The Proverbs 31 Woman~Week 5

 We are up to week 5 of the Proverbs 31 Woman Series.  If you missed the first 4 videos you can find them by clicking here and then scrolling down and back to find the week you missed.

This week we are looking at verses 17 & 18

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.

(If you are seeing this in a feed or email – click here to see the video)

I was going write and add a little to what I shared in the video – then I got so chatty in the video (it was longer than I meant it to be. lol!  I guess this series really lights my fire!) that I think I covered it all!

**just one addition that came from the comment section – I agree – her lamp not going out at night – could mean that she was prepared with enough oil to keep a “night light” on all night in case someone woke and needed her help.  Also, in the morning she would already have a fire lit to start her other fires for cooking.

This week’s challenge is to JOIN ME – in memorizing the entire Proverbs 31 passage.

I made a printable so we can print a few copies and keep them around.  I encourage you to keep the verses on your kitchen counter, in your purse, folded in your Bible (read it first thing before you have your quiet time), on your nightstand or in your bathroom.  If you read it a few times a day – you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick it up!

Proverbs 31 Printable (if the printable doesn’t work – click this link to open it in a new window)

Walk with the King,

32 Comments

  1. Thank you for reading the verses about the Proverbs 31 Woman out loud. You did a beautiful job-so encouraging to hear it spoken. And thank you for your reflection and teaching. One more thing, I usually don’t comment on clothing, but I love the color and style of your ensemble!

      1. Rebecca, I must say I was admiring your top and earrings too Courtney!! And I love listening to your reflections. I’m just tuning in now so will have to go back and watch and read from the start, but I’m actually excited about delving into the Proverbs 31 woman and how I can be more like her.

    1. Hi all,
      Just a thought: it’s been explained to me this way.
      That last part of verse 18 means that because her trading is profitable, her lamp does not go out at night.
      Oil was the fuel used in lamps back then and it was rather expensive so people turned their lamps off at night to save money. She was so good at making money that she didn’t have to turn it off at night!
      Thanks for your posts and videos 🙂 I really enjoy them!

  2. Courtney,
    When it talks about her candle not going out at night, I am reminded that the lamp in the temple was to burn at all times. It makes me think that she was continually ready to serve, ready to worship, repentant. I don’t know if that is the picture that the writer wants us to see, but it is a reminder for me that when I go to bed at night, I’m not putting out the lamp of God in my life. It is burning even while I’m asleep. :O)

    1. I had thought of this perspective as well. The light at night is a welcoming sight for a weary traveler (in her setting) and gives direction to weary feet.

      I agree with you too, Courtney, that staying up late for the Proverbs 31 woman didn’t always mean a short night. We are so familiar with all of our artificial light that we can hardly fathom going to bed at sundown and rising at sunup! So I think a lot of it had to do with her attitude toward what needed to be done at any given time. I see a lack of frustration when projects took longer than expected, etc. That’s something I need to work at, especially over the summer months when we do a lot of canning/freezing of fruits and vegetables at our house! I don’t enjoy it and get frustrated with it.

      I am enjoying this study, Keep on sharing what you’re learning. You are a blessing to many!

  3. I agree with Rebecca, I loved your outfit in the video! And I think it’s awesome that you are memorizing the passage. The pastor of the church I attended in high school memorized each weeks passage and it was so amazing to me that he could do that.

  4. This is just what I needed this week! Thank you for the encouragement and gentle conviction. We are moving in a couple of weeks and I just feel behind on EVERYTHING – dishes, laundry, shopping, cleaning, etc. This was a reminder that I just need to keep working hard and sort of get through these next few weeks and then it will be a little bit easier to stay on top of everything again. I will write the verse out in a couple of places and start memorizing!

  5. Once again, a great expansion of these two verses Courtney!! I actually wrote out the majority of what you said while watching this one as all the ones previous have been so good … and this one didn’t disappoint!! I have 3.5 A4 pages of notes, lol! And I am SO glad I did! … Considering going back through and taking notes of the others so I don’t forget your wise council and words!!
    I agree with the ladies per your outfit – that’s such a nice colour on you too!! And those matching earrings just make the outfit!! Love it!!
    Thanks for the printout of the verses … memorising them will be great! Just the other day I was thinking of printing out the verses, as we go through the study, and putting them up on the wardrobe where I will see them each day. This is even MORE perfect!! Thankyou! I will start to work on memorising them this week!! Hugs!

