Proverbs 31
Verse 31:3 is a warning to kings:
Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
Today this is difficult to do; women and men are considered equal to the point of fighting side by side. Men have become emasculated in a way because the roles are not clear anymore, other than childbirth. I look at Katy’s complaints in our marriage how I think it’s normal for her to build barns and rebuild motors. Often she complains about how I am not doing my job as the man and taking on these projects.
I don’t think this is the warning that the Psalmist was giving here, but that was my first “thought” reading this. I believe the Psalmist wants the kings who read this to understand how a woman can destroy your purpose. Throughout the Bible we have examples of men blowing their purpose by letting the dangly between their legs do their thinking. David and Samson are just two examples of men who let a women destroy their purpose.
Verses 31:4 & 5 highlights another pitfall in life, alcohol:
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.
This is not one of those verses where God says do not drink, but it is one that highlights why you should not drink in excess or on the job. Now since kings are on the job 24/7 drinking is not a good idea, especially to excess. This extends to other “medications”, including marijuana and cocaine, which have taken the place of booze for many. We need to give our employers 100% and in the case of a king, the people are technically his employer.
I think of Henry the Eights and the three verses I highlighted. He had 6 wives, 5 of whom he beheaded. I wonder how many were damaging his ruling as king and how many were because he was clouded by booze? He was known for excessive eating and drinking, so it could have been a combination.
Verse 31:10 starts a laundry list of qualities of an excellent woman/wife:
An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
Often we are trying to find the “perfect” wife when she is there all along. Does God have that perfect wife selected for you or is there compatible mates that are perfect. Either way the key to keeping that jewel is to ensure you don’t think you are king! I have seen marriages crumble because of the “other” failing in their marriage. When you dig down to the root, it really is both parties. Instead of communicating and respectfully addressing issues while noticing your own, most marriages disintegrate to a major fail by one or both.
I read the remainder of this Proverb and wish to dedicate it to my wife of 22 years. We have lived a wild ride and are in no way a model for how to do marriage right, but we have survived by loving each other and working through the problems. Our lives change and we just adjust to each other’s quirks for the season. We may not be a perfect match, but we work to keep things together realizing there grass is not greener on the other side of the fence … it’s the same grass only thicker, before we get to chewing it down!