IX. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN.
Prov. xxxi.
Her Reward.
I. Her children regard her with grateful love, and look back with thankfulness to her care and teaching. Verse 28. e.g. Timothy, 2 Tim. i. 5, and David, Ps. lxxxvi. 16; cxvi. 16.
II. Her husband confides in her, blesses her, honours her. Verse 28.
Eph. v. 25, 31. 1 Pet. iii. 7.
III. She reaps the fruit of her labours. Verse 31. Deut. iv. 40. Prov. xx. 7; xxii. 6; xxix. 17. 2 John, 4.
IV. She shall rejoice in time to come. Verse 25.
Not only in this world (Ps. cxviii. 15), but in the life to come.
In the future kingdom, will not her children, for whom she prayed and laboured, be to her, as St. Paul says his spiritual children will be to him, ‘Her joy, her crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?’ 1 Thess. ii. 19.
Let this cheer the faint-hearted and discouraged Christian mother; she sows perhaps now with bitter tears, but she shall ‘reap in joy.’
X. HOW TO SPEND SUNDAY.
‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.’
Mothers can effect much by domestic arrangement, and forethought.
I. Make Saturday a ‘day of preparation.’ ‘Bake that which ye will bake to-day,’ &c. Exod. xvi. 5, 23. Mark, xv. 42. Luke, xxiii. 54.
II. Endeavour to make the Sunday
1. A holy day.
Exod. xx. 10, 11. Deut. v. 12. Gen. ii. 3.
To sanctify, signifies to set apart for a holy purpose. Thus in the New Testament the Sabbath is called ‘the Lord’s day.’ Rev. i. 10, because a day devoted to His service.
2. A resting day.
Gen. ii. 3. Lev. xxiii. 3. Matt. xxiii. 56.
Called ‘the Sabbath of rest.’ Lev. xxiii. 3. And ‘the rest of the holy Sabbath.’ Exod. xvi. 23. Sabbath signifies rest, and heaven, of which it is a type, is called, ‘the keeping of a Sabbath.’ Heb. iv. 9.
3. A happy day.
It is a gift, a privilege, not a task.
Exod. xvi. 29. Isa. lviii. 13.
Not esteemed to be such, unless God’s service felt to be a delight. Others say, ‘When will the Sabbath be gone?’ Amos, viii. 5.
Let there be no gloom in the home, but a cheerful sobriety.
4. A profitable day.
Though rest, not idleness. Children are always happiest when their minds are employed.
To profit pay great attention to Public Worship, Deut. xxxi. 12, 13. Acts, xiii. 42; xvi. 13; xviii. 4. Heb. x. 25.
Observe our Lord’s example. Luke, iv. 16.
The Sunday School is a great help to the poor mother.
Cultivate religious occupation. e.g. Find texts—repeat hymns—sing hymns, &c.
III. Observe the promise.
Isa. lvi. 2–7: lviii. 13, 14.