ResponsiveReiding

Proverbs 31

Part 3

Living Like Kings

Proverbs 31:1-9; Deut. 10:17-22; 16:18-20; 2 Sam. 23:3-4

 THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

As mentioned the last 2 times, the language of this final chapter forces us to go back to the very beginning of the book.

These 1^st 9 verses especially, addressing “KINGS”.

Once again we note that we actually come full circle in the book.

Solomon is preparing his son for the throne,

Lemuel’s mother is preparing him for the throne –

and The Holy Spirit is preparing all of Christ’s blood bought ones for the throne.

As we read in Rev. 5:9–10 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

So far – we’ve seen 2 vital principles:

In the natural: I. 2-3 / KINGS CANNOT RULE WELL IF THEY ARE MORALLY COMPROMISED.

In the Spiritual: 1. The Church cannot represent the Gospel to the World if WE are a morally compromised Church.

In the natural: II. 4-7 / KINGS CANNOT RULE WELL IF THEIR PERCEPTIONS AND JUDGEMENTS ARE SKEWED BY UNHEALTHY INFLUENCES.

In the Spiritual: 2. The Church cannot represent the Gospel to the World if we are not sober in our perceptions and judgments.

So in vss. 8-9 we have our 3^rd Principle: III. 8-9 / KINGS CANNOT RULE WELL IF THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITES ABOVE THEIR OWN FIAT.

 

Proverbs 31:8–9 Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Open your mouth, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

 

Charles Bridges notes: Very soundly does the wise mother inculcate mercy in her royal son. This is one of the pillars of the king’s throne (20:28 [kjv]). He must be the father of his people, using all his authority to protect those who cannot protect themselves. No case of distress, when coming to his knowledge, should be refused his attention. Thus our law makes the judge the counsel for the prisoner who is unable to plead for himself. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”^[1]

In ruling well – It is the duty of Kings to protect, provide, & insure justice for, those, who by reason of age or defect cannot protect, provide or speak up for themselves.
This is true in every strata of authority from the home to the state to the Church.

It is a popular misconception that part of the Hippocratic Oath which Physicians take states: “First do no harm.” Prob. A 19^th century phrase.

But it fits well here.

Those in power must look out for those over whom they rule.

Their position of rulership is first & foremost a position of CARE.

To make decisions & to administrate justice in the way which is best for human flourishing for ALL under their care.

This is the rule in all ministry as well – & why those who function as elders & deacons (or any other role) are charged with protecting others from false doctrines which wound & kill the soul, as well as feeding them on the most healthful of all things – The Word of God.

This is how we can do you the most good!

 

3. The Church cannot represent the Gospel to the World if we do not recognize rights & responsibilities above ourselves.

 

In this sense we realize the Church is NOT self-governing, but under the Lordship of Christ.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

 

It is the duty of Believers to protect, provide, & insure justice for, those, who by reason of age or defect cannot protect, provide or speak up for themselves.
The Church cannot serve as Christ’s vice-regents if we are not impartial and given over to justice and the rights of those who are poor and unable to defend themselves.

There is no question that God was greatly invested in Israel being a nation that operated in administering justice to its people, instead of despotic fiat.

Lex Rex (before Samuel Rutherford – 1600’s) to Christus Rex – under the Lordship of God Himself was to guide their dealings.

The Church can do no less.

We are to be vitally interested in what is justice, especially for those who are poor or marginalized and helpless.

Those who cannot, either due to age or circumstances seek justice for themselves.

The Church is to be a champion of justice in the world.

We might say this is the first layer of application we must take from this passage.

But secondly, we have to see how this especially applies to “Opening OUR Mouths.”

Notice these words repeated twice: “Open your Mouth”
When we see our governments failing in these matters – it is our responsibility to speak up.

When for instance, our government pursues the allowance of abortion in our society – it is The Church who has the 1^st responsibility to decry it & protect the rights of those unborn babies who cannot speak for themselves, nor protect nor provide for themselves.

When policies like the promotion of state sponsored gambling which preys upon those least able to recognize the damage it does & wreaks havoc in the parts of society who can least sustain that damage – it is the Church who must speak up.

We must not be afraid to OPEN OUR MOUTHS.

We could site many, many others such concerns, like legalized prostitution, or same sex marriage – but there is a 3^rd layer which is still more crucial to take in.

All that we have said thus far is true in the cultural realm, but I believe the text leads us to understand it even more so in the spiritual context.

Yet even before we unpack that 3^rd layer – let us be reminded how it is that Christ will bring justice when He comes.

We need to constantly remind ourselves that Jesus will at last bring to right every wrong.

No one will escape.

Those countless millions who have suffered under tyrants, despots, systems, civil OR religious &/or individuals will one day see justice poured out.

No one escapes justice when they die.

Each will be resurrected to stand before the throne of God to give an account and to “receive” from Him, regarding those things done while they were alive in their bodies.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

This is why we must be doubly careful not to seek revenge or retribution as Christ’s people – but entrust final justice in His hands.

