Proverbs Comes Full Circle

Proverbs 31:2–3 (ESV) What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

In the beginning of this book, we are warned for several chapters about the dangers of immoral women and illicit sex. Now in the last chapter, the warning returns. This time from a different author. Wherein Solomon warned us in Proverbs 4-7, now king Lemuel writes about the same issue here. 

We can clearly see the dangers of illicit sex in our world. The woman who is raped or the child who is abused speaks volumes about the disastrous power of sexual sin. Beyond them, the children from a divorced home, the ruined marriage from adultery, and the young person enslaved to pornography and distorting their minds are all sad pictures of the dangers and illicit sexual activity. So you can see why the King opens with the question, "What are you doing???" As if to say, stop going after women, they will be the end of you. Notice that he refers to adulterous women as "those who destroy kings". The greatest threat to the powerful men of a kingdom is their own unrestrained lust and not their political enemies. 

Again, for proverbs to both open and close with this content is huge. We cannot play the fool in this area of our lives. All the wisdom of the world cannot stop the downfall from this sin. Consider Solomon who wrote these words. What is the final chapter of his life about? 

1 Kings 11:1–3 (ESV) Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.

Could it be that Lemuel is here now bearing witness to these dangers as Solomon himself could not live up to his own admonitions? Nothing is in the text about it and we can only surmise that the effect of such sin is very clear - and we must stay away. 

There is another warning:

Proverbs 31:4–5 (ESV) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Just as women can destroy a noble and successful life, so can drink. And while the Bible does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol, it clearly prohibits drunkenness from the "strong drinks" made for that purpose. And why must we avoid it? Because other people are counting on us. Your sobriety is a benefit to your neighbor who needs justice.

The place for strong drink is in the mouth of the suffering:

Proverbs 31:6–7 (ESV) Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Today doctors can numb the pain with pharmaceutical implementation. But in Solomon's day, only a strong drink did the trick. The case is made clear, there is nothing wrong with pain-reducing medicine in the right and proper measure. 

Finally an adomonition:

Proverbs 31:8–9 (ESV) Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Notice the phrase, "open your mouth" repeated twice. Why? Because the great sin of Adam and all who have come to a place of authority since has been silence and apathy, standing by and watching injustice and pain. The world needs strong leaders who speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. 

Now, this picture of a leader, who is faithful, moral, sober, and strong is most beautifully found in Jesus Christ - the true husband of the church, King of the world, and Lord of life.