Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 31:3-9 ESV

3 Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 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.
6 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.
8 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.

Libertinism - loose in morals; debauchery; lewdness

Intervene – 5. Law: To become a party to an action or other legal procedure for the protection of an alleged interest therein; said of a third person not originally a party thereto

Websters New Collegiate Dictionary, 1949

The person addressed in Proverbs 31:3-9 is one who has an office of authority, but there is no reason it can’t be extended to any person who has a responsibility for others. The one addressed is warned away from libertinism and called to intervene when necessary.

In verses 3-7 there is a warning against conduct that is destructive of the respect that is needed to fulfill any place of responsibility. When the leader is not respected, his judgment is not trusted.

Alcohol as a means of stimulant for daily life is a danger that a leader must realize. As respect is lost when the leader becomes a servant to his lust, so judgment is impaired when he becomes a slave of alcohol or drugs.

Good counsel is plain in warning of the danger of libertinism.

The strong in society, if they have a desire for a just society, must be willing to intervene:

A. Verse 8 – On the behalf of those who are limited by provincialism and ignorance. They are sometimes described as the working poor. They are described here as mute who are without rights because they can be passed by. They are by the strong and wealthy considered to be without value.

B. Verse 9 – The Bible is consistent from the very earliest of time in stating plainly God’s concern for the poor. The Israelite was to remember the poor when he reaped at harvest time. He was neither to reap the corners of his field nor glean his trees. This was to be left for the poor and needy.

Both James and John make it plain in their letters that the believer is one who does not overlook the needs of the poor. It is a failure in Biblical understanding to attempt to think the poor in Scripture are those who are spiritually poor.

Just as the wicked man never truly has concern for the poor, the upright man is willing to intervene on the behalf of the weak.