Because He IS just, He cannot over-punish any, nor can He err and UNDER-punish any.

So what then is that 3^rd layer which I think we need to give special attention to here?

In the twice repeated “open your mouth” do we not have the most urgent call to prayer?

For even if we cannot bring about justice in our age, we CANtake up the cause of those who cannot plead for themselves, who are either too young, or by defect of some kind unable – to plead for themselves.

After all, who are more unable to even perceive their own need than the lost?

Blind and deaf and insensible of their state.

Unable to cry out for themselves.

Are we not to intercede for them?

Are we not to take their cause before the Throne of Grace – to plead for their souls and that they might find justice in the cross of Christ rather than stand before it in themselves on the Day of Judgment?

If we haven’t done this for our cultural and governmental leaders who are apart from Christ – then all our other speaking up and into the society will have little or no effect!

We’ve only done ½ of our job if all we’ve done is decry sin & injustice – the texts calls us to open our mouths twice!

Decry – yes! But ALSO – plead on behalf of these still so lost they don’t even know to plead for themselves.

Isn’t this the heart of Paul in Rom. 3 when he cries that he wishes he might be accursed so that his brothers & sisters in Judaism might know the Redeemer

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Who are more mute before God, not even pleading their own cause than the lost?

Who are more destitute than those who are without Christ?

Who are more poor and needy than those who have none of the blood of Christ to cover their shame and their guilt, and have nothing of Christ’s Holy Spirit indwelling them?

As those destined to rule and reign with Jesus – the one whom says of Himself that He: “came to seek and to save the lost” – do we not take into account the great day of reckoning and in it plead now for an end to the violence on earth,

An end to war to rape & abuse & rage & injustice of all kinds?

Ought we not to be praying Father “THY will be done on this earth as it is in Heaven”

Can’t we open our mouths BOTH TO those perishing, in announcing the Gospel, & TO the Father to have mercy upon them & to free them from the grossest of cosmic injustices in having been lied to by the Devil and kept in their darkness by his machinations?
No where can we be a more impactful people than upon our knees – pleading.

To open our mouths for those loved ones, sons, daughters, spouses, siblings, fathers, mothers, friends, relatives & strangers who still need the mercy of our Savior!

“Open your mouth” Lemuel’s mother tells him – “open your mouth” – cry out to the God who hears & answers and whose Gospel is to reach the farthest corners of the earth – to “every living creature” as Jesus told His disciples.

Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Matthew 9:37–38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Open your mouth says Jesus that the Lord of the Harvest may send many workers into the field.

Open your mouth to plead for those who have sinned against you that they might not stand before the throne of Judgment naked without Christ’s righteousness.

For it is such a terrible & unthinkable end as to torment to our own souls that such – even as they – should perish in the Godless terrors of an eternal Hell – without any further hope of redemption.

 

Lastly – before we leave this text, we need to notice something more: The overarching context in which Lemuel’s mother speaks.

When she mentions “rights” in vss. 8 & 9 – she is appealing to some grand scheme of JUSTICE.

That justice & not Lemuel’s mere opinion or choice must guide him in ruling well.

Something above & outside of himself.

From which we take this idea of 1^st importance: The Gospel itself is rooted in justice.

It is a grave mistake to think that salvation is the cosmic equivalent of olly olly oxen in free (possibly “All ye, all ye ‘outs’ in free,”, or from the German “alle alle auch sind frei” – everyone is also free)

God doesn’t just wave His hand and say “I forgive you.”

The plan of salvation – for God to redeem lost sinners to Himself required a means, one which would provide forgiveness for all who believe, while at the same time preventing the violation of His justice.

How can the Judge of all the universe, spare any sinner without violating His own nature, without being unjust?

He is by nature JUST. He must always act in perfect justice.

Justice requires that sin be paid for – the just sentence for the offender be carried out.

This is precisely why we need – and preach THE CROSS of Christ.

On the Cross, God can pour out His just wrath on the Willing Substitute – Jesus.

The Father willingly accepts His sacrifice, & on the basis of it can offer not merely forgiveness, but a pronouncement of “RIGHTEOUS” – “NOT GUILTY” on the accused.

Jesus takes our guilt upon Himself – pays our penalty – but then rises from the dead to give us eternal life.

Someone else – not guilty of any sin of their own steps up and says “I’ll Pay the Death Penalty.”

The God of the cross justifies the ungodly through Christ’s substitution so that His mercy is not expressed at the expense of His justice.

Lose this – & the Gospel ceases to make any sense.

Only if it is a means to clear the guilty & still preserve justice can we be saved.

Hence the false Gospel of today which says the death of Christ was not penal and substitutionary.

^[1] Charles Bridges, Proverbs (Crossway Classic Commentaries; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 280.