  6. Thank you Courtney!!! I needed this! Dealing with a lot of my own issues as far as being OCD about my house. Thank you for reminding me that we are all flawed and our homes will never be perfect until God calls us Home. I need to focus more on my kids while they are young vs. if my house is white glove clean.

  7. I LOVE your suggestion to memorize this passage. I think many times we get in the habit of teaching our children to memorize Bible verses, when WE could really use it ourselves. Besides, how else can we teach our little ones? Thanks!

  8. Hi Courtney,
    I just wanted to share a commentary I heard about her lamp not going out at night.
    Just another thought on it.

  9. Hmm not sure what happened. My first post didn’t go all the way through.
    Anywho, I will finish it. :o) I know your just dying to hear my other thought….haha!
    I had once heard that her lamp not going out at night meant that she was able to keep her
    lamp burning all night because she had enough oil. Another sign of her preparedness. Back
    in that day they didn’t have the ability to flip a switch so they would leave a lamp burning all
    night. When she arose while it was still dark (or anyone for that matter) they could see. This lady
    was prepared, organized, she knew the needs of her family and met them. It’s beautiful!

    1. That’s exactly what I was thinking Amy, and also like someone said above. She was always prepared and possibly her own earnings bought the oil for her lamp so that was one more thing her husband didn’t have to worry about. Made me think of the foolish virgins at the wedding celebration (Matthew 25).

  10. I am so amazed at how this Bible study has come to me at a time when I have been agonizing over the decision of returning back to work after my maternity leave (I get a year). I long to stay at home, but I’ve been fearful of letting go of my work as a nurse. I am affirmed by this study and am challenged to have full faith in my heavenly Father that He will provide all things for my family.
    Thank you for your hard work in bringing all of us women, whom you have never met, this study!

  11. I’ve actually been working on memorizing this passage too! I’m about at the same point you are. I selected this passage to memorize right before I found out you were doing this series, and it was perfect timing. Thanks for your encouraging reflections on the passages each week.

  12. Hi Courtney!

    I’m a pretty new reader, first time commenter. I just wanted to let you know I love your videos, love listening to you talking about these things like being feminine and homemaking with such passion. I can feel that your motivation is loving and peaceful, and I just enjoy learning from you. At the moment I am appreciating my singleness, albeit preparing for marriage. A couple of years ago what you talk about in this (and a lot of your other videos) would’ve really scarred me (I thought I could find fulfilment in being this utterly independent, almost masculine woman), but I think the Lord has opened my heart to understand true femininity, the way he intended it, better.

    Blessings and thank you,
    Helena (whose first language is not English, so I hope I could get what I wanted to say across 🙂 ).

  13. Hello

    I love this serie of Proverbs 31 woman and I am looking forward for the rest of it. I want to know why I signed up for the free ebook and it still doesn’t want to open ?

    Keep your good works girls, I love your website
    Chantal

    1. Oh no – I’m so sincerely sorry! Please email me and I will send you the direct link – my email address is courtney(at)womenlivingwell.org – again I apologize it’s acting wonky :(.

  14. Courney,
    I absolutely love this series. I downloaded the ebook as well and loce it. This particular week was very helpful and spoke to my heart. We are moving this weekend and have been in the proceaa of getting the new house ready over the last three months. I was feeling quite weart this morning as i reviewed everything i needed to do this week. This reminded me that i need to work hard during this week and can relax some next week. Thank you for this.

  15. Courtney,
    In verses 16-18 I saw that a Proverbs 31 woman works outside of the home plus takes care of her home. It does help to hear you say that the home doesn’t have to look perfect but you cannot be lazy in your efforts of keeping up with the household. I struggle from time to time with everything I have to do in my home. I have to work outside of the home to support my family due to my husbands disability. My help from him is limited at home because one day he can be physically fine the next not able to move/walk. So I struggle with frustration because I start my day before the sun rises and don’t stop till after the sunsets. I know I need to ask God to help me find joy in getting the housework done and to honor Him without feeling angry for what my husband cannot and sometimes will not do.
    Thank you, Liz

  16. Hi Courtney,

    I want to thank you for taking the time to do this. I initially began this study because as a single mother I wanted to be able to be the mother to them that God intended. I am now seeing through this passage that my working with diligence not only applies to the things that I do as a mother but also those things that I am doing as a student. I am going to put myself to work more diligently as a student as a part of my application of being that Proverbs 31 woman I long to be.

