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HANDS ON!
Proverbs 31:19, KJV
"She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff."
If the verse above was to be written for a driver, a cook and a trader, it'll all look like these respectively.
"He sets his hands upon the steering wheel and his grip holds firm to the gear. His eyes read the road like a scroll, discerning every bend and brake. With steady feet on the pedals, he guides his passengers safely and no recklessness finds lodging in his lane."
"She lays her hands upon the chopping board and her fingers dance with the knife. Her pot receives her wisdom and the pan listens for her timing. For short, she seasons with correct measures."
"She stretches her hands to the scale and her fingers weigh with honesty. Her voice calls customers with grace and her eyes study the market's tide. She bargains with prudence and keeps her ledger without deceit."
When the Bible says of the Proverbs 31 woman that "she lays her hands on the spindle and her hands hold the distaff", we're immediately launched into the psyche of a profession that uses the spindle and distaff which is traditional spinning or weaving. A spinner (often a woman in ancient and rural societies) uses:
Distaff: a staff that holds unspun fibers like wool, flax or cotton.
Spindle: a rod used to twist those fibers into thread or yarn.
So, the profession is spinning (thread-making) which is part of weaving, textile work and cloth-making.
In biblical and historical contexts, the person is simply called a spinner or a woman who spins thread and that's what this virtuous woman is. As she does that, she contributes both to the nation's economy and her family needs.
The idea of laying one's hands to the spindle and the hands holding the distaff reveals a workman who patronizes her work always. She is glued and given to it. It's like calling to her. She nourishes and waters it by giving it her presence. So, that business flourishes. She is at all not far away from what she practices. So, the Bible rightly describes her by saying, "she lays her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff." Meaning, she grabs the tools and instruments of her profession and puts them to work. The idea of "laying" and "holding" reveals that for the most part, she diligently has her hands and fingers working with these tools. She has become 5 and 6 with them. This therefore portrays the dignity of labour, grip and engagement. That verse will mean grabbing and reaching for her instruments of work and readying oneself for work.
Work will not do itself. If you do not reach out your hands to lay and grab the instruments of your trade, vocation or profession, you won't just have ready made goods appear nor food on your table. All things are made possible by engagement. Little by little, the bird builds its nest. Little by little, your progress will accumulate and be revealed to everyone. Today's Bible verse portrays, "reaching out and dying there." It reveals a persistent hard worker given to the skills of her youth and the employing of it for all benefits as fitting human dignity.
Can it be said of you irrespective of your profession that when you check out of your house you have gone to lay hands on your own 'spindle' and hold your own 'distaff?' Or at the place of work, you're still known for unseriousness, non-challance and procrastination.
All those demons didn't find a place in the life of this woman. She has bound them by the righteous activity she is seriously committed to. The Bible in describing her seriousness, commitment and busyness to her profession and work could only say, "she lays her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff." What imagery is being portrayed? Of engagement!
May you not be caught reaching out for a bottle of drink and grabbing a plate of meal when your hands should be firmly located on what can give you livelihood. May misplace priority not master, distract and eventually divert you away. When your hands should be firmly established on your work or business, may you not have gone spreading a chain of gossip and pushing false information around your market. May you not have gone after the chasing of those who sap kings of their strength at this morning of your life. May you rather be in-depthly engaged, given and poured out to your way of life, choice of work and life's activity. May you give yourself away like Samuel who was given away to the Lord. This way, they put his hands on the spindle and distaff of his call - his holy work. He could only spend his days there. May you be this steeped in what you have found to do so that you will have no room for what doesn't profit you but ministers arguments and questions. May this verse below not chronicle your life as one of misplaced priority.
Ecclesiastes 10:16, KJV
"Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!"
May your hands and concentration be given to your life's calling and work! Go and do so!
PRAYER: Lord, I receive concentration. I banish distraction and every temptation not to be focused. My hands are strongly fit and engaged with my work.
BIBLE IN A YEAR:
Rev. 4 ; Daniel 10-12
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