Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31:1-9
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “A Proverbs 31 woman,” or, like a lot of people when you hear someone say something about Proverbs chapter 31 you immediately associate it with a long text that describes a godly wife.
You wouldn’t be wrong to think that. It does do that from verse ten to the end of the chapter. Which is why the first nine verses often go overlooked. In this part of the chapter we have wise words spoken to King Lemuel by his mother. Who was King Lemuel? We don’t know for sure. Some think it was actually Solomon and Lemuel (a name that means something like devoted to God) was a pet name his mother, Bathsheba, gave him. That would make these words of wisdom the words of Bathsheba.
It is also possible that these are fictional people intended to portray the ideal king and mother. It could be that Lemuel was another king altogether, a real person but we are not privy to the historical account of his kingdom or personal record.
Whichever view one holds, it is impossible to be dogmatic about it. In my view, the most likely understanding is that this was Solomon and Bathsheba that was being referred to, but I won’t fight you if you have a different opinion.
The advice given is wise. A good king/leader shouldn’t be a womanizer or a drunk and he should be someone who cares about the downtrodden and justice. While it isn’t a part of the traditional “Proverbs 31 wife” section, we might want to rethink that. At the very least it should be considered with it.
Here we have a mother giving sound wisdom to her son who is a powerful political leader. The way it is written leads me to believe that Lemuel’s mother taught him these things in anticipation of him eventually assuming the throne. I don’t think she was barging into the throne room trying to correct a grown man who had already taken power and was making bad moral and judicial decisions. She was discipling him to be a good and godly leader in the future.
This stands out because a lot of Proverbs was written from the perspective of a father teaching his son life wisdom. Here we see that the father has a partner in this work. His wife is a teacher of wisdom and a discipler of her children as well.
It makes me think that when the text about the “Excellent Wife” was written, it was Solomon reflecting on his mother and the way she lived her life. Notice that verse 26 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” That seems to be describing exactly the type of woman Lemuel’s mother was.
Mothers and grandmothers shouldn’t be hesitant to teach their sons and grandsons. Speak truth plainly to them. Give them wisdom about what a godly man and leader does and doesn’t do. Lemuel paid homage to his mother by remembering what she said and by seeking to live up to the wisdom she imparted to him.
May your sons and grandsons do likewise.
Have seen this interpretation before, but I like ! Thank you.