Well, it is good to see you. Let's take our Bibles and turn with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 31. Proverbs chapter 31. I'd like to look at one verse of scripture. Verse 13. Proverbs 31, 13. Now, you know that we're considering, according to the scriptures, the description of a virtuous woman, strong, that's what it means, strong woman, strong in the Lord, a woman which is none other than the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. As I told you last time I preached out of this chapter, don't succumb to the temptation to just apply this to the gender of a female because you'll miss the point. The point is the virtuous woman is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. Male, female, bond-free. It's his bride. That's the virtuous woman, strong in the Lord. The one that the gates of hell shall not be able to overthrow, prevail against, because the Lord keeps her. He keeps her. Now tonight I want to look at one verse of scripture, verse 13, and we're going to consider that there's two things that this woman continually seeks after. The scripture says, verse 13, she seeketh, and that's a continual striving after, seeking after, seeking far, looking far, continually, continually, continually. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. Now, the spiritual significance of these two things that the bride of Christ continually seeks after. Gives us great insight into the work of God's mercy toward her. What she's seeking after. What is she seeking after? She's seeking after, the scripture says, wool and flax. Now, Let's remember, this is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ who now possesses a new heart, a new longing, a new desire after things that she didn't desire before. Now she's hungering and thirsting after Christ. She longs for him. This is the, when you hear, Someone preach. I told you that using the language of scripture, when the Lord moved upon his servant, he said, you take your son, your only son. And he told Abraham, take your only son. Take him up there and sacrifice him unto me for a burnt offering. And so he took Isaac, and as they were going up, Isaac asked him, he said, Father, here's the fire, here's the wood, where's the lamb? And that's the question of every message that's preached. When you hear somebody preach, You let that be the question that you're looking for. Where's the lamb in this? If I don't see Christ in this, then I didn't hear the gospel. The gospel is concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. So this bride is seeking something. She seeketh wool and flax. That's what she's, wool and flax. She's got needs now. And she seeks after that which she didn't realize before the Lord called her out of darkness. She didn't know she had these needs. But now she realizes something. I need to hear this again. I need to know this again. I want somebody, you show me Christ in this scripture. So she seeketh, and the first thing she seeketh is wool. First thing she seeks is wool. Now, I looked it up so that I would know, because I'm going to be honest with you, when I first read that scripture, I thought, okay. Hmm. She seeketh wool. And I looked and I've always told you, get you a good concordance, get you a good, this blue letter Bible, it gives good definitions, it just, it looks. What it says is, that word, that wool, it's actually saying, concerning a garment. Concerning a garment. She seeketh wool. She seeketh wool. Now that wool, She seeketh wool, and it's actually the garments that this woman is seeking to hear about concerning herself. It's her clothing or her covering. She seeketh wool. Now here's the reason that she's seeking wool, seeking something. It's talking about garments. That's just by definition of the word, just looking it up. That's what it's talking about. It's talking about garments. And this woman is looking for some hope concerning her garments before God. This is a virtuous woman. This is a woman that's strong in the Lord, that seeks God and wants to hear something of her need and God's glory in supplying her needs. She seeks wool. Now here's the first thing she knows about her original garments or with original clothing or covering. She knows this, that she was born polluted. In the fall of her original father, Adam, born in Adam, she fell. And here's what holds your place there in this turn. You've read this, Isaiah 1, verse 5 to 9. Isaiah 1, here's the original garments. This is what we got, what we're wearing. Isaiah 1 verse 5, why should you be stricken anymore? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick. The whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there's no soundness in it but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They've not been bound. They've not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. What is she wearing? wearing the polluted clothing of her self-righteousness, filthy rags. That's what she knows now, being born in Christ. This is what a believer knows. He knows that what he's wearing, being born in Adam, is the filthy rags of self-righteousness. Righteousness, that's all I've got. This woman now is hungering and she's desiring, she seeketh wool. When Adam sinned against God, what did he do? You know this answer, but just turn to Genesis 3. Genesis chapter 3. He knew immediately when he fell, he knew that he needed a covering. He knew it. There was something in it now that he didn't realize before, but now he knows. Genesis 3, 7 to 10. The scripture says, when they ate of the forbidden fruit, verse 7, the eyes of them both were opened, that they knew that they were naked, And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him, where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid. because I was naked, and I hid myself. Now, let me tell you this, that according to that scripture right there, when Adam fell, he died spiritually. And as soon as he died spiritually, he knew something. He knew something. He was unclothed before God. He was naked before