Proverbs 31

Part 2

Living Like Kings

Proverbs 31:1-9; Leviticus 10:1-11

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE

As mentioned last time, the language of this final chapter forces us to go back to the very beginning of the book.

The 1^st part of the chapter, is addressing “KINGS” & the 2^{nd part}, what is often referred to as “THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN”.

In these, we actually come full circle –

In chap. 1 – Solomon is preparing his son for the throne,

Here: Lemuel’s mother is preparing him for the throne –

And by extension: The Holy Spirit is preparing all of Christ’s blood bought ones for the throne.

As we read in Rev. 5:9–10 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The First concern – Proverbs 31:2–3 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

 

1. 2-3 / KINGS CANNOT RULE WELL IF THEY ARE MORALLY COMPROMISED.

 

1. The Church cannot represent the Gospel to the World if WE are a morally compromised Church.

 

The Second Concern: Proverbs 31:4–7 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

 

 

1. 4-7 / KINGS CANNOT RULE WELL IF THEIR PERCEPTIONS AND JUDGEMENTS ARE SKEWED BY UNHEALTHY INFLUENCES.

 

Eph. 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

The idea here is to be aware of the influence of intoxicants.

 

Why? Intoxicants all have the same basic properties.

 

1. Indulgence in it dulls the senses.

It robs one of the ability to think & reason clearly.

It temporarily dulls pain (which is often why it is so attractive – especially to those suffering inner turmoil & pain).

But in the process, it also dull happiness – for it is a mock happiness, brought on by a mere chemical effect & not on any true change in the inward state.

 

2. It skews the perceptions. (Self portrait of Francis Bacon)

Reality is blurred. (Blurred picture)

It prevents one from perceiving either negative or positive things properly, & prevents clear reflection upon truth in any form.

It makes you prey to lies from others along with the propensity to believe the lies you tell yourself.

This may seem at first to make bad things less ominous, but it also makes good things less fulfilling.

It will justify unreasonable actions & opinions, while dulling the conscience as it calls to right action.

Like the volume control on a radio – you cannot use it to lower the volume on just one station.

When you use it, it lowers the volume on every station at the same time.

 

3. It destroys inhibitions.

The God-given lines that we know we ought not to cross, suddenly disappear. Anything becomes possible.

Nothing is truly taboo.

It robs us of the ability to sense rightful shame over truly shameful things.

It gives us permission to sin without blushing.

 

4. It allows anger to flow unfettered, and turns true love into meaningless sentimentality.

Outlandish statements will spew forth.

Control over the emotions will dissipate & passions will gain the ascendency – no matter what the aftermath – because emotions seldom allow us to see beyond them.

They take up our whole field of vision.

 

All these, & many more are the results of intoxication.

 

So it makes the utmost sense that Lemuel’s mother would want her son to be able to rule well – protected from these influences.

 

But there is a particular application to we who in Christ, are destined to rule and reign with Him.

 

2. The Church cannot represent the Gospel to the World if we are not sober in our perceptions and judgments.

 

10 Times the NT calls Believers to be “sober-minded”

vs. 5 clarifies – it is in being under the influence of anything that leads us to forget God’s decrees, & then to pervert the rights of the afflicted.

And what greater perversion can we commit against those still afflicted by sin & guilt than distorting or depriving them of God’s Word?

If we are drunk on consumerism, drunk on trends, drunk on worldly wealth, drunk on self-importance, drunk on political power, etc.

The picture of drunkenness is one of the loss of clear perception & proper inhibition.

 

We have a startling example of this out of the Old Testament that is seldom linked to this exact problem.

 

The death of Nadab & Abihu – Leviticus 10:1-11

In their case, only 7 days into their being consecrated as God’s priests for God’s people, they imbibe in wine or strong drink enough, that forgetting the things God has just laid out for them in minute detail about how He is to be approached and worshipped – they cast it aside & innovate their own ways – and pay the ultimate price.

So with Christians: We cease being the Church in any effective sense when our judgments are skewed by anything blurring God’s reality.

For this reason – the Priests in the OT were not allowed to drink anything alcoholic when ministering.

This is critical to our role as Christ’s kingdom of PRIESTS on earth.

But lest we narrow this too much only to drunkenness in terms of alcohol – we need to remember that we can be so filled with many things, that the 4 things we noted above are true – whether alcohol is involved or not.

Revelation 17:1–5 – Drunk on immorality

Eph. 4:30–31 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

And doesn’t this take us right back to what we saw last week? – how that these 9 verses in Prov. 31 serve as a sort of exposition of

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.

 

1 Timothy 3:8 reminds us that those in Church leadership (there, Elders & Deacons) are not to be “addicted to much wine”.

 

“Addiction” is word with a lot of freight due to its use in the mental health professions of the day. But it is also an apt word when understood properly and in this context.

 

The word for addicted here being a word used 24 times in the New Testament to communicate the idea of being focused upon, concerned about and occupied with.

