Proverbs 31:22
She Brings Beauty into the Home
Review: So far we have learned several things about the virtuous woman:
→ Vs. 10 – She is valuable—like rubies.
→ Vs. 11 – She is trustworthy.
→ Vs. 12 – She did good deeds for her husband her whole life.
→ Vs. 13 – She was a willing worker and made clothing for her family.
→ Vs. 14 – She was a diligent and wise shopper.
→ Vs. 15 – She rises early to minister to her family and servants and organizes the day’s chores.
→ Vs. 16-17 – With the fruit of her hands she invests in and plants a vineyard to provide fruit and wine for her family.
→ Vs. 18-19 – She makes and sells good merchandise to help with family finances
→ Vs. 20 – She generously gives to the poor and needy
→ Vs. 21 – She prepares for her family’s needs ahead of time.
→ Tonight we want to see that she brings beauty into the home.
22a She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
A. The Virtuous Woman Makes Tapestry for Her Home
1. Covering of tapestry:
a. This is one word in the Hebrew.
b. It is a noun meaning a bed spread, cushion, or blanket.
c. The term itself has been translated as a decorative blanket similar to an afghan.
d. It could refer to a decorative tapestry to be used as a wall hanging or clothing.
e. It could refer to a large piece of decorative cloth for any purpose. Such tapestries were used in the Temple for curtains of blue, purple, and scarlet. It added beauty to the Temple.
2. Usage:
a. The term is used only twice in the Bible.
b. It is used here and in Prov. 7:16.
c. As an interesting side note, the term is used only twice in the Bible: once concerning the virtuous woman (ch. 31) and once concerning the opposite kind of woman, the harlot (ch. 7).
3. Prov. 7:16 – The only other usage of the Hebrew term:
a. In this context, it is used of a beautiful bed spread.
b. The harlot covers her bed with this beautiful tapestry.
c. She perfumes her bed with sweet smelling spices.
d. Her purpose is to make her bed alluring, enticing, attractive, and appealing.
4. In Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman makes “coverings of tapestry” (same Hebrew word as in ch. 7).
a. And her purpose is really the same as that of the harlot.
b. She makes something beautiful, attractive, and appealing for her home.
c. The point is that she brings beauty into her home.
d. So far, we have seen the practical, functional, and utilitarian side of her labors: for food, clothing, organizational skills, and an ability to make money.
e. Here we see another side of her labors: her creative, imaginative, artistic side. She brings beauty into her home.
5. In Bible times, Kings lived in luxurious palaces. However, many people lived in tents. Others lived in homes made of stucco-like material with a sod roof and dirt floors.
a. The average home was not all that attractive.
b. But the virtuous woman brought the woman’s touch into her home.
c. She worked and labored in order to turn an ordinary cloth spread into a piece of art—a beautiful covering.
d. Some women are very talented at taking something drab and ordinary, and turning it into something very beautiful.
e. I guess today you might liken this to a woman who purchases things at yard sales and to junk stores, and with a large dose of imagination and creativity turns them into decorative pieces that add to the beauty of her home—works of art.
6. And again, it should be noted, that this woman was not motivated by greed. She wasn’t trying to keep up with the Joneses. She wasn’t trying to show off—or to have the best house on the block.
a. She did this for her husband and her family.
b. She wanted them to be proud of their home.
c. She wanted them to feel comfortable at home.
d. She wanted them to experience a pleasant atmosphere at home.
e. She wanted them to have a home where they would not be ashamed to have company come.
f. She wanted the inside of her home to be attractive, neat, orderly, well kept, well planned, well designed, full of beauty and pleasant things.
g. And she did so for her husband and family. It was a ministry to them.
h. And of course, it would be a testimony to visitors. It would be obvious to visitors that the lady of the house excelled in turning her house into a home… attractive, pleasing, and beautiful.
B. The Virtuous Woman was Wise
1. Prov. 8:21 – Here we see wisdom personified as a woman.
a. Those who love Lady Wisdom (by listening to her and obeying her) will discover that the wisdom she gives will result in having their home filled with “treasures.”
b. Of course, the greatest treasures would be spiritual in nature: love, joy and peace.
c. But these treasures could also include physical treasures—which are gained as a result of taking heed to Lady Wisdom’s words: hard work, diligence, planning ahead, seeking to please others.
d. Such treasures are the FRUIT of wisdom. The virtuous woman was wise. She listened to Lady Wisdom.
2. Prov. 14:1 – “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”
a. The foolish woman plucks down and destroys her own house. What a shame.
• The plucking down on her house is because she is a fool.
• The woman’s foolish character has a detrimental effect on her household.