God. And what was the natural response? What do you think? What would you do if you realize all of a sudden you're just naked? You know, you're going to try to cover yourself. You're going to try to have some decency about you. And you're going to want to hide your nakedness. That's what you're going to do. And the only thing that he could do to hide his nakedness was to get a fig leaf and try to hide himself just to have some dignity before God? Yeah. Thinking that he could hide his nakedness. Man, because of sin, knows that he needs a covering. Adam knew that. He knew he needed a covering. And he did the best he could. He did the only thing he could do to hide himself. He took a fig leaf being dead to God. Now the only covering that he could imagine is what he could conjure up. But you know, there's only one covering that God's going to accept. all one except is to be robed in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the only covering that God will accept. We need one to make an atonement for us to pay our debt and to cover us. Turn to Romans chapter 10, Romans 10.1, Romans 10.1. Romans chapter 10, verses 1 to 4. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record, they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. So what this bride back in Proverbs chapter 31, verse 13, what is this woman seeking after? Let me ask you this, you that know him, for righteousness before God, what are you continually seeking after? I'm seeking after and longing for, and I want to hear again, about being clothed in the garments of the king himself, the garments of righteousness. You tell me again. Somebody said, well, you've already heard that. That's okay. I tell you what a believer wants to hear. He wants to hear it again. You tell me one more time. You tell me one more time. how I am robed in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. That glorious peace, Isaiah 11, 61, verse 10, I'm sorry, Isaiah 61, 10, the glorious peace, Isaiah 61, glorious peace and security that is found in Jesus is the only righteousness that settles the heart of a believer, robed in his righteousness. I don't have any righteousness before God that'll stand. Isaiah 61 and verse 10 says this, 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 bridegroom, as a bride, I'm sorry, adorneth herself with her jewels. You know, think by faith. Here's the hope. I'm not trusting in Anything that I do, I can't walk enough aisles. I can't walk enough aisles. I can't pray long enough. I can't establish a righteousness. The only righteousness that I know by faith now is being robed in His righteousness. So back in Proverbs 31 verse 13, She seeketh wool. Not that she's gonna provide her own self, but I seek after, I wanna hear it again, I wanna know it again. She seeketh that. I wanna know of his righteousness. You tell me, because I need to know that I am robed in him. You tell me that again. In Matthew 22, Matthew 22. Verse 11 to 14, I show you the importance of being robed in Christ's righteousness. Matthew 22, verse 11. When the king came in to see the guest, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. And he said unto him, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the sermons, bind him hand and foot, and take him away. Cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for many are called, but few are chosen. Can you imagine? I know you can't. I can't either. But the day of judgment, we're all going to stand before God and give account. The scripture says give account. Those that have done good and those that have done evil, I can tell you those that have done good has cast themselves upon the mercy of God. And says, Lord, save me. I'm going to perish. Lord, have mercy on me. I don't have any good deeds to offer. For me, all my deeds, filthy rags. You clothe me. You clothe me. This glorious, virtuous woman, she seeketh wool as clothing. And the second thing that she seeks after, the scripture says, is flax. That bride, that virtuous woman, seeketh wool, the garment of Christ's righteousness, to clothe her, and she seeks flax. Continually. Look at that passage again. She seeketh, I told you the ETH, that's a continual. Those that know him want to know him. Oh, that I might know him. Oh, that I might seek him. They say, well, you've never sought him before? Yeah, but I want to seek him. I pray God save me. You don't think God saved you? Yes, I do. I need God to save me. I need to come to the Lord. Have you never come to the Lord before? Yes, but I want to come to the Lord. I'm going to come to him right now. And if he allows me to get up in the morning, I'm going to want to come to him again. This woman right here, she seeketh wool and flax. Now, I looked at that word and I looked up all of the, all of the places that I could find in the scriptures concerning And I have found my heart being drawn to this, and I'll be honest with you, this is the greatest comfort to me, what I'm about to tell you concerning flax. In light of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, if they're just talking about just some, they planted some flax and they ate it for bread, that's not what I was looking for. I wanted to know the significance of this word, flax. I need some comfort from me concerning that word, flax, and I found it. Turn with me to Joshua, Joshua 2. Now, the Lord has instructed, He's going to bring the nation of Israel. And he's going to give them the city of Jericho. He's going to give it to them. And so two spies were sent in to Jericho to spy out the land. And these two spies, they came across, I'm going to be in Joshua chapter 2. I'm going to read verses 1 to 7. And they came across this woman named Rahab. She was a harlot. Most of the writers, all the writers that I've found said this woman, she was a harlot, but that name had stuck with her. They believe in that her actions had proven her to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. She believed God. But that name stuck with her, Rahab the Harlot, you know. It