A Wise Mother

Proverbs 31: 1-9

“The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:  What are you doing, my son?  What are you doing, son of my womb?  What are you doing, son of my vows?  Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.  Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.   Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.   Open your mouth, judge righteously and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Who is King Lemuel, this we do know he was not a king of Israel he must have been a foreign king.  And he was blessed to have a wise mother who instructed him in righteousness.  It may be that she heard about other kings like Nebuchadnezzar or King Ahasuerus in the book of Esther.  He played the fool often getting drunk and making all kinds of judgments that cost him his Queen and almost the slaughter of the people of Israel.

It was not uncommon in King Lemuel’s time for kings to get drunk or be full of themselves as was Herod the tetrarch who had John the Baptist beheaded.  Nor is it today, we now have a sitting President that seems to put his foot in his mouth often, but no one gives thanks that he is not a drinker of adult beverages.  It is my belief and observation that many on both sides of the aisle have been against him before he became our President.  If you are a follower of Christ, our President does not need your judgment but your earnest prayers.

Now I believe she warns him of both adultery and multiple wives, as we know they often paid King Solomon to go against the commands of God.  She also warned him about strong drink and reminded him that his responsibility was to protect the oppressed. This Proverb should not be taken lightly!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice