Upper Egypt: 2 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw the great disaster I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah. Today they lie deserted and in ruins 3 because of the evil they have done. They aroused my anger by burning incense to and worshiping other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors ever knew. 4 Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’ 5 But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. 6 Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out; it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins they are today.

7 “Now this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Why bring such great disaster on yourselves by cutting off from Judah the men and women, the children and infants, and so leave yourselves without a remnant? 8 Why arouse my anger with what your hands have made, burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live? You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves a curse[a] and an object of reproach among all the nations on earth. 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors and by the kings and queens of Judah and the wickedness committed by you and your wives in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem? 10 To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your ancestors.

11 “Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster on you and to destroy all Judah. 12 I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine. They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach. 13 I will punish those who live in Egypt with the sword, famine and plague, as I punished Jerusalem. 14 None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah, 16 “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord! 17 We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. 18 But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

19 The women added, “When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes impressed with her image and pouring out drink offerings to her?”

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, 21 “Did not the Lord remember and call to mind the incense burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem by you and your ancestors, your kings and your officials and the people of the land? 22 When the Lord could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today. 23 Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see.”

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah in Egypt. 25 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives have done what you said you would do when you promised, ‘We will certainly carry out the vows we made to burn incense and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.’

“Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows! 26 But hear the word of the Lord, all you Jews living in Egypt: ‘I swear by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, “As surely as the Sovereign Lord lives.” 27 For I am watching over them for harm, not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed. 28 Those who escape the sword and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few. Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.

29 “‘This will be the sign to you that I will punish you in this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that you will know that my threats of harm against you will surely stand.’ 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘I am going to deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him, just as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.’”

A Message to Baruch

45:1 When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ 4 But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”

Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 44:8 That is, your name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that you are cursed; also in verse 12; similarly in verse 22.

 

1. After the remnant of Judah disobeyed God’s word and went to Egypt, Jeremiah gave them the message of judgment (44:1-14). Going to Egypt was not their only sin; they also secretly burned incense to Egyptian idols in their homes. Idolatry was the sin for which the Lord had destroyed Jerusalem, as they all could remember. God sees what we do in secret and knows what the true object of our heart’s worship is.

 

2. The people who were idol-worshipers did not repent, but instead made up their own version of history, saying that they were blessed when they worshipped the Queen of Heaven (44:15-18). It was also revealed that the men knew about their wives’ idolatrous worship but did not help them stop (44:19). At this point, God’s judgment was unavoidable (44:20-30).

 

3. As an example of someone who is faithful to God in an ungodly environment, we see Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary. Baruch was tempted to pity himself because his life seemed to consist of one crisis after another with no rest (45:1-4). Though he couldn’t hope for a luxurious life, he could rest in God’s protection (45:5).

 

Prayer Father, I know that idolatry is everywhere and is so destructive. Help your people break idolatrous and sinful habits. Help me worship you purely, even if my circumstances are humble.

One Word Idolatry brings judgment

JEREMIAH IS BROUGHT TO EGYPT

Jeremiah 43:1-13 / Keywords 43:6

They also led away all the men, women and children and the king’s daughters whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.

43:1 When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them— 2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’ 3 But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians,[a] so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.”

4 So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah. 5 Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered. 6 They also led away all those whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan—the men, the women, the children and the king’s daughters. And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them. 7 So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes.

8 In Tahpanhes the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 9 “While the Jews are watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. 10 Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them. 11 He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword. 12 He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt; he will burn their temples and take their gods captive. As a shepherd picks his garment clean of lice, so he will pick Egypt clean and depart. 13 There in the temple of the sun[b] in Egypt he will demolish the sacred pillars and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’”

Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 43:3 Or Chaldeans

b. Jeremiah 43:13 Or in Heliopolis

 

1. After the assassination of their governor, the leaders of the remnant of Judah had asked Jeremiah for the Lord’s direction. But when he said what they did not want to hear, they accused Jeremiah of conspiring against them (1-3). In reality, their own hearts were stubbornly set on going to Egypt. So, they led the entire remnant of Judah away to Egypt and forced Jeremiah to come as well (4-7). Once they arrived in Egypt, God had Jeremiah bury stones as a sign that God’s judgment by the king of Babylon could reach them even in Egypt (8-13).

