Lesson 13 for March 28, 2015
In the last chapter of Proverbs, Lemuel shared the advice he
received from his mother on wine and women (Proverbs 31:1-3).
WINE: “Do not give […] your ways to
that which destroys kings.” (v. 3)
1. A toast to life (v. 4-5, 8-9)
2. A toast to death (v. 6-7)
WOMEN: “Do not give your
strength to women.” (v. 3)
1. A virtuous woman acrostic
(v. 10-31)
2. Physical virtues (v. 10-25)
3. Spiritual virtues (v. 26-31)
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink
wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and
forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted…
Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who
are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and
plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:4-5, 8-9)
Our society insists on selling the
“healthy” side of drinking wine,
beer and other spirits. Beautiful
bottles, amazing ads and even
scientific studies are used for that
purpose.
Nevertheless, the biblical advice is quite the
opposite (Pr. 23:30-35): if you want to live a full
life, we must stay away from alcoholic beverages.
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink
wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and
forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted…
Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who
are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and
plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:4-5, 8-9)
According to the quote above, which are the harmful effects of
alcohol on us (not only on kings)?
Forgetting the
law (v. 5).
Alcohol
prevents us
from
remembering
the Law.
Corrupting
justice (v. 5).
Being unable to
help (v. 8).
Being unable to
judge (v. 9).
Alcohol makes
us neglect
justice and
take selfish
decisions.
Alcohol
prevents us
from helping
those who
need us.
Alcohol
prevents us
from thinking
clearly and
from judging
in a fair way.
“Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those
who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.” (Proverbs 31:6-7 NIV)
Proverbs is very clear on not drinking alcohol under any circumstances. Then how
can we understand that quote?
The verb “perish” is used in Proverbs to describe the wicked (Pr. 10:28; 11:7, 10;
19:9; 21:28; 28:28). That is, those who reject God either with their thoughts or
with their behavior.
“Those who are in anguish” are those
who are reprimanded by their
conscience but don’t want to listen.
According to Lemuel’s mother, both
those who are in anguish and those
who are perishing can drink wine if
they want to.
In short:
“The only way in which any can be secure against the
power of intemperance is to abstain wholly from wine,
beer, and strong drinks. We must teach our children
that in order to be manly they must let these things
alone. God has shown us what constitutes true
manliness. It is he that overcometh who will be
honored, and whose name will not be blotted out of
the book of life.”
E.G.W. (Child Guidance, section 14, cp. 64, pg. 401)
“If anything is needed to quench thirst, pure water
drunk some little time before or after the meal is all
that nature requires. Never take tea, coffee, beer, wine,
or any spirituous liquors. Water is the best liquid
possible to cleanse the tissues.”
E.G.W. (Temperance, section 5, cp. 6, pg. 101)
Proverbs 31:10-31 is a tribute to a virtuous woman in an acrostic form. Each verse begins
with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet.
‫ א‬Alef
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far
above rubies.
‫ ל‬Lamed
She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all
her household is clothed with scarlet.
‫ ב‬Bet
The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will
have no lack of gain.
‫ מ‬Mem
She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine
linen and purple.
‫ ג‬Gimel
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
‫ נ‬Nun
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits
among the elders of the land.
‫ ד‬Dalet
She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her
hands.
‫ ס‬Samekh She makes linen garments and sells them, and
‫ ה‬He
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from
afar.
‫ ע‬Ayin
Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall
rejoice in time to come.
‫ ו‬Vav
She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food
for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
‫ פ‬Pe
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her
tongue is the law of kindness.
‫ ז‬Zayin
She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she
plants a vineyard.
‫ צ‬Tsadi
She watches over the ways of her household, and
does not eat the bread of idleness.
‫ ח‬Het
She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her
arms.
‫ ק‬Qof
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praises her.
‫ ט‬Tet
She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her
lamp does not go out by night.
‫ ר‬Resh
Many daughters have done well, but you excel
them all.
‫ י‬Yod
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her
hand holds the spindle.
‫ ׁש‬Shin
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a
woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
‫ כ‬Kaf
She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out
her hands to the needy.
‫ ת‬Tav
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own
works praise her in the gates.
supplies sashes for the merchants.
We can find many similarities between that virtuous woman and wisdom
as described in Proverbs 8:
31:10  8:35.
• She is precious and
worth being found.
31:10  8:1011, 18-19.
• She is worth more
than precious stones.
31:14  8:19.
• She supplies.
31:17  8:14.
• She is strong.
31:28  8:34.
• She is praised.
So a virtuous woman “opens her mouth with wisdom.” (Pr. 31:26)
Proverbs 31:10-25
The physical virtues of this
woman contradict two
stereotypes in society today:
1. Beauty. This “virtue” is not mentioned at all. The
outward appearance doesn’t make a woman
virtuous.
2. Paid work. She is devoted to maintain a stable
household.
“The Lord is served as much, yea, more, by faithful home work than by the
one who teaches the word. As verily as do the teachers in the school, fathers
and mothers are to feel that they are the educators of their children.
The Christian mother’s sphere of usefulness should not be narrowed by her
domestic life. The salutary influence which she exerts in the home circle she
may and will make felt in more widespread usefulness in her neighborhood
and in the church of God. Home is not a prison to the devoted wife and
mother.”
E.G.W. (The Adventist Home, section 10, cp. 38, pg. 236)
Proverbs 31:10-25
Why is that virtuous woman very
busy (v. 12-18)?
The reason for her constant
attention is her responsibility.
She must be there; otherwise,
everything would collapse.
She is also taking care of those in
need (v. 20) and she is always
planning for the future: “She can
laugh at the days to come.”
(v. 25 NIV).
Proverbs 31:26-31
She is wise: “She
opens her
mouth with
wisdom.”
Her family respects
her: “Her children…
call her blessed; her
husband also.”
She is merciful:
“On her tongue is
the law of
kindness.”
She cares for her
family: “She
watches over the
ways of her
household.”
She does good: “Many
daughters have done
well, but you excel
them all.”
She is not lazy:
“[She] does not
eat the bread of
idleness.”
She fears God. She doesn’t trust
her own charm or beauty:
“Charm is deceitful and beauty
is passing, but a woman who
fears the Lord, she shall be
praised.”
Everyone (both men and women) who
match this description is worthy to be
praised now and forever.
“Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her own works praise her in
the gates.” (Proverbs 31:31)