Last week’s scripture study delved headlong into one of the hardest conversation a woman could have with her son! Even the flies on the wall of the room had to have squirmed a little bit!
This week, we will look at the same conversation, but another topic! Another hot topic!
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Let they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Proverbs 31:4-7 KJV
I love the fact that Bathsheba is so forthright! She doesn’t beat around the bush but, rather, talks to her son openly and honestly. How I pray to have the courage to speak to my children as blatantly truthful as this woman did.
She saw the dangers of drinking and wasn’t afraid to tell her son that he should avoid it!
I can’t help but wonder if, perhaps, David might have been drinking when he sent for Bathsheba and began an affair with her?
The fact that Bathsheba tells her son that drinking will alter his mind and make him “forget the law” seems telling to me. If ever a man forgot the law and did his own thing it was David in the Bathsheba situation!
Whether David had been drinking or not on the fateful night that changed Bathsheba’s life, Bathsheba had firsthand knowledge of what could happen to a King’s subject when the King wasn’t thinking clearly!
She knew that it would never be good! A King must stay clear minded and guard his people at all times!
This advice is ancient but still true today! Many is the human with a sorrowful tale revolving around drinking too much and loosing the ability to know what is right and wrong! You don’t have to be a king to experience this frequent occurrence. Whether your Solomon or just an ordinary person, an altered mind that forgets law and looses its ability to have good judgement is NEVER good for ANYONE!
Before I sign off for the week, Let’s look for a minute at the second half of what Bathsheba had to say on this subject of drinking.
It could easily be misconstrued as saying that there are times when its okay for us mere mortals to become drunk.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts
Proverbs 31:6 KJV
While its very possible that wine was used as a source of pain relief in ancient Judah, Bathsheba’s reference to using wine for those ready to perish probably refers to the Jewish tradition of giving drugged wine to convicts on their way to execution.
Let’s check out Matthew 27:34
There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall
Matthew 27:34a
The same tradition in the days of Bathsheba was carried on into the days of Jesus! Out of pity, they offered convicted felons a bit of reprieve from the pain of crucifixion.
A little bunny trail here: Jesus chose not to take that drink because he desired to feel the full effects of his crucifixion. He chose to take that because it was necessary for him to do so in remediation for our sin!
As far as giving drink to those with “heavy hearts”, that doesn’t indicate that it’s okay to get hammered because you’re having a hard time in life! In fact, the Bible indicates quite the opposite in most locations.
The reference of “heavy” in this setting refers to someone in extreme, overwhelming sorrow. It is used to describe people like Job and Hannah!
Once again, it seems to point to a Jewish custom.
The same thought showed itself in the Jewish practice of giving a cup of wine to mourners
Barnes Notes on the Bible. www.Biblehub.com
In other words, it was an ancient Jewish tradition to offer wine to those mourning the death of their loved ones.
Neither of these examples is permission to drink at will! They are references to very specific uses of wine in ancient culture.
Just wanted to touch on that briefly before moving on next week to the completion of Bathsheba’s advice to her Son and, FINALLY, the start of the study of the indelible Proverbs 31 woman!
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