Women with a Story to Tell. King Lemuel's Mother.
Teachings that King Solomon attributed to King Lemuel’s mother began by emphasizing the dangers of living a desire-driven life. It is difficult to avoid that in today’s culture with songs, movies, and advertising all pushing the idea of constant and immediate self-satisfaction as the standard of the good life. Buy this, order that, do this, dress for success. If that is not happening, then you are not a happening person; or so they say.
“For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart; those greedy for gain curse and renounce the LORD” (Psalm 10:3).
Secondly, Lemuel’s Mother warned against the dangers of becoming addicted to alcohol, and by implication, addicted to anything, drugs, power, or sex and more. Alcohol Anonymous people are wont to say that everyone is addicted, it’s just that some people won’t admit what their addiction is. Addiction is when you gotta have it, and you will place that desire above everything else including your family and your own life.
Against both of these, the Bible reminds us to put our maker first. Another Psalm says:
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4)
Now, this is one of those verses that is tricky because, all alone, it can easily be misinterpreted. When we put it in context and consider the character commitments of the whole Bible, then it is clear that the Lord will not supply your desire for money, power, or sex. The immediate context of what looks like a promise is a command. The first phrase provides the condition. Perhaps a Bible paraphrase would look like this:
“If and when you take delight in the LORD, then he will give you the reformed desires of your heart.”
That is, if you take delight in your fellowship with the Lord, then your character will change, and you will want the things that God wants. And, what does God want? King Lemuel’s mother knows.
Proverbs 31:8-9.
Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out; judge righteously;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Now I suspect that some of you out there who read both my Bible Studies and my Devotionals are beginning to wonder why I always seem to land on this theme. My only defense is that this concern of my heart is also heavy on God’s heart. If you read the whole Bible, you are going to come across this theme again and again.
At the risk of repeating myself, this phrase about caring for the “poor and needy” or “the destitute” appears 23 times in the Old Testament; 2 times in the Law, once in a history book, 10 times in the poetry books, and 10 times in the Prophets. Jeremiah says that this is the main responsibility of kings and leaders of government. Amos says that society should “let justice roll down like water and righteousness (care of the needy) like an ever flowing stream.” It should not be that hard for the government to keep on track to help those most in need, those who fit another common way to reference the marginalized and needy in society: “the orphan, the alien, and the widow.”
Notice that King Lemuel’s mother says this is a matter of power and justice; the word ‘rights’ appears twice, the phrase ‘speak out’ occurs twice, and the notion of ‘defend’ or ‘judge’ appears twice. Do the destitute and the poor and needy have rights? And do you speak out to defend those rights? Think about it.