Bridges on Proverbs 31:3-7
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 31:3-7
 
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3.  Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4.  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5.  Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. {prevert: Heb. alter} {of any...: Heb. of all the sons of affliction} 6.  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. {of...: Heb. bitter of soul} 7.  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
 
Solomon has given us his father's wise counsels. (Chapter 4:4.) Lemuel gives us his mother's. Both have an equal claim to reverence. (Chapter 1:8.) Filled with deep anxiety, the impassioned tenderness bursts out in this godly mother, as if some besetting enticements were imminent, perhaps already working poison in her beloved son. What! my son — the son of my womb — of my vows? My heart is full. I must give vent. Have I endured all this travail in vain? Beware — Give not thy strength unto women. What a beacon had Solomon set up! (Chapter 2. 5. 7.) What a beacon had he himself become! (Nehemiah 13:26.) These forbidden gratifications were ways that destroy kings. Such was the judgment upon David. His kingly authority was shaken. (2 Samuel 12:9, 10.) Solomon's sin destroyed his kingdom. (1 Kings 11:11.) The fruit of this sin is shame. The end of it, without repentance, is death.
The anxious mother next warns against another cognate sin — intemperance. (Hosea 4:11.) The vice that degrades a man into a beast, is shameful to all, specially unseemly for kings. They are “the city set upon a hill.” Men look, or ought to look, to them for guidance and example. What a sight for kings to drink wine and strong drink — to be given to it! Witness Elah — Benhadad — Belshazzar — “the princes of Israel made sick with bottles of wine”! How was their high office and glory covered with shame! Sometimes it is pleaded as an excuse for sin. But if the drunken king forgets the law, and perverts the judgment, will he not be held responsible? Ahasuerus was doubtless responsible for his unseemly conduct to Vashti. Herod murdered the Baptist at an ungodly feast. Priest and prophet “err through strong drink.” A wise veto therefore is set for the rulers of the Church — “not given to wine.”
And yet the abuse of God's blessing does not destroy their use. Wine is the gift of God. “It maketh glad the heart of man.” (Psalm 104:14, 15.) Yea — by a bold figure of its refreshment — it is said to “cheer God” also. (Judges 9:13.) Yet it is not for kings — for their indulgences and sinful excitement, but for those that need it. As restoratives and refreshments, cordials are seasonable in the hour of need. Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish; as the Samaritan gave it to the wounded traveler (Luke 10:34); as Paul prescribed it for “the infirmities” of his beloved son in the faith. (1 Timothy 5:23.) Many a sinking spirit may be revived, and forget his misery under a well-timed restorative. The rule therefore of love and self-denial is — Instead of wasting that upon thyself, in the indulgence of appetite, which will only debase thy nature; see that thou dispense thy luxuries among those who really require them. Seek out cases of penury and wasting misery. Let it be an honor to thee to bring in the poor that is cast out into thine house, that he may forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. May not this remind us of the Messenger of love, dealing with those that are ready to perish? (Isaiah 61:1, 2. Matthew 11:28.) Their conscience is loaded with guilt. Their hearts are heavy with a burden, which they can neither bear nor be rid of. He tells them of God's love to sinners; the ransom found for them; the welcome assured to them. This is a cordial of strong drink, and wine such as they need. The heavy heart becomes “no more sad.” (1 Samuel 1:18. Acts 16:34.) The former poverty is forgotten, and his misery is remembered no more, and “the blessings of him that was ready to perish comes” upon him “that bringeth the good tidings.” Happy minister, gifted like his divine Master with the “tongue of the learned, that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 4:4
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
 
 
Proverbs 1:8
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
 
 
 
 
Nehemiah 13:26
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
 
 
2 Samuel 12:9, 10
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
 
 
1 Kings 11:11
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. {is done...: Heb. is with thee}
 
 
Hosea 4:11
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 16:8, 9.
 

 
1 Kings 16:8, 9
8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. 9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. {steward...: Heb. which was over}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 20:16.
 

 
1 Kings 20:16
16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
 
 
Footnote:
Hosea 7:5.
 

 
Hosea 7:5
5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. {bottles...: or, heat through wine}
 
 
Footnote:
A woman wrongly condemned by Philip of Macedon, when drunk, boldly exclaimed – ‘I appeal to Philip, but it shall be when he is sober.’ Roused by the appeal, the monarch examined the cause, and gave a righteous judgment.
 
 
Footnote:
Esther 1:10, 11.
 

 
Esther 1:10, 11
10 ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, {chamberlains: or, eunuchs} 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. {fair...: Heb. good of countenance}
 
 
Footnote:
Mark 6:21-28.
 

 
Mark 6:21-28
21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, {an...: or, one of his guard} 28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 28:7; 56:12.
 

 
Isaiah 28:7
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
 
Isaiah 56:12
12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Timothy 3:3. Titus 1:7.
 

 
1 Timothy 3:3
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; {given...: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine}
 
Titus 1:7
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
 
 
Psalm 104:14, 15
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. {oil...: Heb. to make his face shine with oil, or, more than oil}
 
 
Judges 9:13
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
 
 
Luke 10:34
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
 
 
1 Timothy 5:23
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
 
 
Footnote:
This was the classical idea of the power of wine. – ‘Huic calix mulsi impingendus. ut plorare desinat.’ – Cicero, Tuscui. 3. ‘Nunc vino pellite curas.’ – Hor. Od. l. i. 7. ‘Vinum obliviosum’ (blotting out the remembrance of evil.) – Ib. Od. l. ii. 7. ‘Tunc dolor et curae rugaque frontis abit.’ – Ovid. The mixed wine which Helena gave to Telemachus, called Nepenthes, had such an effect as to remove sorrow, and to bury in forgetfulness past evils. – Odyss. D. 220, 221. Compare Mark 15:23.
 

 
Mark 15:23
23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
 
 
Isaiah 61:1, 2
1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
 
Matthew 11:28
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
 
 
1 Samuel 1:18
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
 
Acts 16:34
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
 
 
Isaiah 50:4
4 ¶ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.