 

2. God kept putting Jeremiah in a hostile and dangerous environment. But it was because he wanted to use Jeremiah to keep giving God’s word to his people, even after they disobeyed. God’s presence goes even with stubborn and rebellious people, patiently trying to help them repent. Jeremiah resembles Jesus, who came and lived among us sinners so we could be saved.

 

Prayer Father, thank you that your presence has been with me even when I have been disobedient. Help me open my heart to listen to your word from wherever I am.

One Word God’s word follows his people

AN INSINCERE PRAYER REQUEST 

Jeremiah 42:1-22 / Keywords 42:10

‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you.

42:1 Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah[a] son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached 2 Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. 3 Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

4 “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.”

5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. 6 Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”

7 Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest. 9 He said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: 10 ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. 12 I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’

13 “However, if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and so disobey the Lord your God, 14 and if you say, ‘No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,’ 15 then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, 16 then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die. 17 Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.’ 18 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse[b] and an object of horror, a curse[c] and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again.’

19 “Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today 20 that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ 21 I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. 22 So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.”

Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 42:1 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also 43:2) Azariah

b. Jeremiah 42:18 That is, your name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that you are cursed.

c. Jeremiah 42:18 That is, your name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that you are cursed.

1. After the assassination of the governor who was appointed over them by the king of Babylon, the leaders of the remnant in Judah came to Jeremiah, asking him to pray for them and give them God’s direction, which they promised to obey (1-6). Their words sounded good, but they had already made other plans.

 

2. The Lord said through Jeremiah that if they stayed in Judah, they would not need to be afraid of the king of Babylon, and God would build up and restore them (10-12). But the Lord also revealed to Jeremiah that they did not plan to obey this direction (20). Their hearts were set on escaping to Egypt.

 

3. The people’s plan was wrong because it was based on fear instead of faith. But their worst sin was pretending to seek God when they had no genuine intent to obey him. They thought they would be safe from the king of Babylon in Egypt, but God’s judgment can find us wherever we go. Praying with insincere intent, when we are intent on following our own desire, brings spiritual disaster (21-22).

 

Prayer Father, you are able to protect us from anything in the world. Help me live before your judgment only.

One Word Stay and God will build you up

THE WICKED DO NOT SUCCEED 

Jeremiah 41:1-18 / Keywords 41:11-12

When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon.

 

41:1 In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there, 2 Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian[a] soldiers who were there.

4 The day after Gedaliah’s assassination, before anyone knew about it, 5 eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord. 6 Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” 7 When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern. 8 But ten of them said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field.” So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others. 9 Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead.

10 Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.

11 When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, 12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon. 13 When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad. 14 All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites.

Flight to Egypt

16 Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led away all the people of Mizpah who had survived, whom Johanan had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam—the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had recovered from Gibeon. 17 And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt 18 to escape the Babylonians.[b] They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.

Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 41:3 Or Chaldean

b. Jeremiah 41:18 Or Chaldeans

1. Ishmael son of Nethaniah, who was an official under Israel’s former king, made a deal with the Ammonites to assassinate Gedaliah, the governor of the remnant in Judah (40:14). He carried out his evil plan, murdering Gedaliah while they were eating together. Then, when eighty worshipers came to Mizpah to bring offerings to the Lord, Ishmael lured them into a trap and slaughtered them as well (1- 10). This is what wicked men do to terrify the people and gain a hold on power. However, they will not succeed in the end; their crimes will find them out.

 

2. Johanan, son of Kareah, a commander of Judah’s armies, mustered an army and pursued Ishmael. They successfully rescued the people Ismael had taken captive, and Ishmael fled (11-15). But now they were afraid of retaliation from the Babylonians for the death of their governor, and so Johanan planned to flee with the remnant of Judah to Egypt (16-18). He should not have given in to fear, even though Gedaliah’s assassination seemed to crush people’s hope for a peaceful life. Though God’s people live in unstable times, God is able to protect and even bless them.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for your judgment on the wicked. Help me to not be terrorized but have courageous faith.

