Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend about public policy, laws and rules the government makes to take care of social situations. All of us believe in government and the rule of law, however it has occurred to me that public policy finds its beginnings in the home. There are some things that no government, law, or rule could ever fix or ever create.
Proverbs 31:1 says, “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.” What follows are wise words that a wise mother gave her son who was king. She says things like, “Give not thy strength unto women,” and “It is not for kings to drink wine…lest they drink, and forget the law…give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish…let him drink, and forget…” So, drinking is not for those who are celebrating to remember life; it is done by those who are trying to forget life. The mother says to this king, “Don’t be scuttled by wine or women.”
Then the Bible moves to a wife, “Who can find a virtuous woman…the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.” What follows is this virtuous woman and how she is a blessing to her home and to her husband. What you find by reading this is that the public policy of any government finds its beginning in the home. In fact, kings find their beginnings in the home. In other words, a king is taught by the hearth but he is seen in the gates, referring to the place of public discourse and leadership. Verse 23 refers to this, saying, “Her husband is known in the gates.” Verse 31 says, “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” So, what is actually praising this woman? It is what she had taught as it is exhibited by other people like her children.
In this passage you find references to mothers, sons, husbands, children, and daughters, and it is all under the heading “words to a king.” Let me tell you that the kingdom can never be more than a reflection of the home. Even a king can learn from his mother and even a king can be scuttled by his vices. I think it is far too easy for us to think about how we can change other people’s lives by some law or rule and not to pay attention to our own personal life.
For instance, maybe you are watching some celebration, the Emmy’s or Grammy’s or whatever, and some star stands up and gives a three minute sermon on world peace, but the fact of the matter is that star is on his third or fourth marriage. Now maybe you are on your third or fourth marriage. God can take you from where you are to where you need to be, but the point is, that I don’t need such a person preaching to me about world peace when he doesn’t even have peace in the confines of his 6,000 square foot home. If we are going to be what we ought to be in public life, we have got to begin in the home. Any idea that sets aside the home to make things better is self-defeating and failed before it begins. History, life, nature, and the Word of God all show us this.
So, Proverbs 31 is showing the words of a wise mother to a king. Proverbs 31 shows the actions of a wise woman and her influence on everyone in her home. So, whether you are a daughter, son, mother, father, or a king, public policy finds its beginning in the home. That is where you and I should begin today.