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THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Proverbs: Motivating Teens And Adults To Align With God's Fixed Moral Order
Part VII: Proverbs Of Lemuel: His Mother's Instruction To Him
(Proverbs 31:1-9)
  1. Introduction
    1. Proverbs 31:1-9 provides a unique selection of proverbs -- a godly woman's advice to her son.
    2. Its insight is priceless, for it comes from a caring party of the opposite gender, giving insight a man does not readily notice due to his biased male focus in life, but that is nevertheless important to him as a man:
  2. Proverbs Of Lemuel: His Mother's Instruction To Him, Proverbs 31:1-9.
    1. Proverbs 31:1 introduces the proverbs of king Lemuel, noting they were an "oracle" (NIV, ESV) (massa), a "weighty message" containing "a threat or a promise," Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 972, 969, 1562.
    2. Though we know nothing about Lemuel or his mother, these proverbs are canonical via Luke 11:50-51.
    3. Accordingly, we view this special series of proverbs in God's Word as follows, Proverbs 31:2-9:
      1. A Mother's Instruction To Her Son On Immoral Women, Proverbs 31:2-3: (2) "What?! (mah, Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1193; B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T. , p. 552-554) [You can't be serious!] my son, and what?! [You've got to be kidding me!] son of my womb (beten, Ibid., p. 105-106), and what?! [Are you crazy?!] son of my vows (neder, Ibid., p. 623-624; the son born to a mother in answer to her vows to the Lord)?! (3) Do not give your wealth, strength (hayil, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 298-299) to [immoral] women (ishah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 61) nor your ways [course of life] (derek, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 202-204) to those who [so destroy that they] blot out from memory (mahah, Ibid., p. 562; Hiphil = causative) kings!" This proverb teaches that godly women esteem men who use their male prowess, position and influence in life for godliness, but that they are utterly disgusted at men who squander their prowess, position and influence as men in immorality, for that ends in defamation. So, if a man wants to appeal to a godly woman, he must be morally upright!
      2. A Mother's Instruction To Her Son On Strong Drink (Drugs), Proverbs 31:4-7: (4) "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine (yayin, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 406), nor for rulers, potentates (razan, Ibid., p. 931) the desire of (aw, Ibid., p. 16; construct state) intoxicating drink (sheker, Ibid., p. 1016), (5) lest (pen , Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 814-815) they drink and forget (shakah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1013) [the laws] that have been decreed (haqaq , Ibid., p. 349; Pual = passive intensive), and change [pervert] (shanah, Ibid., p. 1039-1040; Piel = intensive) the legal cause, plea (din, Ibid., p. 192) of all the sons of the poor, afflicted (ani, Ibid., p. 776-777). (6) Give intoxicating drink (sheker, cf. Pr. 31:4) unto those who are perishing (abad, Ibid., p. 1-2; ptc. used as a substantive), and wine (yayin, cf. Pr. 31:4) unto the bitter of (mar, Ibid., p. 600) life principle (nepesh, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1193 and 3 in citing Gen. 2:7 where God made man a nepesh with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life) [the bitterly wretched; the agonizing]; (7) let him drink and forget (shakah, cf. Pr. 31:5) his poverty (rish, Ibid., p. 930), and not again (od, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1193; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 728-729) remember (zakar, Ibid., p. 269-271) his trouble, toil, labor (amal, Ibid., p. 765)." Men who wish to retain their prowess, position and influence as men in the eyes of godly women must avoid substance abuse so they can think clearly to administer well for the good of needy subordinates. Godly women see intoxicating substances as good only for those in agony who must forget their pain.
      3. A Mother's Instruction To Her Son On Using His Male Prowess Respectably, Proverbs 31:8-9: (8) "Open your mouth [speak out] for the dumb, those unable to speak (ilem, Ibid., p. 48), concerning (el, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 39-41) the legal cause, plea (din, cf. Pr. 31:5) of all the sons of those who are passing away, transitory [destitute] (halop, Ibid., p. 322). (9) Open your mouth [speak out], judge (shapat, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1047-1048) of righteousness (sedeq, Ibid., p. 841-842), and [thus defend] the [just] legal cause, plea (din, cf. Pr. 31:5) of the poor, afflicted (ani, cf. Pr. 31:5) and needy (ebyon , Ibid., p. 2)." A godly woman expects and desires a man use his male prowess, position and influence in life to benefit the helpless in righteousness very opposite selfishly indulging in immorality and substance abuse, cf. Proverbs 31:2-3, 4-7.
Lesson Application: May we align with God's fixed moral order in each of these realms for blessing.