One Word Be brave when the devil works to plant fear

THE REMNANT IN ISRAEL

Jeremiah 40:1-16 / Keywords 40:6

So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

 

Jeremiah Freed

40:1 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. 2 When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. 3 And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. 4 But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.” 5 However, before Jeremiah turned to go,[a] Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”

Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. 6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

Gedaliah Assassinated

7 When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon, 8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah[b] the son of the Maakathite, and their men. 9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians,[c]” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. 10 I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over.”

11 When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit.

13 Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”

Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 40:5 Or Jeremiah answered

b. Jeremiah 40:8 Hebrew Jezaniah, a variant of Jaazaniah

c. Jeremiah 40:9 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 10

1. Jeremiah had been persecuted and imprisoned for prophesying God’s

judgment on Judah by the hand of the Babylonians. Ironically, after the destruction

of Jerusalem, he is shown kindness by the Babylonian commander of the guard.

Nebuzaradan was aware of Jeremiah’s prophesies and respected him as the

servant of Israel’s God. He freed Jeremiah to live wherever he wanted, whether in

Babylon or in Israel (1-4).

 

2. Jeremiah chose to stay in Judah with Gedaliah, the governor who was

appointed by the king of Babylon. Other prophets were chosen to serve God’s

exiled people in Babylon, but Jeremiah felt called to serve those who were left

behind, though they were among the poorest people. They were precious because

they were God’s remnant in the promised land. Their lives had been spared from

judgment, and the Lord was ready to bless them again, as he showed by granting

them an abundant harvest (12).

 

3. Before long, there were rumors of a plot against Gedaliah’s life. Gedaliah chose

not to pay attention to these but to focus on serving the people (16). To serve

and build up even a small number of people is a blessed life, no matter what

happened.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for blessing those who are spared from judgment. Help

me be ready to serve you wherever you send me.

One Word Serve God’s remnant.

 

THE WOMAN WHO FEARS THE LORD

Proverbs 31:10-31 / Keywords 31:30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

31:10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

    all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

    and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

    bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

    she provides food for her family

    and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Footnotes

b. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

1. The Book of Proverbs ends with a wonderful praise of godly women, for women are the backbone of a family, community, and society. The untold story of all their sacrifices is summed up here. They diligently manage their homes from early in the morning until late at night. They know how to control money so that they give to the poor freely and generously. They find ways to nurture others around them and comfort them. They bring honor to their family and husband. They have real joy by taking care of the people in their lives and knowing that they are well provided for. When they talk, it’s not to gossip or slander, but to share wisdom and to teach other women and children with kindness. 

2. Her children rise and bless her, and her husband praises her. What does her husband say? “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” He is madly in love with her. Verse 30 says charm is deceitful. Beauty is vain. But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Women like to hear praise and compliments. But real praise is not for their outer beauty, but for their fear of God, and the good work they have done for their family and community. 

Prayer Father, thank you for godly women who have this vision for themselves to fear the Lord and be praiseworthy. Please help us to honor them. 

One Word A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised

DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY

Proverbs 31:1-9 / Keywords 31:9

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Sayings of King Lemuel

31:1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!

    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,

    your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—

    it is not for kings to drink wine,

    not for rulers to crave beer,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,

    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,

    wine for those who are in anguish!

7 Let them drink and forget their poverty

    and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

    for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Speak up and judge fairly;

    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth

1. The king wrote an oracle that his mother taught him. (Possibly this is King Solomon, whose mother was Bathsheba.) She reminded him of how precious he was from her womb, and how she had made a vow to dedicate him to the Lord. She rebukes him for fraternizing with women and getting drunk. She admonishes him to take care of the poor. She reminds him that he was a king in the making, and kings had to carry themselves with nobility and justice. 

2. He had a responsibility to protect and preserve the rights of the afflicted. But addiction to women and wine makes him lose judgment. Likewise, there are temptations around us to drink and be immoral. Let us make a noble decision to live a pure and upright life, so that we may be able to grow in wisdom, power, and courage to defend the rights of the poor and to administer justice for our generation. 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus, who defended the rights of the poor. Help us to be leaders like him for our generation. 

One Word Live righteously and protect the needy