4It is not for kings, Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5lest they drink, and forget the law,
and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,
and wine to the bitter in soul.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8Open your mouth for the mute,
in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Knowing the difference between a proverb and a promise is vital, but it doesn’t mean that these wisdom writings have no worth. Proverbs is an incredibly important book particularly in how the people of God should respond to injustice and oppression. We are called to be the voice for those that have no voice. In Proverbs 31 the King recalls his mothers advice. Do not guzzle wine, too much alcohol will make you forget the law and your duty to the oppressed.
It is probably not alcohol that makes us forget God’s ways or blinds us to the cry of the oppressed today. To be honest it is more likely to be our own comfort or even busyness that inhibits us in speaking out for the oppressed or taking action against injustice. The Kings mother was reminding him not to let the comfort of position or the success of his achievements stop him from doing what is right. The same wisdom could be given to us today ‘don’t let the comfort of where we are stop us from doing what we should as a children of God’