Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:  

Proverbs 31:21-22 (KJV):
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Proverbs 31:21-22 (AMP):
21 She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple (such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made).

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses from Proverbs give us a description of how the virtuous woman clothes herself, and her household.  The physical clothing and coverings are a type of the spiritual covering we have in Christ through His blood. The scripture mentions here that she is not afraid for her household when cold weather comes, because she has taken care of them in advance, by seeing to it that they are all clothed properly.

The term "clothed with scarlet" also has a spiritual application, as the scarlet wool used by Moses in the Old Testament is spoken of in the New Testament, in relation to the blood that Jesus shed for the remission of sins for all people. Therefore, when we are "clothed with scarlet," we are covered by the blood of Jesus, meaning we are saved by the shedding of His blood on the cross.  This, then, would mean that the virtuous woman saw to it that all of her household was saved by faith in the blood of Jesus. Covered by the blood of Jesus, we will not fear any cold and dark night of trial. He will see us through it.

Hebrews 9:19-22:
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Studying the scripture, we will find that "scarlet thread" running throughout the Bible. In the book of Joshua, we find a woman named Rahab (who was not an Israelite) that helped God's people by hiding two of the spies that came to spy out the land of Jericho, where she lived. Even though she was a harlot, she acknowledged the God of Israel and asked the two spies to spare her life and the lives of her family when the Israelite army came to invade the city. They agreed to do this because she saved their lives.  They told her to tie a scarlet ribbon in the window of her home and they would instruct the soldiers not to invade that house.  Again, we see a type of the blood of Jesus sparing a life.

Joshua 2:18-19:
18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

This same type is seen when the blood of lambs was put on the doorposts by the Israelites the night of the Passover in Egypt.  Whenever the blood was on the doorpost of that household, the death angel passed it by and the first-born son was spared.

Exodus 12:22-23:
22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

In Proverbs 31:22, the virtuous woman also made other clothing and coverings.  This verse mentions that her clothing was made from fine linen.  This also has a spiritual application as we find that the bride of Christ is mentioned as wearing white linen garments that represent righteousness and holiness that come with salvation.

Isaiah 61:10:  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Revelation 19:7-8:
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

We can all be dressed in this fine linen that is white (representing purity) by accepting Christ as our Saviour. This happens by exchanging our scarlet sins for the scarlet blood of Jesus, Who cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 1:18: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for my sins. Lord, I thank You for washing me clean by the blood of Jesus. Lord, give me the holy boldness to share what You have done for me with others, so that they too might know salvation and deliverance from their sins.  Thank You that I can wear the robe of righteousness and may I never tarnish it in the sight of the world.  Grant that I remain a faithful witness. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.