It is most often translated “beware”, “pay attention to yourselves”, “watch”, “be careful.”

It evokes the image of something always claiming our thoughtful attention. Something of such importance that it needs to occupy a place in our normal consciousness.

 

Addiction to: SUCCESS

BITTERNESS

REVENGE

NOTORIETY or STANDING in other’s eyes

ATTRACTION TO another

NEED FOR anything which I perceive missing in life

FEAR

PLEASURE

VIDEO GAMES – Average gamer is the US is 30 years old

ACCEPTANCE BY SOME PERSON OR GROUP – the need to “belong”

 

Retreating into any form of anything that dulls reality and skews true perception and understanding from God’s point of view.

 

Blurring what Francis Schaeffer used to call “REAL REALITY”.

 

What then is the answer?

There is but one.

Something higher must take the place of our preoccupation.

Something more wonderful.

Something of greater beauty, higher benefit, sweeter joy, more complete satisfaction and more lasting fulfillment.

 

Thomas Chalmers: THE EXPULSIVE POWER OF A NEW AFFECTION.

“There are two ways in which a practical moralist may attempt to displace from the human heart its love of the world – either by a demonstration of the world’s vanity, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it; or, by setting forth another object, even God, as more worthy of its attachment, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon not to resign an old affection, which shall have nothing to succeed it, but to exchange an old affection for a new one.”

Not something merely to dull the “pain” of our fallenness, but what contains the hope of our eternal future.

Training the heart and the mind to find our deepest happiness and satisfaction in Jesus Christ.

To give ourselves over to searching Him out as our highest pleasure, until He displaces every other joy as a mere trifle.

When tempted to “take a drink” – to seek Him in prayer that moment by the Spirit, to be the answer to what our inner man is yearning for.

And to continue that course in faith believing that He will answer that pursuit with an ever increasing revelation of His goodness to our soul.

To find our all – in Jesus Christ who alone – as the Apostle Paul says: “fills all in all: Him.

And I find no more practical way to approach that, than in the things Paul mentions to us through the Spirit where he addresses this directly.

The reason why we go to this passage, is because here, The Holy Spirit has set “being drunk” side by side with “being filled with the Spirit” to give us the ultimate contrast.

Ephesians 5:15–21 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1. Walking: as “wise” people. Living in the light of God’s revelation in Christ – & let that influence your heart, mind and emotions more than anything else.

2. Understanding: what the will of the Lord is.

What is found first & foremost in His Word – not in our feelings. Grapple with what He has revealed to us.

Let that influence us above other things.

3. Addressing: one another.

Reiterating to ourselves & to each other the truth of God’s Word. So indulging in the truth as it is in Christ, that it become ours “song” – the thing we cannot get out of our heads.

And our joy – “making melody”.

4. Giving thanks: Dwell on the goodness of God in His gracious providences.

Remind yourself of His constant good will toward you.

Of your being clean from sin and guilt by the blood of Christ.

Of how He redeems everything in life so that it may be useful to know Him more, and to grow into His likeness.

Of the great promise of the resurrection and the World to come – that this present disordered world is only temporary and will give way to unthinkable glory!

5. Submitting: Being so humbled by His grace, that you find your delight in serving and submitting to one another in Christ.

 

Eph. 5:18 – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

The “drunk” aren’t being Wise

The “drunk” have their understanding impaired

The “drunk” do not address others in a way glorifying/revealing Christ

The “drunk” are not filled with thanksgiving for Christ’s blessings

The “drunk” are not humble – but falsely bold!

In direct contrast – This is what the Spirit filled life looks like – the clear vision of the one filled with His Spirit instead of having the thoughts & perceptions skewed and impaired by other things.

This is a person walking in God’s World, God’s way.

This person understands life without distortion.

This is the gift promised to all who come to Christ by faith.

 

To every Believer.

Is this you?    Then this is your privilege. Your Birthright. Settle for nothing less!

 

If this is not you – won’t you come to Him today?

Won’t you acknowledge the rebellion you’ve lived in all these years – refusing to serve Him, refusing to own your sinfulness and need of a redeemer?

Refusing to condemn yourself so that in turning to Him for mercy & grace you might be reconciled to God through the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross for your sins?

Then – if you do – as Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost – this promise of the Spirit will be for you too!

Proverbs 31

Part 1

Living Like Kings

Proverbs 31:1-9 / Revelation 5:1-10

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

As we come into this final chapter, the language, forces us to go back to the very beginning of the book.

The 1^st part of the chapter, is addressing “KINGS” and the 2^nd, what is often referred to as “THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN”.

In these, we actually come full circle.

You’ll remember that when we began, we noted that the entire book is cast as Solomon speaking with his son, and preparing him to one day ascend the throne of Israel itself.

And we would fail to apply it well if we did not in the first place see it in that light.

That is true for BOTH sections of this last chapter – we’ll have to unpack that more fully later.

