The National tribune., 1893-05-18
SUNDAY M. MEDITATION.
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A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson ,AppOinl.i for May
%, 1893. 599 g
Subject: The ExceIlent Woman. Prov, 35 !:
1881.
| lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
| indicated aboye.l t.5it
| INTRODUCTION.
This lesson closes our course in the Book of
| Proverbs The object has been to inspire a
love for that book, insuring its future more
critical study. AS a rule proverbs are con-
| densed general and practical principles-pro-
ducts of time and experience-tried truths
valuable because brief easily comprehended,
stored in memory without difficulty-specially
| ADAPTED to instruction, and therefore available
in teaching children and youth.
There is a dignity, weightiness, authorita-
| tiveness about the Proverbs in wonderful con-
trast to large percentage of tho humdrum
| plattudes on vrtue, or the commonplace rhap-
! sodes on duty. The difference is nearly as
| great as that between the Tree of Life and the
gourd of Jonah.
We are informed that so great was the adj
miratiou of the famous Mr.. Writ for the Book
of Proverbs, considered simply from the ethical
standpoint. that even before he became pro.
nounced Christian he required his children to
memories portions every day, and repeat such
| parts daily at stated hours
| We recall what st. Paul said to the Romans,
| "Whatsoever things were written aforetime
/ L., Al, a.
patience and comfort of the Scriptures might
| have hope"
PROVERBS, 81 1881.
| !. Data.
| This paragraph has been called " the golden
| A B for wives" The Hebrew alphabet con-
| ssts of % letters The paragraph we study
| consists of that number of verses In the
| original (Hebrew), the said % verses begin in
regular aphabetc order with the successive
| Hebrew letters; that is to say, the first verse
| of the paragraph (the 10th Of the chapter)
| begins with the Hebrew letter A, the second
verse with the Hebrew letter B, and so for all
the % letters OF that alphabet
Have we in this paragraph a purely ideal
| picture of what woman ought to be, or is the
| description that Of real woman, mother, wife?
! Some have thought the author actually de-
| scribes his mother. Others think the attempt
| is to furnish all women grand ideal of woman
! prophecy? Is it practical or theoretical? Does
! it tell what certain woman was, or what all
| women should be? Is it narration of fact, or
! a recipe? Is it product of memory. of
| Imagination? Is it q photograph, dash of
artistic fancy? Does it relate to one woman
or to a woman who averages well in all femi-
nine qualities; that is to say, is it picture of
| unit lone person., or a composite, ombining
| the better features of goody number of model
| wives?
| The question asked in V. 10 shows the woman
| in question is very rare indeed.
| May it not be the outpouring of the admiring
son of most exceptional mother2 If so, it is
not a faint photograph. Memory had well
preserved it. B
From 81: I we might suppose it was the
product of the mother herself. "Taught him."
however, in said verse, may mean illustrated.
set before. The author was able thus to set
forth the lovely qualities of womanhood be-
cause he had learned of them, become familiar
with Thorn at home from his mother. 1t is
possible the verses to 8 Inclusive the OK
act statement OF what the mother taught the
son, and that vs.. 10 81 are deduction.
| II the description be of real mother, We
might suppose it to leave out any defects she
may have had. and in the stead to have added
| ofsetting graees. Weseemingly have the pict-
ure OF perfect woman.
We would think the description not simply a
| delightful tribute to his own mother but at
tempt of tho author also to teach all woman
kind the qualities to be sought and practiced i'll
wifehood.
Reading the paragraph we feel the common
| tator Henry bit the mark we'll when he said
of those 22 verses, They are the looking
glass for ladies'" A looking-glass not only
shows woman how she appears, but enables
her TO improve her looks.
We notice very good mother is not only
| anxious as to her sons conduct, 81 :29) but
| also very concerned as to his choice of wife.
And so we do not wonder at the presentation
by the mother to the son of ain ideal wife pict-
ure.
1t is right to raise an honorable memorial
TO the wife and mother who matches VS..
1921. So it is said, in V. 81 "Give her the
fruit Of her hands, and let her own works
praise her in the gates" First give her credit
for her noble qualities. Pass them not by in
silence, as though unworthy Of notice. She
deserves the fruit of commentator. and we
should put it into her hands. 1t is right to
speak we'll of her. So good, she will be sure to
be referred to with admiration in the general
conversations at those public places of con-
course, the gates of the city. Notice her very
rarity calls forth comment.
The one mentioned here is distinctly re-
garded exceptional: "Thou excellest them
ALL" (29)
2. When and ,ohere written.
We may date about 1000 years before Christ,
salem.
g. Auth0r.
There are scholars who take the last chapter
of Proverbs as being imaginary throughout,
the persons Lemuel aud his mother being only
fictitious characters Then, thus considered,
many think Solomon wrote it.
Also it has been thought Lemuel TOR Muel)
was another name for Solomon. Those choos-
ing this view consider the mother as Bath
sheba. Dr. Adam Clarke mentions serious OBJ
jections to this opinion.
4. Outline.
!. Qualities
a. Personal.
b. Financial.
c. Wifely.
d. Home.
G. General.
9. Rewards
3. Epitaph.
5. Detailed Qualities
i. Vrtuous. 10, 80.
9. Has confidence of husband. Ii.
3. Protects him from dishonesty. IL.
A. Does husband good. II.
3. Never wavers as to goodness to husband.
~.
6. Industrious. 13, 10, %, 27.