1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2 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.

4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6-7 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress (bitter in soul); let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

8-9 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:1-10 English Standard Version

As with Agur, the man who wrote Chapter 30, we don't know who King Lemuel was. Some thought it was a pseudonym for King Solomon, but there’s no evidence for that. What’s the striking thing we see in vs 1?

Like Timothy in the New Testament, King Lemuel had a mother who taught him wisely. In Timothy's case we read how, from childhood, his gran and his mom taught him from the sacred writings which are able to make people wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15) Never underestimate the worth of having, or being, such a mom. What else do we learn about Lemuel's mom from vs 2.

Like the god fearing man named Samuel, who guided ancient Israel for many years, Lemuel seems to have been a child whose mother had vowed to 'give him back' to God, that he might serve Him. That ought to be the longing of any Christian parent, even if it means their child ends up in mission work and they have few opportunities to see each other. What is the first pearl of wisdom she gave to her son? (vs 3)

Being a woman herself, she well knew how a woman can have a big influence on a man's life, for better or for worse. The old Testament gives many examples of the sort of woman she was warning Lemuel about, women who had very negative influences on Israel's Kings. (This Chapter will go on, however, to describe the tremendous positive influence of a God fearing woman.)

What was the other danger she warned her son of? (vs 4-5)

Notice, she wasn't saying an alcoholic drink is evil. But alcohol can lead to people making foolish decisions and doing things they later regret. Hardly suitable for Kings with the responsibility of looking after the Kingdom and his people. She suggests in vs 6-7 that there are times and places where a strong drink may be helpful, much as modern day pain killers are used for serious or terminally ill patients.

What was the third bit of wise advice she gave to her son? (vs 8-9)

If only more modern day politicians would hear these words and take them to heart. Senates and Parliaments are not meant to be places for personal enrichment and power, but places where righteous laws are passed for the benefit of the nation. And justice needs to be fair. Modern day 'welfare states' often fail to distinguish between genuine needs and laziness, and are more concerned about defending the rights of the privileged classes and the crazy woke movements.

What Lemuel's mother sought for her son is the sort of thing that followers of King Jesus ought to keep in mind as well. We must be careful of relationships that could lead to ruin, and not let wine or stronger drink subtly take control of our life. We should look out for the needs of others, especially in the household of faith, and help where we can. And for any who were blessed with a God fearing mother, put whatever good advice she gave you into action.