was like Matthew the Publican, a great remembrance You know, like Marvin the rebel against God. Just that name, Rahab the harlot. Well, this woman, Rahab, God was pleased to show mercy to this woman. And the way that God was going to do it was he gave this woman a heart to want to give the Lord's people, the Lord's two men, the two spies that went in to Jericho. woman was going to be the means by which God was going to protect her, protect her and them. Now let's see what Scripture has to say. Joshua 2 verse 1 to 7. I want you to look at this. Now what I'm doing is I'm looking for something that does, that pertains to the word flax. Something that gives glory to the Lord Jesus Christ concerning flax. Now let's see if we can pick it up. Joshua 2, 1-7, Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, You go, view the land, even Jericho. And they went and came into an harlot's house named Rahab and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come unto thee, which are entered into thine house, for they be come to search out the country. And the woman took the two men and hid them, and thus and thus there came men unto me, but I wished not who they were, whence not they were. And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out thither. The men went out, I want not, pursue after them quickly, for you shall overtake them. But she had brought them into the roof of the house and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords. And as soon as they pursued after them, were they gone out, they shut the gate. Now here was a woman named Rahab. And the Spirit of God was pleased to use an illustration on how this woman was used of God to hide these two spies that had come in to spy out the land according to God's will and purpose. And this woman, who now was in dire straits, she knew that God was going to destroy Jericho. She knew that. That's what she told these men. She said, I know that your God's going to do to us what he's done to the other cities. I know he is. And these two men told her. You know, she asked for mercy and compassion. He said, well, when you come in, you put this scarlet ribbon in the window, and God will have us pass over you. Well, what did she do? How did she hide them? She hid them, and the scripture sets forth that she hid them by covering them with flax. And as I read that story, I thought to myself, What a beautiful picture. These men were in danger. If they would have been found, they would have killed them. These are spies and they were going to kill them. But these were God's men that had been sent. And God gave this woman a heart to want to protect him. But it was God that was protecting him. But he used the means of this woman and she covered him with flax. And I looked at that and as I saw that today as I was looking, I mean this afternoon as I was looking, I thought what a glorious picture of being covered by the Lord Jesus Christ and protected from the sure and certain death that would come had God not Now, you see that, a natural man sees that, and he might make light of it, just, you know, as far as being a covering before God, and as far as God's servant being sent and spying out the land. He said, well, she just picked out something that happened to be there. Well, it was awful strange to me that the Spirit of God made it a point to tell us exactly what that woman used to cover those two men. And I thought, there's nothing insignificant in the scriptures. It didn't say that she covered them. She covered them with flax. And you know what, back in, now back in Proverbs 31, as I wrap this up, this, this virtuous woman, she seeketh wool and flax. She needs a covering and she needs a hiding place. I need, I need to be covered. I need to be covered from God's wrath by the imputed righteousness of Christ. And I need to be covered, covered by his blood. When I see the blood, I'm going to pass over you. Can we not see again the peace and safety provided by the Lord for his own? In just those few words, somebody said, I don't see how you see that. Well, if God gives us eyes to see it, we see it. We see it. We see the beauty of it. We see the wonder of it. This is the confession of God's people from the judgment and the penalty of sin. Psalm 32, Psalm 32, verse seven, Psalm 32, seven. David was moved to say, thou art my hiding place. Thou shalt preserve me from trouble. Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. See, I need a hiding place. I need a hiding place. I need a covering before God. I need to be robed in his righteousness. I need to be delivered from the penalty of my sin. And this virtuous woman, Here's what she does, she seeketh wool and flax, and the scripture says lastly, and she worketh willingly with her hands. I got this right here, worketh willingly with her hands. Brother Henry Mahan made comment on this, he said, Let not the work and business of the Lord degenerate into cold formalism, but rather let that which we do, whether it be our study, prayer, our singing, giving, preaching the gospel, let it be done with prayerful seeking of God's strength, with fervor and zeal and interest. This woman The scripture says, she hid these two spies, Rahab did, and as far as the woman in Proverbs 31, she seeketh wool, she seeketh flax, and she worketh willingly with her hands. Christ Jesus, our hiding place, Christ Jesus, our covering, and it's for him and because of his goodness and mercy to us that we do what we do for the glory of God. Again, not for our righteousness, not by works of righteousness that we've done, but we do what we do because of our love for him. The good works, good work of faith, work of faith. A work of love, a work of appreciation. Again, again, not for salvation, but because of it. Let me ask you this. Why'd you come tonight? Why'd you come tonight? To just add a little bit more to your righteousness or because of what God's done for you? And you just want to hear it again. Tell me again what he's done. I pray that the Lord blesses to our hearts for Christ's sake.