Our Lifeship: A study in Proverbs for Women

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgment

Introduction

Chapter 1: Watch That Helm!

Chapter 2: Watch The Heart!

Chapter 3: Watch That Tongue!

Chapter 4: Watch That Building!

Chapter 5: Watch Those Hands!

Chapter 6: Watch Your Companions!

Chapter 7: Watch Those Treasures!

Chapter 8: Watch With Godly Fear!

Chapter 9: Watch That Walk!

Chapter 10: Watch For Souls!

Chapter 11: Watch and Pray!

Chapter 12: Watch and Obey!

Chapter 13: Watch That Temper!

Chapter 14: Watch That Character

Bibliography

Our Lifeship

A study in Proverbs for Women

© 2008 Lynn Wallace

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

All Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Cover design and page layout by David Siglin of A&E Media

ISBN 978-1-932307-92-4

Published by the Ambassador Group

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and

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The colophon is a trademark of Ambassador

Acknowledgment

My mother, who now resides in Heaven, radiated excitement at my writing achievements. If she were here now, she would be rooting for me. I thank God for the encouragement she offered me. My daughter cheered for me and offered to help me. I appreciate this very much.

Thanks to you work in the interlibrary loan system in the Montrose library. Without you, this book could not have been written. Thanks to those who assisted me when I phoned and asked for help concerning this book. Thanks to Mark Ziegler for the photos. Thanks to all who have encouraged me with my writing. Thanks to Sam Lowry and his staff at Ambassador Emerald for their kind words and encouragement. May the Lord bless each one of you.

Introduction

This book compares our life to a ship. We all sail on calm and rough seas. The pirates, headed by their captain, Satan, try to capsize our ships. Our Captain, Jesus Christ, helps us sail safely to the port as we consult our Logbook, the Bible, and seek Him daily in prayer.

Each chapter begins by quoting a verse in Proverbs and includes a brief introduction. It gives a modern day example of a sailor. Several examples of Bible-time sailors are set forth. Some ship-wrecked their lifeship. Others navigated well. In the next section, The Captain Calls, He speaks mainly from the book of Proverbs. The next section, Challenges Today’s Women Face, includes situations we face or may encounter. It brings it down to where we live.

In the Bible text man is often used generically to indicate either a man or a woman.

As you peruse this book, I pray you may find some help as you sail on your lifeship.

CHAPTER 1

Watch That Helm!

God uses the analogy of a ship in chapter one. In verse five He says, A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. The English words wise counsels are translated from the Hebrew word tachbulah. The Hebrews used this term to refer to steering a ship.

Steering the Ship

Our life is a ship. The helm steers the ship. One who navigates his lifeship aright fears the Master. On life’s seas a God-fearing person sails toward the portals of Heaven. In verse five the Hebrew word tachbulah comes from the word, chebel, a rope.¹ This rope guided the ship. God gives us wise counsels in the way we conduct our lifeship.²

As a sailor steers her lifeship, she gains knowledge of the Captain and His ways from His Logbook, the Bible.

This knowledge keeps her on course and steers her away from the wrong course. A wise woman chooses her shipmates carefully. She does not hang around with the pirates and the unruly. The God-fearing sailor knows that, while these pirates seek to enmesh others in their nets, they often entangle the sailors.

Stay away from the pirates. Do not follow their advice. Sailors who steer off course run into the shoals. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil (Exo. 23:2). Say No" when bad sailors entice you. Go the other way.

Listen to God. Those who hate knowledge and choose not the fear of the Lord will harvest the fruit of going the wrong way. It destroys them.

Those who heed God’s warnings shall dwell safely and be quiet from the fear of evil. Even in adverse circumstances, the tempest may rage all around them, but the Captain gives an inner peace.

For example, Mr. Michael Childers left a job where he made over $20,000 a year to go to Bible college. Oh, that I had surrendered to preach at twenty years of age, he says. At forty-five he did not find school easy. Two of his sons attended the same school at the same time.

This sailor finished four years of Bible school. Then the Lord led him to Montrose, Colorado, a town of more than 20,000 people. He pastors Faith Baptist Church and gives his heart to the Lord’s work. He devotes most of his time to the Lord’s work.