Secondly, we’ve seen the entire book as a master’s class in mentoring all of us in Living “wisely”: Living lives that are fully informed and framed by a clear understanding of who and what we are in God’s universe and according to His cosmic plan.

A plan which WE know, culminates in the return of Jesus. Or as Paul says it: Eph. 1:7–10 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

The idea is that this present life – whether the life of Solomon or his son or ours, needs to be lived with an eye fixed upon where God is taking the whole of human history.

We might say: We must live ESCATOLOGICALLY.

Growing out of those ideas then, is taking seriously that in God’s final plan, Christians are saved to occupy two great offices in Christ’s coming Kingdom.
The first of these is the subject of the 1^st 9 verses of this chapter.

And it is this: That Christ Jesus has saved us with the intention that we will “reign” with Him in His coming Kingdom.

 

Rev. 5:9–10 “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, ¹⁰ and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

That is the Christian’s destiny.

To judge angels. (1 Cor. 6:3)

To be seated with Him in His throne. (Eph. 2:6 – in some sense even now)

To rule with Him.

So we need to factor our ROYAL calling into our lives now.

We are being groomed to be an extension of His authority in His universe.

And it is in that context I want us to look carefully at this passage.
An additional word about how I’ve approached this entire series in Proverbs.

I am stealing this from Tim Keller whom I heard speak last week at the BASICS conference at Alistair Begg’s Church. It is an important concept for all of us in how we read the Old Testament.

If any of you have seen the movie The 6th Sense (Spoiler Alert!) or perhaps Ender’s Game – you know that once you’ve seen it – the big reveal at the end changes everything.

In the 6^th Sense, you find out that Bruce Willis has been dead the entire time – and now that you know that, you cannot go back and see that movie again without the ending already in mind. Its been spoiled for you in that way.

In Ender’s Game – you find out along – with Ender, that he wasn’t just playing war simulations on a computer, but was in fact waging war on an alien race.

This is how it is reading the OT now that we know Christ has come, and has fulfilled all the types and shadows and pictures.

We can’t read the OT any more as though that hasn’t happened.

The cross sheds a backward light on everything that came before, so that you see it and read it and understand it in a completely new way.

So here.    As King Lemuel’s mother speaks to us.

NOTE: Just as with Agur in chap. 31, Lemuel and his Mother are 2 personages we know absolutely nothing about, other than what is written here.

But under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Solomon closes this amazing book of Proverbs by summing it all up in her two admonitions.

And in this 1^st section she warns about 3 key areas that are absolutely vital to her son as he looks to fulfill his role as a King.

All of it is being addressed as important to us within this framework of OUR being groomed for the throne as well.

3 vital areas that will directly impact her son’s ability to govern well. To discharge his royal duties with faithfulness and dignity.

 

1. 2-3 / KINGS CANNOT RULE WELL IF THEY ARE MORALLY COMPROMISED.

Proverbs 31:2–3 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.

Notice how Lemuel’s Mother is hitting on something which already seems to be afoot in her son’s life.

“What are you DOING?” – 3 Times she says it.

And what IS he doing?

Paying attention to multiple women.

In our day we can say these women can be either real or virtual!

She does not say: “Don’t give your strength or be weakened by A woman, as though being married is somehow suspect – but by WOMEN – plural

It is a straightforward caution against moral compromise.

The implication being that relationships with multiple “women” weakens his ability to rule well.

And it isn’t hard to see why.

One who will violate their marriage vows, the most intimate, sacred and basic of promises in order to satisfy their lusts – are those who will violate ANY commitment – if it means personal satisfaction or enjoyment.

Those who will compromise in the home, will compromise anywhere else if it will get them what they want.

Up until the most recent of times, even the World thought that marital fidelity and longevity was a signal of a certain kind of stability and commitment – and was desirable in our political candidates.

Something which has all but evaporated in our day.

I believe it was Jonathan Edwards who said that “real love is when our happiness is in found in the happiness of another – not self.” I would add, that it is when our happiness is found in the happiness of another – irrespective of relationship even to ourselves.

If the marriage crumbles, if the home crumbles because of lack of fidelity and commitment – the whole of society crumbles. After all, a society is nothing other than its people.

And when a leader is him or HERself distracted and given to multiple competing commitments, especially morally, then there is no telling what else they will compromise on.

So Lemuel’s mother says” Don’t Do it!” As strongly as she can.

This is sound advice in the natural sense – but it is not sound advice we are after – we are after what this means concerning those in Christ – what is God’s Spirit addressing in US through such a picture?

As we’ve already noted – this impacts us because of the ROYAL calling which falls to everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the 1^st of the 3 things which directly impact and cripple the Church’s effectiveness in its witness in the World.

As we saw in Rev. 5 – the END of our salvation is wrapped up with Ruling and Reigning with Christ some day.

And so we make this application: The Church cannot represent the Gospel to the World if WE are a morally compromised Church.

