Although we don’t actually know who King Lemuel is, what we do know is that he had a wise mother! Proverbs 31 begins with his praise of his mother as follows:
The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
It seems they had a great relationship, and he was obviously open to her wisdom, maybe even bought about as she detected him being tempted in the age old of issues of the opposite sex and the abuse of alcohol. But she wasn’t all negative as she reminded him of why he needed to be aware of these temptations, and what his high calling to be a king should involve.
Firstly, the warning:
3 Do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
Obviously, something King Solomon himself never actually learnt and was one of the causes of his downfall as he was led astray by the idolatry of his numerous wives.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
“All things in moderation” was the good advice here because an addiction (i.e., to crave) to such things as alcohol has been both the downfall of kings and of families. But, it seems, she does recognise that “in moderation” alcohol can be useful as she advices:
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
Although probably not the first choice to enable one through difficult times!
And then the really positive advice as she reminds her son not to forget what his calling as king actually means:
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Sadly, few leaders in our world have made it a priority to speak up for the vulnerable and powerless, or stand up for the rights of all who are destitute, or to defend the rights of the poor and needy. Somehow other “priorities” often take over such as winning the popular vote and particularly from those with the wealth and influence.
But, there was a King to come that Lemuel’s mother was not aware of and who would fulfil this role as a king after God’s own heart. His name is Jesus. Consider the following:
On one occasion Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21)
And then on another occasion we read that John the Baptist sent his followers to Jesus, [and] they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Luke 7:20-23)
Thankyou Father that, even though we are not kings, you desire all of us to be like Jesus and speak up for the vulnerable and powerless, stand up for the rights of all who are destitute, and defend the rights of the poor and needy. Strengthen us today to serve you in this way.
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 