::R1520 : page 127::

A WISE WOMAN

II. QUAR., LESSON IX., MAY 28, PROV. 31:10-31

Golden Text—”Favor is deceitful, and beauty is a breath: but a woman that reverenceth the Lord, she shall be praised”

This lesson is poorly chosen: it is an ideal woman, pictured by an uninspired pen, which is not at all the present ideal. This is not a part of Solomon’s writing, but, as stated in verse 1, was written by King Lemuel. We have no sympathy with the thought that a true wife should purchase fields and plant vineyards (verse 16), spin, weave, even toiling into the night (verse 18,19), and rising before daylight prepare breakfast (verse 15); and all this while her husband, well fed and well clothed, sits a member of the City Councils.—Verse 23.

::R1521 : page 127::

Energy, economy and forethought are of course commendable in both men and women; and without these no home can be either comfortable or happy. But this is an extreme view.

The Golden Text is the best of this lesson; especially the latter clause. The Christian woman, like the Christian man, while careful to be faithful in the duties of home and family will “seek first [chiefly] the kingdom of God and [conformity to] its righteous requirements,” making the fields, vineyards, silks and wealth quite secondary considerations. Few, if any, women of the Lord’s choice—few of those who will be of his “little flock”—will have all the points of Lemuel’s ideal woman.

King Lemuel’s wisdom on strong drink (verses 6 and 7) is also contrary to the true wisdom.

====================

— April 15, 1893 —