One minute read.
Daily Reading: Zechariah 12:1-13:9, Revelation 19:1-21, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 31:1-7
Daily Verse: “What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?” Prov. 31:2
First warning.
King Lemuel recalls an oracle his mother taught him. Massa, the original Hebrew word for oracle, means prophetic utterance, pronouncement, with the focus on the content of the message. In the King’s situation, his mom warns him about women not to spend his strength and ways on them.
The indelicate Arabic term used to describe women refers to females who ruin rulers. Culturally, kings had many women in their lives: wives, concubines, and female servants; men had harems. King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, learning from his father, King David, who also had a vast harem. For both men, their harems caused them much trouble.
King Lemuel’s mother doesn’t want her son to follow in the footsteps of rulers who faltered because of women. In the verses to come, we will learn what a woman of noble character looks like.
Heeding his mother’s warning leads King Lemuel to discover a wife of noble character, one who uplifts and encourages her husband, not tearing him down.
Lord, help us heed the advice we find in Your word. Let us not waste our time on earth by pursuing trouble, but instead, give us discernment to make wise decisions and live life to the fullest in Christ. IJNIP. Amen
