Her Merchandise is Good - Proverbs 31:18

In the book of Proverbs Lemuel asked, “Who can find a virtuous woman? … She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms”, and in chapter thirty one and verse eighteen of Proverbs King Lemuel said, “she perceives that her merchandise is good” where we read,

She perceives that her merchandise is good:

her candle goes not out by night.

The verse begins, “She perceives that her merchandise is good:” Lemuel began with the words, “she perceives” or “she, the virtuous woman, understands, knows and is conscience” “that her merchandise” which means “that her, the virtuous woman's, gain and profit” “is good” or “exists as pleasant, agreeable, excellent and valuable”. Lemuel said “the virtuous woman” knows that the profits and gains from her goods are excellent. 

The verse continues, “her candle goes not out by night.” Lemuel added the words, “her candle” or “her, the virtuous woman's, light or lamp” “goes not out by night” which means “does not extinguish within the protective shadow, gloom or nighttime”. Lemuel said “the virtuous woman's” lamp is not extinguished throughout the nighttime. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Lemuel how “the virtuous woman” not only produces pleasant merchandise, but she makes a profit from it and does not allow her lamp to be extinguished during the nighttime hours. In other words, she is a good business person and very industrious. God gives these characteristics and gifts to people, and when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us how to have “good merchandise” and not to allow our lamps to go out “by night”.

Next time Lemuel says, “she lays her hands to the spindle”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".