  17. I want to say how much I enjoy your ministry and truly wish I had something like this years ago when I first got married! I am trying to figure out where or if there is a study guide to go along with the e- book and if so where can I get it?

    Thanks! And I will be praying for you and this ministry to grow and continue to bless others!

  18. Thanks Courtney for a great study!

    Like many of you above, I have seen the portion of the verse that refers to the lamp not going out at night in multiple layers. I’m sure that this busy woman is staying up past dark to get it all done, enjoy some time for herself, and/or spend some quality time with her family once everyone is settled under her roof. I was also immediately struck by the link of her profitability to her use of lamp oil. It seems that most families in that time would have provided many of the things they needed from materials, crafts, crops, etc. from their own hands/household. Lamp oil was probably expensive and most families probably did not burn more than was necessary to finish the days tasks at dusk. This woman made enough money or traded well enough that her family could keep a lamp burning into the night! I was also reminded, as someone mentioned above, of the maidens who missed the wedding feast because they did not plan well ahead for a supply of lamp oil. Proverbs 31 woman has that under control! I was picturing, too, an image of her lamp illuminating her home as a beacon in the night. Think Motel 6–“We’ll leave the light on for you.” LOL Throughout history we have heard of people leaving a light or candle burning to signal safety and welcome to travelers. Maybe this woman was always ready to recieve those who were lost, weary, lonely, or in need. Last, but not least, I imagine her as a figurative light shining with the presence of God. Even though the book of Psalms was written prior to the time of Christ, there are many references in the Old Testament to “light” signifying the prescence of God even before we hear of the “light of Christ” in the New Testament. I am a Catholic, and in the Catholic Church a candle stays lit at all times that the Body of Christ is in the tabernacle (the consecrated communion wafer, or Eucharist, which we believe contains the true presence of Christ). It is a reminder that Christ is always with us and in us, spiritually and physically. Because of Christ’s sacrifice of himself, we (Christians) are ALL tabernacles in which He lives and since He is alive in us we are called to be beacons, shining the light of His love to all around us 24hrs a day!

    Isn’t the Living Word amazing!!!!!! —-and…..Once again, this woman gets it all right!! What a lady!

    I am a rough little ball of clay compared to her but I am a work in progress and, thanks be to God, He will not give up on me!! I am truly enjoying this journey with you ladies!

  19. Hey Courtney and gals! Yes, first of all, let me add that I too was admiring the shirt, earrings and outfit as a whole!lol.. 😉 But I also love the way you broke down the Prov. 31 woman who probably went to bed by 9:30 b/c she wasn’t watching TV. I recently stopped watching TV and have found so much more time in my day. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 Lauren, lholmes79.wordpress.com

  20. Just want to share that I have been planning “portions for my servant girls” (chore lists for my boys each day) and it has been going pretty well. Not too much grumbling over the duties–most are quick and easy like watering plants, gathering trash, tidying rec room, etc. Nothing really out of the ordinary but making a list and giving it to them at the beginning of the day with instructions to have them done by the end of the day is much more effective than the method I was using–giving directions as they popped into my mind throughout the day, them forgetting, me reminding, me nagging, and only half of it getting done without elevated voice or me forgetting about it to, then grumbling about it not having been done the next day. I still have to remind them to consult their list at times, and a few things have not been carried out completely but we are all getting better at it, the house is a bit more orderly, my plants aren’t dead yet (they usually don’t make it til the middle of June), and we are arguing less…….did I mention we are a work in progress???? 😉 At least I’m seeing “progress”! Have a great weekend ladies!

  21. OK, I’ve finally decided to accept your challenge. I haven’t really memorized scripture verses since high school when I took seminary classes. I’m not very good at memorization, and this is such a long passage, but I’m ready!

  22. I am totally Loving this series, my passion is Proverbs 31, I love memorizing it, studying it and seeing how I can bless my family and serve my husband, and especially learning how wonderful God is. Thank you for the work you have done to bless us. When I am feeling overwhelmed I reread Proverbs 31 to inspire me to keep going.
    Its great to count our blessings
    Thanks again
    Kathleen

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