Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Chapter 14 {A Double Blessing}


"Your tears never touch your cheeks without at the same time it touching
God's heart."


HER PREPARATION
She is not afraid of the snow for her household : for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Proverbs 31:21

No one, Jesus tells us in his Sermon on the Mount, was ever arrayed in clothing as splendid and grand as King Solomon of the Old Testament (Matthew 6:29)
But the family of the Proverbs 31 woman may have come very, very close!
What joy her loved ones stir in her heart--and what joy she brings them as they wear the masterpieces she spins and weaves and decorates.  When her family walks down the street, people can't help but notice!
Now before we go thinking that God's beautiful woman is out of balance here, that she's overly concerned about appearances, remember something that this godly woman knows to be fact: "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain" (Proverbs 31:30).  Far from being conceited and worldly, God's beautiful Proverbs 31 woman once again demonstrates her concern and care for people, her creativity, and her great ability to work.
Only this time her efforts are visible to all because her character expresses itself in her family's clothing.

-Clothing Fit for a King-
What does it mean that this beautiful woman clothes her family members in "scarlet"?  This color reveals much  about her provision.

*Warmth--Red, or scarlet (meaning "to shine"), indicates the retention of heat.

*Stately appearance--Scarlet is the color of kings' clothing and signifies dignity, luxury and magnificence.

*Quality--Only the best will do for this beautiful woman's family.  The fact that they are clothed with wool--and with scarlet wool at that!--speaks of the quality clothing she provides.  Then, as well as now, very few people owned more than one woolen overcoat.

*Double thickness--One meaning of the Hebrew word for scarlet is "double", and of course God's beautiful woman would only make quality, double-thick clothing, extending a double blessing to her brood.

*Double dipped--Wool has to be dyed the color scarlet, and to become truly scarlet, wool was dipped in to the dye more than once.

*Costly--Because of the dye and the added labor and time, scarlet robes were luxurious and costly.

It's amazing that the mere mention of scarlet clothing reveals so much about the heart of the seamstress and conveys such a powerful message from that heart to the heart of those for whom she sews!!
Even more amazing is that you and I are able to send the same message of love to those we love!
Just as God's beautiful woman, armed with her calendar and a "to-do" list, takes time to anticipate her family's future needs and prepare for them, so can you. :)

See you soon!
Sara Rose <3

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