Pastor and Jan Childers raised five children for the Lord. His youngest son, Patrick Childers supports his wife, Joanna, while going to school. The oldest daughter, Rebecca, serves the Lord with her husband, Nathaniel Jossund, as our youth pastor. The next oldest, Pamela serves with her husband, Ben Graham, an evangelist. Mike Childers, the oldest son, serves with his father-in-law. Katie, the youngest works with Pamela’s church in Arkansas, and wants to marry a pastor

When Pastor Childers went to marry off his oldest son, Michael, to Elizabeth, a visiting pastor preached on Sunday. Five came for salvation at the end of the morning service. Sailors flocked to the altar at the end of both meetings. The previous week two adults came to Christ. Before this, their young son disrupted junior church and challenged his Sunday School teacher. What shall we do? our pastor and workers discussed. Keep him coming, they decided. The people endeavored to show this boy we loved him. It paid off when the parents decided for the Lord.

My pastor returned from his trip. He baptized two of these converts, and expected to baptize three more.

The Lord did great things in our church since Pastor Childers came. Other adults made professions and showed signs of growth. They remained faithful to the church. The sailors started praying for property on which to build, more buses to run, more reached for Christ and more disciples for Him.

Women Who Shipwrecked

Jezebel—Murderess and Idolatress (1 Kings 21:3-24; 2 Kings 9:30-37)

Queen Jezebel, a wicked woman, steered her ship off course. Her husband, Ahab, coveted a field that belonged to Naboth. He said, The LORD forbid . . . that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.

The king came home and pouted. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Jezebel said, Why are you so sad? He told her Naboth refused to sell his field to him.

Don’t worry about it, she said. I will give you this vineyard. She wrote letters to her servants. Set two men of Belial [Satan] before Naboth. Let them witness against him and say, ‘You blasphemed God and the king.’ Then carry him out and stone him. This wicked sailor lied, murdered Naboth, and worshipped idols.

Jezebel’s lifeship wrecked. Another king, Jehu, had her executed. Throw her down, he ordered. They threw her down. The men went to bury her. They found only her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. The dogs ate her up. Jezebel tore down her ship. Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands (Prov. 14:1). This wicked sailor lost her life and misguided her family.

Lot’s Wife Looked Back

Lot’s wife lost her chance to start a new life with her family. Abraham, Lot’s uncle, rescued her when pirates took her family captive. He also recovered their possessions. However, Lot and his wife returned to the wicked city of Sodom.

After this, Sodom faced destruction for its wickedness. Lot’s wife and her family lingered there. Two angels grabbed their hands and set them outside this wicked city.

The Lord said, Look not behind you. . . . Escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed.

The heart of Lot’s wife stayed in Sodom. She longed for her home, her grown children and her possessions. This sailor looked back toward Sodom, an abominable city. In this she disobeyed God and turned into a pillar of salt. This woman failed to steer her lifeship right. She missed the Lord’s blessings. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it (Prov. 10:22). This woman lost all her earthly treasures. She laid up none for eternity.

Women Who Navigated Well

Esther—a Courageous Woman (Est. 4:14-16; 7:1-10)

The wise sailor follows wisdom as Queen Esther did. Understanding plus knowledge [wisdom] told her that joining the wrong crowd leads sea goers to participate in their misdeeds.

Queen Esther feared for her life when Uncle Mordecai challenged her to go before the king. For thirty days, he extended no call to her. Unless he held out the golden sceptre to her, certain death followed. Mordecai said to her, Who knows whether you came into the kingdom for such a time as this?

She called to the Jews and her servants. Fast and pray for me three days. She fasted also. Then she said, I will go unto the king. If I perish, I perish. This brave queen pled for her people. The king ordered the Jews’ wicked enemy, Haman, hung. He plotted against Queen Esther’s people. Mordecai replaced him. She steered her lifeship away from crags and shoals. She went before the king when he had not called for her. The righteous are bold as a lion (Prov. 28:1). Brave Queen Esther feared the king, but she risked her life for her people.

The Virgin Mary (Luke 1:20-56)

Mary, a devout woman, feared the Lord and kept herself pure. One day she saw an angel. He greeted her. Hail, thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.

Mary gasped and drew in her breath.

The angel said, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. He informed her that God had chosen her to bear His Son.

She knit her brows. How can this be? she said. I know not a man.

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, he said. The power of the highest will overshadow you. That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Thy cousin Elisabeth . . . hath also conceived a son in her old age, . . . who was also barren. With God nothing shall be impossible.

Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

This good sailor grabbed a few clothes and left for the hill country of Judea, a long trip from Nazareth by foot.

When she entered Elisabeth’s home, she greeted her. When her cousin heard her, the baby leaped in her womb. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. . . . As soon as I heard you, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. . . . Blessed is she that believed. The Lord will do as He said.

Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Mary steered her ship right. She obeyed the Lord. As Proverbs 11:3 says The integrity of the upright shall guide them.

The Captain Calls

The Captain calls out in the places where seamen gather, "Get off