• In Proverbs folly is often seen as lazy, selfish, stubborn, and unwilling to listen to Lady Wisdom.
• And the fool in Proverbs suffers the consequences of his own folly. That is the case with the foolish woman here.
b. On the other hand, the wise woman builds up her house.
• The virtuous woman was a woman of character. She was no fool, but wise.
• She listens to Lady Wisdom.
• She is hard working, diligent, others oriented, plans ahead, and giving. That is wisdom in action.
• Thus, her household is well cared for—built up.
• Wisdom builds her house. Wisdom turns her house into a beautiful home.
3. Prov. 15:6 – “In the house of the righteous is much treasure.”
a. Here it is a righteous person who has “treasures” in his or her home.
b. That is because this person does things the RIGHT way… not the wrong way like the fool.
c. Thus, the righteous person gets to experience the fruits of his righteousness: beautiful, valuable treasures.
d. Again, this passage is not promoting greed or materialism. It is promoting righteousness by highlighting the practical fruit of righteousness.
4. Prov. 24:3-4 – “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
a. And again, Solomon speaks of the right way to build a house.
b. By building a house he does not mean the actual construction.
c. He is primarily speaking about the “household” – the family and their dwelling place… the home.
d. Through wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, the chambers (rooms) of that home will be filled with precious and pleasant riches (items of great value).
e. The virtuous woman was a woman of wisdom, understanding (discernment) and knowledge.
f. She used her wisdom, discernment, and knowledge for the good of her family.
g. Thus, her family was able to experience the fruit of it all—precious and pleasant things in the home—like beautiful tapestry… pieces of art… creative and handsome things.
h. Her family enjoyed coming home to such a place.
i. And the virtuous woman’s husband and children appreciated all the time and thought that she put into making her home beautiful.
1. We saw in the previous verse (vs. 21) that the virtuous woman clothed her family well.
a. They have warm clothing for the winter. They are ready for the snow to fall!
b. They also have well made, fashionable clothing. It was made with scarlet dye. This was used on the well made expensive cloth.
c. Her family was clothed well. We will see that again in the following verse.
2. But in verse 22, Lemuel describes how the virtuous woman clothes herself.
a. HER clothing is silk and purple.
• She made fine clothing for her family. She wanted her family to be warm, fashionable, and well dressed.
• She also made fine clothing for herself.
• She also wanted herself to be warm, fashionable, and well dressed.
b. Silk was a very fine and expensive cloth.
• The word translated “silk” is defined as linen.
• Linen is woven from the fibers of flax plants. The fibers made it very durable.
• It is one of the oldest and most expensive textiles in the world.
• In vs. 13 we are told that the virtuous woman gathered flax plants and worked it into fine linen with her own hands.
• She made very fine clothing for herself.
• This was not contradictory to what Peter wrote in I Peter 3:3-4: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
• Peter was not forbidding a godly woman from doing up her hair, wearing gold, or wearing fine clothing. (If this is interpreted as forbidding the items on his list then he is forbidding them from wearing clothing—apparel!)
• Peter is simply stating that the outward adorning is not really what makes a godly woman beautiful. It is her inward adorning that makes her truly a beautiful person.
3. Her silk clothing (linen) was purple.
a. Purple dye was made from a shellfish and was expensive.
b. It was very desirable and fashionable.
c. It was worn by royalty and the well to do.
d. In a time when homes and clothing were often very drab, a woman dressed in purple linen would stand out in a crowd—not in an ostentatious way… but as a woman who was well dressed.
e. This was obviously a woman of means—perhaps in part because she came from a wealthy family.
f. But the context of the proverb indicates that it was because she was a wise and diligent worker.
g. The point of our proverb is that this woman brought beauty into her home for her family.
h. She also made herself beautiful for her husband.
i. She takes care of herself. She is no slob. She does not consider it to be a badge of “spirituality” to dress in poor, drab, shabby, or old fashioned clothing.
j. The virtuous woman took the time to make herself attractive. That is a very womanly thing to do.
k. This proverb does not speak of this as vanity or worldliness, but rather as VIRTUE.
l. And of course, it has to do with motive.
• The virtuous woman was not selfish, coveting the best for herself. She gave generously to the poor. (vs. 20)
• She was not greedy, worldly, selfish, and proud. That was not why she wanted beautiful things.
• Rather, she was righteous, understanding, and sought to bring the woman’s touch into her home for her family to enjoy and she kept herself looking attractive for her husband.
• This is seen in our proverb not as a vice but a virtue.
4. The virtuous woman is a woman. She is a woman of beauty.
a. She makes her home beautiful for her family.
b. She makes herself beautiful for her husband.
c. Vs. 28 – No wonder her whole family praises her!