HH Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

Proverbs 31:28

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

She is praised by her own family members. Those who know her the best praise her the most.  She invested herself in her loved ones, and she is recognized and rewarded by the same.

I read about a godly couple who years ago were facing the challenges of raising their six children, all in their teen years.  When the wife came to her husband for encouragement and advice, he remembered Proverbs 31:28 and commented to his wife, “Dear, as hard as things are now, just remember that someday your children will rise up and call you blessed.”  His beloved wife wryly responded, “Yes, but right now they are just rising up!”

Her husband and children will “call her blessed” or pronounce her happy.  This Hebrew term “blessed” was used by Leah when she pronounced herself blessed:  “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed” (Genesis 30:13).  The son born of Zilpah was named “Asher” which is from this same Hebrew term, and means “happy, blessed” (Genesis 30:13).

During the millennial kingdom, according to Psalm 72:17, all nations will call Him blessed (“Him” referring to the King Himself, Jesus Christ).

Godliness and happiness go together.  The godly woman is the happy woman, and she is blessed.  The virtuous woman seeks first the kingdom of God, and all these things (including happiness) are added unto her (Matthew 6:33).  Happiness is a byproduct of honouring the Lord and putting Him first.  It is not an end in itself.  Those who seek happiness and who make that their goal, never find it.  Those who seek the Lord find in Him their true happiness.  He satisfies the heart that is devoted to Him.

God’s formula for happiness is found in the following verses, all of which contain this same Hebrew word “blessed” or “happy” (Asher):

Blessed (happy) is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1).

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psalm 2:12).

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him (Psalm 34:8).

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust (Psalm 40:4).

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee (Psalm 84:5).

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee (Psalm 84:12).

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law (Psalm 94:12).

Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments (Psalm 112:1).

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart (Psalm 119:1-2).

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways (Psalm 128:1).

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God (Psalm 146:5).

For what greater earthly happiness could she know, than her children’s reverence and her husband’s blessing?  We may picture to ourselves her condition—crowned with years; her children grown up; perhaps themselves surrounded by families, and endeavouring to train them, as themselves had been trained.  Their mother is constantly before their eyes.  Her tender guidance, her wise counsels, her loving discipline, her holy example, are vividly kept in remembrance. They cease not to call her blessed and to bless the Lord for her, as his invaluable gift.  No less does her husband praise her. His attachment to her was grounded, not on the deceitful and vain charms of beauty, but on the fear of the Lord. She is therefore in his eyes to the end, the stay of his declining years, the soother of his cares, the counsellor of his perplexities, the comforter of his sorrows, the sunshine of his earthly joys.  (Proverbs, pages 626-627)