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Proverbs 31:4-7 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel-not for Kings to drink win, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 31, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom, Wisdom for the Soul
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Drunkenness might be understandable among dying people in great pain, but it is inexcusable for national leaders.  Alcohol clouds the mind and can lead to injustice and poor decisions.  Leaders have better things to do than destroy themselves with alcohol. 

We are told that every day in Washington there are many cocktail parties for our government officials.  Republicans and Democrats both have this in common-the party membership doesn’t make any difference.  It is tragic to have drinking men in high potions of government!

Proverbs 31:02-07 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 3 do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel not for Kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, 5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. 6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 31, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom, Wisdom for the Soul
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These 3 questions, as we stated before, make the person listening more attentive. These questions indicate the serious passion of a mother’s heart. Like Hannah, she had dedicated her child to the Lord.

 (In the verses of 2-9), the godly king is addressed and told that his reign should be characterized by:

(1) Holiness, verse 3;

(2) Sobriety, verses 4-7; and

(3) Compassion, verses 8-9.

This section is filled with concise and solemn warnings against vices to which kings are particularly susceptible; immorality, overindulgence, unrighteous rule and indifference to those in need. 

Verse 3: The prince here, is reminded by his mother not to give his strength and power into the hands of a woman. She is reminding him that someday he will be king, and he must retain his power for the throne. Also, multiplying foreign wives destroys a king like it did Solomon.

Verse 4: Kings and princes are called upon to make decisions that affect the entire kingdom. They must be sober and able to make clear headed decisions. Alcohol affects your ability to function properly. A drastic mistake could be made under the influence of strong drink. In this verse and the next we see that intoxicating drinks can weaken reason and judgment, loosen convictions, or pervert the heart. They do not suit rulers who need clear, steady minds and keen judgment.

Verse 5: A person under the influence of alcohol cannot think clearly and could not remember the laws of the land. A drastic injustice could be done

Verse 6: Strong drink is to be reserved to kill pain. Those who are grieving need wine to help them forget. Strong drink as a medicine dulls the senses and helps to forget.

Verse 7: Just as in this verse here, drinking is for those who cannot face reality. Drinking is a symptom of a greater problem. In extreme cases, possibly relating to a criminal on death row or someone agonizing in pain with a terminal illness or tragic circumstance, are in utter contrast to that of the king.

Proverbs 31:1-3 The sayings of King Lemuel-an oracle his mother taught him “O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 31, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom, Wisdom for the Soul
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The queen mother appealed to her son King Lemuel as only a mother can do and warned him against the greatest threat to his life and reign – women. Kings, due to their power and riches, were great objects of seduction by whorish women. Kings, by their power and riches, lived luxuriously, which promoted lascivious living and the lusts of their eyes and flesh. This great mother despised whores and warned her son against them.

Kings ruled nations, raised armies, and conquered empires. Kings are the greatest rulers in history. They made weighty decisions that affected the lives of those in and out of their kingdoms. They had absolute authority of life and death over every citizen. To influence a king was to influence nations and the lives of millions. For a king to become infatuated with a woman was to give his strength, duty, and honor to the base lusts of his loins!

How many kings have been destroyed by evil women affecting their decisions? Or would it be easier to ask how many kings have not been so affected! The threat was real; the historical record bleak; and the consequences terrible. Kings, and all men in authority, must be stricter and stronger in resisting women than other men. Power is an aphrodisiac and an opportunity for the flesh. On these two counts men in leadership roles must be vigilant. They must deny the flesh to keep themselves, their offices, and their charges.

King Lemuel’s mother knew good women, for she wrote the loftiest description of the most perfect woman ever imagined (31:10-31) She wanted her son the king to have one woman – a virtuous, God-fearing woman – to be his wife. She did not desire a harem for him. She did not allow thoughts of mistresses. She despised concubines and courtesans. She knew his success depended on one great woman as his wife. Consider it well, men!

Samson was judge of Israel, but the conniving whore Delilah brought him down to terrible destruction. David had a harem of wives; but taking the wife of one of his best friends brought him sore trouble, nearly destroyed his kingdom, and cost him dearly for the rest of his life. His son Solomon followed David’s horrible example against his own wisdom and is left in ignominy and shame in the Bible (1 Kgs 11:1-11; Numb 13:26).

What are the lessons? Great mothers warn their sons plainly about the danger of whorish women. Great men, especially in positions of authority or leadership, must take extra precautions to be vigilant against this dangerous threat. And if women can destroy gifted rulers, common men should be even more careful. Great women will realize their sexual power and restrain it diligently for righteous purposes only with their husbands.