We can see this strongly addressed in Paul’s 1^st letter to the Corinthians. Why he spends so much time on marriage, and rebuking easy divorce, sex outside of marriage & sexual immorality of all kinds.

Eph. 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

And even more so in Jesus’ letters to the 7 Churches in the book of Revelation. –

Rev. 2:14 &16 PERGAMUM: But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality…Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev. 2:18–22 Thyatira: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. ¹⁹ “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. ²² Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

How timely this word is in our sex-saturated culture, filled with erotic liberty trying to lay claim to being the supreme right.

Gender confusion and rampant eroticism rule the day.

Speak against anyone’s sexual “rights” a you are immediately branded as biased, judgmental, out of step, repressive, homophobic, intolerant – you name it.

Note how vs. 3 intimates the weakness of the Church, its ineffectualness – is directly connected to its moral compromise. It deprives us of our strength – of our ability to work for the Kingdom and bring about true change. It is true in the individual and it is true in the Church at large.

Sexual compromise will rob you of the ability to minister to the lives of others with any effectiveness. Even though your outward activity may seem to be OK, the spiritual impact will be nullified.

Why? Because it will sap your time, your mental faculties, your emotions, most often your money too – and all the while searing your conscience because you have to justify it when you know it’s wrong.

We cannot control these things in the culture at large – but they are NOT to be part of the Church.

In a very real sense – and applying to all 3 of the things Lemuel’s Mother will mention here – these 9 verses are an exposition of 1 Thess. 5:19.

Make no mistake – sexual immorality stifles and suppresses the motions of the Holy Spirit in the heart and soul.

The Greek word here is the same one used for extinguishing a fire.

And it is precisely why those who claim to be Christians and at the same time justify homosexuality, same sex marriage, sex outside of marriage and pornography – why they reason so non-Biblically in justifying their actions.

When the Church falls into these practices under the guise of either individual freedom – or “grace” understood as license, we actively combat the work the Spirit in our lives, and in the ministry of the Church overall.

 

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Hear that? The passions of the flesh WAR against your own soul.

Some of the ways are very easy to see:

Desensitization- results in escalating secret sin. A calloused conscience.
Majoring on minors – Those compromising morally will inevitably find minor issues to fixate on – areas they can be vocal about, to divert their own minds from confronting their sin.
Preoccupation & condemnation of other’s faults or sins. The morally compromised fixate on the faults of others to try and diminish their own sense of failure and to try and feel superior.
Preoccupation with symptoms over causes. Those morally compromising – especially in secret will rail against all kinds of sin in society and announce how all our ills would be cured if we could just get prayer back in the schools, or outlaw same-sex marriage, or prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol. But these are symptoms – not the underlying cause.
Emotional isolation – secret sin does all it can to keep from being discovered, and those caught in it withdraw more and more – especially emotionally from others.
Unaccountability – Seeking out copious amounts of time alone and unexplained. They run and hide in their sin and rage against anyone that threatens their secret loves.
Touchiness over any criticism – No matter how much they try to deny the pinch of their conscience, in fact, it is constantly piercing them and leaves them defensive and touchy and miserable must of the time – especially if anything threatens their being found out.

 

What then is the answer for the individual AND for the church at large?: 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

It is not simply to forsake these debilitating sins – but to pursue the advancement of the Spirit’s work within us.

He isn’t called the Holy Spirit because Holy is His first name – but because He IS holiness, and always leads us into holiness.

The Spirit of God NEVER leads someone into sin, into moral compromise or to justify sexual sin. NEVER.

 

Oh how we need to bow before Him as He speaks to us in His Word – unmasking the wickedness of sin and how it ravages and bankrupts the soul.

How when He has sway in our hearts He gives us courage and strength to stand against the incursions of things as they attack our souls.

He lifts up Christ in His finished work at Calvary.

He urges us to see always how utterly unfitting it is to remain in, and to foster those things which Christ gave His blood and life to cleanse us from the guilt of – and sent His Spirit to deliver us from the power of.

 

As we come to this closing part of Solomon’s call to wisdom, we are met with a call to repentance.

A call to fight to live in the freedom Christ purchased for us at Calvary.

A call to take up the mantle of those being groomed to rule and reign with Him in eternity – and to begin to live now as destined for that throne. Not to be mastered by ANYTHING other than love and passion for Him and His great glory.

This is not about how to BECOME a Christian – but as being His by faith in His substitutionary atonement – how to live like who and what we are IN Him – what we have been saved to be by His grace.

 

Lastly – we need to listen to the tone in Lemuel’s Mother’s voice. Notice, she is not yelling at him – just telling him what to do – as right as it is – she is PLEADING with Him.

“My son.”

“Son of my womb.”

“Son of my vows!”

 

And this is how the Spirit pleads with you today Christian, if this is an area of your life that needs restored.

My Child!

The one I’ve given birth to.

The one I have pledged to love and keep and bless forever.

