Tag: Leadership Should Avoid Excess and, Instead, Serve Others - Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of King Lemuel

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

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

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.

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

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.

Tag: Leadership Should Avoid Excess and, Instead, Serve Others

The above proverbs are, as stated, the words of the Queen Mother to her son Lemuel (the term could be another name for Solomon, or simple mean, “one dedicated to God for service).  Whatever the relationship between the Queen and her son, it is clear she takes the role of royalty and leadership seriously.   In essence, the Queen is giving this young leader four areas to consider:

1.  Don’t be swayed in excess by woman and sexual desires.   As a woman, she even goes to the length to say that giving yourself to women is, in essence, giving away your “strength.”    She is warning him of the destruction that awaits him in the harem of life.  

2. Don’t be enticed by excess with alcohol.   Drinking in excess, she warns, is NOT for those in leadership.   She sees the consumption of alcohol, especially strong drink NOT for those who are leading, but for those who are in trouble and ready to perish.   She even goes to the extent to say that drinking is a good way for the depressed to forget their depression.   But, she warns, this is NOT how leaders respond.   

3. She invites him to give strong drink to others in their time of need for it.  This seems to indicate she believes the king is to be servant oriented and be prepared to give of his resources to those who are hurting.  The implication is that the king would have to recognize those who are hurting and depressed.   This means a leader has to be with his/her people to see their needs and to know their struggles.   

4. She goes on to say that the leader is to “be a voice” for those who can not speak.  This very much fits the role of government outlined in Romans 13 but the Apostle Paul.   The poor and needy need a voice.   The leader is not to listen to just those who feed him/her, promote him/her, or reward him/her.   The leader is to look out for the poor and needy and be their voice.  

Leadership has a role and the Queen Mother speaks her mind to her son.  Note, also, the predominant nature of the woman here, over the young leader.   Scripture, especially the book of Proverbs, speaks highly of woman in regard to leadership and instruction.   Even though the land might have been controlled by men, God uses the voice of a woman to speak the truth needed to be heard by the young man.   This is a great truth to hold to and recognize.