There is only one King never moved by evil. David wrote of his distant Son, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain” (II Sam 23:3-4). Jesus Christ is that perfect king. Tempted in all points like other men, He never sinned (Heb 4:15).

Proverbs 31:01 “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.”

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 31, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom, Wisdom for the Soul
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The name “Lemuel” means unto God. There is no record of a king Lemuel other than here. Many believe this, too, is from Solomon to God. So much of this has already been uttered by Solomon in previous lessons. When we started (in Proverbs, chapter 1:8 told us): “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” 

Proverbs 30:24-28 Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer, coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in rank: a lizard can be caught with the hand yet it is found in Kings’ palaces.

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 30, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom
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Ants can teach us about preparation; coneys (badgers) about wise building; locusts about cooperation and order; and lizards about fearlessness.  Compare this to Jesus teaching in Mathew 6:25-34 that an effective way to resist worry involves a carful observation of the birds and the hills.

Proverbs 30:21-23 Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: 22 a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, 23 and unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 30, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom
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Like earthquakes, society is greatly agitated when normal roles are overturned, servants reigning, fools made rich, hated women married and maidservants becoming wives.

These four things make living very uncomfortable. They really are things which should not be. These four causes much pain to all parties involved.

A servant is really not suited to be a ruler, and sudden power many times turns the head of the person elevated.

This fool, who suddenly has more than he needs, over-indulges, and makes himself even more of a fool. This “odious woman” is an undesirable woman, perhaps because she is not attractive or has unattractive ways. If she does get married, she is ill-tempered and possibly will drive her mate away.

 This handmaid, who obtains the wealth of her mistress, whether by death of the mistress or some trickery, would certainly cause her to be arrogant and difficult to get along with.

Proverbs 30:18-20 There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand. 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden. 20 This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, I’ve done nothing wrong.

Posted: October 31, 2020 in Proverbs 30, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom
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He is just saying in this, that these four things are a wonderful mystery which man cannot begin to understand.

Men look at the eagle flying through the sky and wish that they might fly, as well. There is no trace from where they came, or where they go, or even how they can stay up there in mid-air.

The amazing thing in this is how the snake slithers across a rock.

A ship in a large body of water leaves a mystery as to how it floats and how it finds its way to port.

The way of a man with a maid has been a mystery for all time. How two people destined of God to become one, can single each other out in all the mass of humanity, and find the mate so right for them that they will stay together until death do them part is one of the greatest mysteries to me.

If we were to look at these four things from a spiritual standpoint, we would see in the eagle the symbol of God. In the serpent, we see the symbol of Satan. We would see in the ship, the symbol of the church or the Christian on the sea of life; and we would see in the man with the maid, Christ and his bride (the church).

We see in this adulterous woman who covers her sin, a deception of not only deceiving others, but herself as well. Her heart is so hardened that she feels no guilt and shame.

Proverbs 29:24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.

Posted: October 29, 2020 in Proverbs 29, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom
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 “Partner with a thief”: By refusing to testify with full disclosure to avoid incrimination, one commits perjury which leads to punishment.

To be partner with a thief makes you a thief also. Even if you did not steal, you would be guilty by association.

We see in the last part of this, it is speaking of knowing of a sin and not speaking out to reveal the sin. If you hide the sin, even if you did not commit the crime, you would be an accomplice and punished along with the criminal.

Consider how bad your sins are for not telling the truth in court – you have added lying as a false witness to the stealing by the thief that you are protecting. God hates the sin of being a false witness and those who commit it, as Solomon clearly wrote (Pr 6:16-19).

Can you cover for a thief and be innocent? Do you think your sin is mild, since you did not steal anything yourself? You are a fool; you hate your own soul; and judgment is coming. God hates accomplices as much as thieves. Do not deceive yourself that you are innocent. If you can expose a criminal or help solve a crime, it is your duty to tell all. 

Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride brings him low. But a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Posted: October 29, 2020 in Proverbs 23, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom
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God loves the humble. In fact, everyone loves the humble person, and others build the humble up. A man with pride is so self-centered that others are not fond of him; and, actually, his arrogance is what brings him low in the sight of others. Again, referring to a previous scripture (Prov. 16:18-19) tells us: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” “It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.” 

Proverbs 28:22 A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

Posted: October 28, 2020 in Proverbs 28, Proverbs 28:22, Seeking Wisdom, Wisdom
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We see in this man with the evil eye, a man who wants what belongs to others, a man who is motivated by greed. He has no regard for how he gets what someone else has just as long as he gets it soon.

Money or wealth gotten from evil ways and in a hurry has a way of leaving just as fast. Poverty is inevitable for this man because God will not bless him.

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