Leave this alone! It will destroy you.

And I have made you to share my throne with me.

Come seek me – and forsake that.

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE

 

SO FAR: 

1. There are UNIVERSAL & UNRELENTING temptations we need to look out for. Do not be surprised when you face these things over and over and over again.

2. 15-16 / There are UNFILLABLE voids in the souls of men.

3. 18-19 / There are UNFATHOMABLE mysteries in life.

4. 21-23 / There are UNFITTING realities in life.

Only Christ can fill the voids

Only in Christ can the mysteries of life be explained – for all of God’s wisdom is summed up in Him.

Only in Christ at His coming will the unfitting effects of the Fall be righted.

 

TODAY

 

There are 3 more Master Lessons to look at in this passage – to bring our total to 7.

 

5. 24-28 / There is UNTAPPED wisdom in Creation all around you.

Don’t be surprised if some of life’s best answers are illustrated right in front of you.

 

These four speak to one of the most primal realities which any of us faces in life: We hate the thought of, let alone the experience of -being powerless.

 

People we cannot impact infuriate and terrify us.

 

When they won’t listen to us or when all of our arguments seem to simply bounce off of them.

 

When our best attempts at moving them are absolutely impotent.

 

When a husband or wife seems to be impervious to changing no matter how much you hurt.

 

When children won’t respond to discipline and Parents won’t take the time to consider their children’s point of view.

 

Even what is in itself a wise things to do – like the purchase of insurance is at least in part an attempt to hedge against the inevitable. An attempt to bring peace over things we know we cannot control: accidents, death, health, etc.

 

So Agur points to these 4 examples:

Ants have no “power”. They are not strong. How do they manage in a world where they are virtually the most powerless of all?

They do what they can – when they can.

And then they are cast upon God.

 

The rock badgers or mountain mice – tiny and frail – how do they survive? They’ve learned the secret of hiding in those places that are strong.

 

A lesson to us to find our refuge in the strong tower of God’s name, rather than in our own strength or ability.

 

The locusts. They are just bugs. They can be flicked off with the tiniest finger. Blown about with the slightest wind. Yet entire regions can fall beneath the plague when these feeble little creatures – without a leader – band together and make an army none can defeat. A picture of our being bound together with the host of other powerless Christians, who apart from any earthly King, yet march on for Christ’s kingdom, and have brought down entire empires. The unity of the powerless sons of God – relying on the power of their God.

 

And lastly, the lizard – or as some translations have it – the spider: Both little, frail, easily caught and extinguished.

 

Yet in their usefulness, are not only found but allowed to live in the finest places, in King’s palaces.

 

Their natural capacity to rid their environs of multitudes of other pests, makes a way for them when they would not be tolerated naturally.

 

So that Christians, bringing Biblical ethics and goodness and safety to those around them, though without any power in themselves, are found to be a needed useful part of society.

 

Sort of welcome pests.

 

Even the most vicious opponent recognizes that when Christians actually live up to the standard of God’s Word, the world around them is better for it.

 

Power is sought by all of us.

 

Power over a cheating spouse, an abusing superior, a stronger opponent, the indefatigable waves of life.

 

But power over things in life is not what we need.

 

Trust and confidence in the One who rules and reigns over all, that is what we NEED.

Confidence that He has made us as we are.

That His hand is upon us.

That the gifts and capacities He has placed within us, are more than a match for the need of the hour, if we look to Him.

That we can run into Him and be safe.

That we are our Beloved’s, and He is ours, and that is enough.

 

Take a lesson from the creatures who tho smallest and frailest in creation – not only live but thrive – because The Creator provides for them.

 

And as Jesus told we who follow Him: Are we not of more value than MANY sparrows, who are worth almost nothing?

 

6. 29-31 / There are UNLINKED similarities in life. Not everything is a conspiracy. Men simply share a common fallen nature.

Not everything rises to the level of a conspiracy, even though there might be great and startling similarities.

 

Our driving need to make sense of the things we experience in life, can easily lend itself to drawing connections between dots that ought not exist.

 

It is one of the prevailing reasons why we are so quick to jump to conclusions about people’s motives.

 

EXAMPLE: Politically – on the Left – there are accusations of “a vast right-wing conspiracy”

 

And on the Right there are looming images of the Illuminati, the Bilderbergers and massive global conspiracies of untold power.

 

But the truth is – what we have is a commonality of fallenness which ALWAYS seeks to run the world as much as possible.

 

Every empire from the ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greece, Rome, The Huns, The Turks, The Nazis and the Communists and scores of others have sought for world domination.

 

This is nothing new and we should expect it from fallen humanity.

 

But closer to home – in our private lives – we love to connect the dots to give us a discernable pattern in all sorts of circumstances, as a way of dealing with the unknown.

 

Especially in regard to things we are offended by.

 

We very quickly imagine a failure to shake hands, a missed thank you note, an unacknowledged phone call, or a passing glance of the eye to be filled with all sorts of sin and menace. Shame on us.

