A Mother’s Advice
Proverbs 31:1-9
31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:1-9 provides advice from a king’s mother to her son, King Lemuel. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding distractions like women and wine, which can lead to poor judgement and neglecting justice. The passage also highlights the responsibility of leaders to speak up for the voiceless and oppressed.
Verse 1:
The chapter begins with a mother’s admonition to her son, King Lemuel, urging him to heed her wise counsel.
Verses 2-3:
The mother warns her son against giving his strength and attention to women, particularly those who are destructive and lead to ruin. This can be interpreted as a warning against excessive focus on romance or other worldly distractions that can distract from one’s purpose.
Verses 4-5:
The mother advises against drinking for rulers, as it can lead to forgetfulness of the law and the perversion of justice for the poor and afflicted.
Verses 6-7:
The mother instead suggests giving strong drink to those who are dying and wine to those with heavy hearts, suggesting the medicinal properties of alcohol in time of need.
Verses 8-9:
The mother calls for rulers to open their mouths for the speechless, the poor, and the needy, advocating for justice and fairness for all.
This passage emphasizes the importance of responsible leadership, righteous judgement, and compassion for the vulnerable. It underscores the responsibility of leaders to uphold justice and stand up for those who cannot defend themselves.
Proverbs 31:6-7 does not offer blanket permission to drink. It speaks specifically of the use of strong drink and wine medicinally as a temporary remedy to alleviate suffering. It is not a general endorsement of alcohol consumption. Believe me, you don’t want to be in the position when it is okay to drink alcohol because that would mean you are terminally ill.