We are in week 7 of the Proverbs 31 study. You may wonder why I have a title of Declaring His Praises on a verse stating that she is not afraid of snow for all of her household is clothed with scarlet. Scarlet is the color of royalty. It was a very expensive color to make and therefore was the most valuable color sought by others. This scarlet color was produced by crimson insects and/or by shellfish.
http://vscoc.org/Bulletinfdr/scarlet_worm.htm
In the above article The Scarlet Worm, you can read about the insect like the cochineal where the females produced a substance from which the bright scarlet dye was produced. My heart was filled with gratitude to declare His praises as I read about how the "scarlet worm" affixes her body to the trunk of a tree or wooden object never to leave again so that when her young are born they are protected and provided for. Likewise by analogy it is shown that Jesus cried out "But I M A WORM AND NO MAN; A REPROACH OF MEN, AND DESPISED BY THE PEOPLE." I keep thinking of Jesus' sacrifice today. Jesus placed himself upon a wooden cross/tree to protect us and provide for us. We are to remain in Him if we are to bear any fruit. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. We also are called to love others as He has loved us. In order to have sacrificial love, we need to wear Jesus' robe of righteousness and not our own.
Therefore, I have chosen the title Declaring His Praises because it is all because of Jesus I'm alive. I can wear robes of scarlet because He has taken my filthy robes. I do not need to fear of any season of life because I wear His righteousness.
Scriptures:
Proverbs 31:21 - She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Proverbs 27:23 - Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds...
Observations:
1. We, believers and followers of Jesus Christ, do not need to fear or worry
2. We are clothed with royalty/blood of Christ - His robes of righteousness
3. We are Shepherds (of individual family and Church Body family).
Applications:
When my focus is on who I am in Christ and declaring His praises of Him who took me out of darkness into His marvelous light, I am able to see more clearly the condition of "flocks". When I am focused on providing food/meals, clothes, haircut, good marriage, vacation, rest, doing educational and fun activities with child, meeting needs of others, I get tired and worn out as my focus is not on His robes of righteousness/scarlet but on myself. My serving can become filthy rags of righteousness if not focused on Jesus.
Application to me is God's Word revealing His Truth. These are the verses that came to me for application:
1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people for God's own possession so that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
***This verse I believe came as application about our royal calling and who we are and what our purpose is. This is the reason why God clothes His church family in scarlet****
Philippians 4:4 - 4:9 - Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
***I believe this verse came as application because when I looked up what we are to think upon all those words in my concordance pointed to something about who God is and what He does. When my thoughts are on God, I am able to see others more clearly and therefore know the condition of the flock.****
Matthew 6:25-35 - “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
***I believe this verse came as application because are mind and heart is not to be driven to providing great meals and clothing because God already knows we need these and provide. Worrying doesn't help anything. God calls us to know first how valuable we are in Him and our purpose is first to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness. Apart from Christ robe of righteousness, all our works to clean, cook and sew would be fruitless. ****
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that because of the blood of Jesus you make us white as snow. Thank you that you call us a Holy Nation, Royal Priesthood, chosen people, a people for God's own possession. Thank you that you make my purpose clear "TO DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED ME OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT."
