A PRUDENT WIFE
Part 1

"A prudent wife is from the Lord” (Proverbs 19:14b).

I know you want to be a prudent wife, but what does it mean to walk it out in experience?

Different translations of the Bible translate "prudent" in different ways: "a sensible wife" (Moffat and many other translations), "an intelligent wife" (NEB), and "an insightful wife" (CEB).

The word "prudent" in this Scripture is the Hebrew word sakal and is translated by 25 different words in the King James Bible. We'll look at seven of these words which will teach us how to be prudent.

1. A Considering Wife

A prudent wife considers what is right and how to act (Psalm 41:1 and Proverbs 21:12). My Lexical Aid describes a prudent wife as one who has "an intelligent knowledge of the reason for what she is doing." She is not walking in the dark. She knows who God created her to be as a wife and mother and walks in her role with pride and dignity.

2. An Instructed Wife

A prudent wife is an instructed wife. She comes to her marriage instructed and taught by the Holy Spirit, God's living and eternal Word, and by godly older women who are walking in truth. However, I acknowledge that many have not been taught this way and come into marriage completely clueless of what God expects of them. But, they are wives who want to learn and want to walk in the fullness of God's purpose for them.

It's never too late! So they set out to be instructed. They have a teachable heart to learn God's ways, rather than walking in their own ways. They search God's Word and seek out godly older women to teach them. They are open to reproof, instruction, and are willing to change.

Nehemiah 9:20, "Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them."

Psalm32:8 says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

Proverbs 21:11 says, "When the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge."

3. A Wise Speaking Wife

A prudent wife teaches her mouth. She guards her lips knowing that her words will either build up and strengthen her marriage and family, or pull it down and destroy it.

Proverbs 17:23 says, "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."

4. A Skilful Wife

The prudent wife seeks to be skilful in everything she does. She seeks to become an expert in mothering, teaching her children, and home management. She does not take her career lightly. She is never mediocre. She studies diligently how to feed her family healthily. She is the best cook in the neighborhood. She is always learning better ways to efficiently manage her home. She doesn't settle for the status quo, but searches out God's way for birthing, nursing babies, and natural God-given ways for healing.

This same word is used of a mighty warrior who is "expert" in shooting arrows (Jeremiah 50:9).

God gave Daniel and his three friends "knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom" (Daniel 1:4, 17; 9:22).

5. An Understanding Wife

The prudent wife has understanding (intellectual comprehension and insight) of God's ways. And she continually seeks for more and more understanding. She will never stay in a rut. She is continually seeking and researching for God's understanding on every matter relating to her children and her home.

She understands that her marriage is a covenant for life and she does everything in her power to keep her marriage strong and healthy. She understands that she must keep a soft heart toward her husband because divorce comes through hardening the heart (Matthew 19:5-9).

She understands that her husband is her covering and that submitting to his leadership is for her blessing.

She understands that God has given her a unique role as a wife and mother to nurture and nourish her family. She is intelligent enough to know that this is her full-time career, appointed by God himself. She does not compete for her husband's role as provider of the home. She understands that she is Eve, and not Adam.

Daniel 11:33 says, "They that understand among the people shall instruct many." The more we understand God's ways, the more opportunity we have to instruct people all around us. A prudent wife will drop seeds of truth wherever she goes and to whomever she is speaking.

Also read these Scriptures where sakal is translated as understanding: Deuteronomy 32:29; 1 Chronicles 28:19; Nehemiah 8:13; Psalm 106:7; 119:99; Isaiah 41:20; Jeremiah 9:23-24 and Daniel 9:13.

Love from Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"I thank you, Father, that I cannot make myself prudent. You remind me that a prudent wife comes from you. I yield myself to you to instruct me and lead me in your ways of wisdom and understanding. Please make me into the prudent wife you want me to be. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am polishing the skills God has given me to be a prudent wife and mother.