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Proverbs 31 and the Wife of Christ (Part Three): Esther

Sermon by Mark Schindler

The Woman of Proverbs 31 embodies the virtuous wife, described in Proverbs 31:10-31, as a model of strength and power that comes solely from God. This strength, rooted in the Hebrew word chayil, signifies the divine source of her capability to fulfill her responsibilities as she prepares to complement Jesus Christ in His purpose. Her role mirrors the creation of the first woman from man, symbolizing a deep unity and shared life, just as she shares in the life of Christ to become like Him through God's strength. Her preparation involves a lifetime of learning to live as Christ lives, aligning with God's plan to create man in His image and likeness. This process requires her to both complete and bring to perfection, as well as express praise and admiration, reflecting the dual meanings of complement and compliment in her character and work. Despite the adverse circumstances of a chaotic and violent world, she develops into a perfect complement to Christ, finding refuge in God as her fortress and strength. The ultimate descriptor of this virtuous wife is her fear of the Lord, a deep abiding respect for God that is the key to wisdom and living according to His ways. This fear, as the beginning of knowledge, shapes her preparation and is evident in her actions, ensuring she remains before God in a manner that pleases Him. Her character, perfected through this reverence, stands as a standard for individual progress in becoming the wife of Christ.

Proverbs 31 and the Wife of Christ (Part One)

Sermon by Mark Schindler

The wife of Christ, as depicted in Proverbs 31:10-31, embodies a profound and intimate relationship with Christ, reflecting God's plan to create mankind in His image and likeness. This relationship is typified in the marriage of husband and wife, intended to perfectly complement one another. The wife of Christ must live as Christ lives, complementing God's plan through actions that complete and bring to perfection, as well as through expressions of praise and admiration. Proverbs 31:10-12 serves as an introduction to the preparation manual for the wife of Christ, beginning with the rhetorical question, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" This question prompts careful consideration of the qualities and responsibilities of such a woman. The term "virtuous" in Hebrew, chayil, conveys strength, influence, worthiness, and excellence, indicating someone trustworthy and consistently working with outgoing concern for others. This strength originates from God Himself, as He is the source of all virtue that the wife of Christ must faithfully embody. The value of this virtuous woman surpasses jewels, pearls, and rubies, representing a rare treasure within the chaos of the world. Christ sees the fullness of this beautiful pearl being developed through trials, a pearl for which He paid the ultimate sacrifice. God expects the focus of the wife of Christ to be on becoming part of His righteous work, living through His strength and giving Him praise continually. God establishes that He provides the strength of purpose and character for the one He is preparing for perfect harmony with Christ. He sees those He prepares as precious and finished jewels, perfectly complementing Christ in unity and praise. The virtuous wife of Christ, relying on God's excellence and strength, is to do good and not evil all the days of her life, building the character to safely trust Christ and complement Him for eternity.

Proverbs 31 and the Wife of Christ (Part Two)

Sermon by Mark Schindler

The Woman of Proverbs 31, described as a wife of valor in Proverbs 31:10-31, embodies the strength and character that God provides for those He prepares to be in perfect harmony with Christ. This woman of valor represents a deeper, personal call for each individual to prepare as the perfected wife of Christ, maintaining a relationship of affectionate trust and faithfully carrying out responsibilities, as highlighted in Proverbs 31:11. God has positioned this ideal at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath, serving as a standard for self-examination and a reminder of the personal responsibilities each must uphold in readiness for Christ's return. The strength, or chayil, that David declares in II Samuel 22:33 as coming from God, is the same strength that underpins the character of this woman, enabling her to do good and not evil all the days of her life. God is in the process of shaping those He sees as precious jewels to complement Christ perfectly, ensuring that the wife of Christ is ready to work in unity with Him throughout the Millennium, a unity pictured by the Sabbath.

Proverbs 31 and the Wife of Christ (Part Four)

Sermon by Mark Schindler

The Proverbs 31 woman represents the ideal of a trustworthy companion to Jesus Christ, embodying absolute trust and faithfulness as seen in Proverbs 31:10-11. From the beginning of God's plan to create mankind in His image, the principle of choice has been central, guiding us to learn to be the perfected helpmate of Christ. This virtuous wife of Christ reflects the ultimate goal of our preparation, to align our choices with God's truth amidst a world of wrong decisions. God expects us to remain faithful, making right choices in a society swept up in deadly errors, as we humbly prepare for the return of Jesus Christ in our privileged position within His plan. Our struggle is to stay focused on living by His word, ensuring we are ready to serve as His helpmate, demonstrating the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman through our dedication and obedience to Him.

Our Help

Sermon by Bill Onisick

The woman was created to be a strong, equal, complementary partner. Marriage was intended to mirror the intimacy between Christ and the church.

Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part Eleven)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's selection of Eve as a companion to Adam took into account the need for a helper as a counterpart—like himself, but standing opposite as complementary.

Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Twelve)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

As husband and wife are commanded to become one flesh, members of the Bride of Christ become spiritually unified through the indwelling of God's Spirit.

Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The husband is charged to exercise love to his wife, actually a more demanding task than submitting, carrying more instructions than the command to submit.

Do We Truly Honor God in Our Actions?

Sermon by Kim Myers

We've all read the verses that state that the Word of God is the Bread of Life, but do we consistently practice what it teaches, and thus honor God?

The Politicalization of Motherhood

Sermonette by Mike Ford

Mothers are crucial in developing the baby's nervous system during the first three years, something that husbands, fathers, or day care centers cannot do.

Will You Marry Me? (Part One)

Article by Staff

The Bible is full of marriage symbolism. We have been invited to participate in the very Marriage Supper of Jesus Christ—not just as a guest, but as the Bride!

The Bride of Christ (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark Schindler

Our daily choices build character that will endure divine testing. By aligning with God's divine order, we do our part in yielding to this active preparation.

Honoring Mom

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Truly, a mother's love knows no bounds. The special bond between mothers and their children provides an insight as to how Jesus Christ loves us.

Loyalty and Submission (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

As wives are admonished to emulate the ideal of the Proverbs 31 woman, husbands must emulate the sacrificial spirit of Jesus Christ.

Displaying Gentle and Patient Conduct

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God's people must follow the spirit of the law regarding the treatment of others, being humble, sincere, and gentle, esteeming others before themselves.