Drinking and Forgetting the Law - Proverbs 31:5

In the book of Proverbs Lemuel's mother told him, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink”, and in chapter thirty one and verse five of Proverbs King Lemuel's mother said, “lest they drink, and forget the law” where we read,

Lest they drink, and forget the law,

and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

The verse begins, “Lest they drink,, and forget the law, ...” Lemuel's mother said, “lest they drink” or “beware or unless they, the royal ruler and princes, imbibe and take in the intoxicating wine or strong drink”, “and forget the law” which means “and ignore, wither from and cease to care for decrees and commandments”. Lemuel's mother said if royal leaders imbibe intoxicated beverages, they would ignore or cease to care for the decrees and commandments. 

The verse continues, “... and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” Lemuel's mother added the words, “and pervert the judgment” or “and alter, change and transmute the justice, legal suit and strife” “of any of the afflicted” which means “belonging to the whole, all, the totality and every one of the people who are in poverty, misery and trouble”. Lemuel's mother said the intoxicating drink would also alter and change the justice toward people who are in misery and impoverished. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Lemuel's mother told him if royal rulers and princes imbibed intoxicating alcoholic beverages, they would ignore the commandments and alter the justice due to people who are in misery and poverty. God wants His rulers to follow His commands and be just and right, and intoxicating drinks can and does alter their judgment. God exalts people to positions of authority, and when we are put in these positions, we are not to allow mind altering chemicals into our minds. God loves us, and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for our sins, we will be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and given the wisdom to know how to keep alcoholic drinks away from our ability to follow God's commands and grant justice to those who are in trouble and in need. 

Next time Lemuel says, “give strong drink to him that is ready to perish”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".