Page 1342 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_12_MacArthur_Bible_Dec.qxd 8/8/03 17:34 Page 1323

DECEMBER 31
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; And her hand holds the spindle.
Praise Him according to His excellent 20 She extends her hand to the poor,
greatness! Yes, she reaches out her hands to the
needy.
3 Praise Him with the sound of 21
the trumpet; She is not afraid of snow for her
Praise Him with the lute and harp! household,
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; For all her household is clothed with
scarlet.
Praise Him with stringed instruments 22 She makes tapestry for herself;
and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; 23 Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the
6 Let everything that has breath praise land.
the LORD. 24 She makes linen garments and sells
them,
Praise the LORD!
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Proverbs 31:10–31 25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
Who can find a virtuous wife? 26
10
For her worth is far above rubies. She opens her mouth with wisdom,
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts And on her tongue is the law of
her; 27 kindness.
So he will have no lack of gain. She watches over the ways of her
12 She does him good and not evil household,
All the days of her life. And does not eat the bread of idleness.
13 She seeks wool and flax, 28 Her children rise up and call her
And willingly works with her hands. blessed;
14 She is like the merchant ships, 29 Her husband also, and he praises her:
She brings her food from afar. “Many daughters have done well,
15 She also rises while it is yet night, 30 But you excel them all.”
And provides food for her household, Charm is deceitful and beauty is
And a portion for her maidservants. passing,
16 She considers a field and buys it; But a woman who fears the LORD, she
From her profits she plants a vineyard. shall be praised.
17 She girds herself with strength, 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And strengthens her arms. And let her own works praise her in
18 She perceives that her merchandise the gates.
is good, Revelation 21:1–22:21
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the Now I saw a new heaven and a new
distaff, 21 earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away. Also there was no
2
more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
3
husband. And I heard a loud voice from heav-
31:10–31 This poem offers a beautiful
description of the excellent wife as defined by en saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is
a wife and mother (v.1).Spiritual and practical with men, and He will dwell with them, and
wisdom plus moral virtues mark the character they shall be His people. God Himself will be
4
of this woman in contrast to the immoral with them and be their God. And God will
women of v. 3. While the scene here is of a wipe away every tear from their eyes; there
wealthy home and the customs of the ancient shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cry-
Near East, the principles apply to every family. ing. There shall be no more pain, for the for-
They are set forth as the prayer of every moth- mer things have passed away.”
er for the future wife of her son, and literarily 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Be-
arranged with each of the 22 verses begin- hold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,
ning with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alpha- “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
bet in consecutive order. 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the
Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the

1323