13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her
hands.
The first time wool is mentioned it is the
fleece of wool that Gideon puts out to test the Lord in Judges 6:37. Later, it
is used by God as an example of the believers sin washed from the crimson, red
bloodiness of their sins to be as white as wool in Isaiah 1:18. An interesting
side note for me is how red and scarlet and crimson are set up as contrasts to
white as snow. The Biblical contrast is not between black and white but between
red, representing blood, and white.
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.
And again, white linen symbolizes
righteousness.
Revelation 19:8 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.
So, that in the following verse it can’t be said
that in heaven everyone is going to be a white person, as the controversial
Texas preacher J. Frank Norris claimed that he preached to a congregation of
black preachers, but that they will be made white as in the color of snow, not
Caucasian flesh. Believe it or not these verses have been used by Bible
lightweights and racists to “prove” their points about racial superiority when
any serious student of the Bible knows differently.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made
white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked
shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
To compare this verse with others, all through
the book of Revelation white linen is spoken of. Racists, racialists, and
bigots, either black or white, are fools, and can only find justification for
their weakness by twisting scriptures and using them for a purpose for which
they were not written.
So, back to the Proverb, wool is symbolic of
being washed from your sins in Christ’s blood and of being clothed in clean,
white linen. It signifies righteousness. The church is only righteous because
Christ is righteous. As the moon only reflects the sun and has no light of its
own (Job 25:5), the church reflects the righteousness that belongs only to
Christ and they have none of their own.
Flax is the substance from which linen is made.
Flax was used by Rahab to hide the Hebrew spies in Joshua 2:6. If white linen,
the color of wool, symbolizes the righteousness that is found only in Christ,
then flax, the stuff from which the white linen of the saints is made, is
Christ’s rigthteousness which is the church’s covering and protection from the
Wicked One and from the second death.
So, we have wool and flax, symbolizing the white linen of
righteousness which covers the church because of Christ. This is something the
church seeks.
The church, the body of Christ on earth, is
called to do good works.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.
Pure religion is defined as showing mercy to the
helpless and not adopting the ways of the world.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before
God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
What constitutes the spot and stain of the world
found at the end of the verse in James?
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world.
These are the same three things that tempted Eve
when confronted by the dragon, Satan.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the
tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be
desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave
also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The characteristics of the true bride of Christ
are clear. With sins cleansed white like wool, covered in Christ’s
righteousness, she seeks to honor Him with her devotion and good works,
rejecting the things the world itself admires and extols, always remembering;
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they
which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that
which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Christ’s righteousness is the white linen the
church wears. Each member is to reveal the Spirit of God working through them
by the fruit of the Spirit which proves who they are.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
The church’s behavior and attitude is laid out
clearly.
Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith………..9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing
instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to
hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the
same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of
low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as
much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge
not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See
that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is
good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16¶ Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the
Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which
is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Although this would be prophetic of the church
in general, we can ask what kind of bride in a small example is your church?
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