 

As our text notes: Lions, roosters, he goats and king’s with their armies with them: All STRUT.

 

But the similarities stop there.

 

None of the 4 mentioned they strut for the same reasons.

 

Yet how quick we are to assume reasons behind the actions of others, with nary a moment’s trouble at finding out the truth by means of asking a simple question or two.

 

By that I really mean asking – not accusing BY asking. Which is a great temptation in itself, isn’t it?

 

How many relationships would be spared if people would only assume the law of love:

 

Love assumes no sin in the other person, unless the facts prove it to be otherwise.

 

People’s sin can be counted upon to make them brag and leak information at enormous rates.

 

But we have this compulsion that we MUST have THE reason behind anything we cannot fathom normally.

 

As though everything is a matter of direct cause and effect.

1. A. Carson / “Exegetical Fallacies” – unwarranted connections.

Why are fire engines red?

Because they’ve got 8 wheels and 4 people on them

And what is the reasoning behind that?

8 + 4 = 12

There are 12 inches in a foot

One foot is a ruler
There was a ruler named Queen Elizabeth
A ship named Queen Elizabeth sails the seas
In the seas are fish
On the fish are fins
The Fins fought the Russians
The Russians are red.
Fire engines are always rushin’.
Therefore – fire engines are red!

 

What unwarranted connections have you been plagued by? And then made equally unwarranted conclusions because of?

 

The lion struts. The rooster struts. The he-goat struts. A king appearing with his army struts.

 

Not a one of them is connected to the other.

 

They are, but – similarities.

 

SLIDES:     Richard Dawkins / Emma Watson

Irene Ryan / Harry Reid

Burger King / Mel Gibson

Yassar Arafat / Ringo Starr

Joe Biden / Jeff Dunham’s Walter

A. Carson / Jim Broadbent

Jeremy Bretts / Ligon Duncan

N.T. Wright / Richard Schiff (Toby Zeigler)

Patrick Stewart / Neanderthal man

 

Now all of these are harmless fun – but then are some places where this REALLY matters –

 

Example: MORMONISM / CHRISTIANITY

 

Different God – NOT the Triune God of the Bible

Different Jesus – Not the God/Man but a man who achieved goodhood

Different Holy Spirit – Force vs a Person

Different Salvation – Works vs Grace

Different Authority – Bible vs Church & additional documents

Different Heaven & Hell

Different Gospel

 

Galatians 1:8–9 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

 

But the ancient Christians told those men the truth,—namely, that “as they had feigned unto themselves an imaginary Christ, so they should have an imaginary salvation only.” – John Owen

 

Similarities are not truth simply because we can observe those similarities.

 

Better to occupy our hearts and minds with The Divine conspiracy of the Triune God to bring saving grace to a lost race.

 

Now THAT’s worth contemplating.

 

The Heavenly Father conspiring to bless His Son with a Bride fit for Him.

 

A Son who redeems that Bride when she ran away in rebellion – buying her back at the price of His own blood – dying in her place for her crimes committed while in her rebellion.

 

And the Holy Spirit conspiring to make her clean and holy and prepared for the Son once again.

 

THAT’s worth musing on.

 

 

7. 32-33 / There are UNAVOIDABLE consequences to our thoughts and actions.

Twist someone’s nose, you’ll make it bleed

 

It is a law of nature

 

It is the simple truth

 

Harp on, or harbor anger – and you’ll produce strife

 

Set your mind on sinful things – you’ll sin

 

Sow to the flesh, you’ll reap in the flesh

 

Sow to the Spirit – you’ll reap spiritual things

 

You cannot grow in grace feeding your heart and mind on ungodly things

 

If we are arrogant, we WILL be brought low by the hand of the Lord who “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” – 1 Peter 5:5

 

This is why we need the Gospel so desperately – “The wages of sin is death” Death is the unavoidable consequence of sin.

 

It is a universal, inevitable and unavoidable.

 

No one can sin with impunity. No one. Under any circumstances.

 

And just because you haven’t experienced the wretched results yet for some of your sins – do not imagine they have gone unnoticed.

 

You’ve walked your own way in life.

 

Ignored the Gospel in its free offer, and in its command – ACTS 17.

 

And you say to yourself, “the sky didn’t fall in, the earth didn’t stop turning on its axis, the universe didn’t unravel.” WAIT!

 

1 Timothy 5:24 (ESV) The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.

 

There is an inevitable result of believing the Gospel and putting your faith in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the Cross – dying for human sin so that those who believe might go free!

 

Salvation!

 

And there is an inevitable and unavoidable result of rejecting this Gospel of grace – and it is eternal punishment away from the presence of the Lord.

 

It is to this reality we call you today.

 

Here is Christ – God’s Son, crucified for guilty sinners – for you and me.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.^[1]

 

There is no other hope.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 3:23–25.