Are you a Proverbs mother?
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Proverbs 31:1 KJV
Here is the high calling of motherhood. There is some truth in the saying, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” The greater truth is that this woman is usually his mother! King Lemuel was indebted to his mother for the advice that follows in Proverbs 31. While the description and benefits of a great wife are found in 31:10-31, the chapter begins with the great value of King’s Lemuel’s mother, which you should consider first.
God put a divine stamp of approval on this chapter of a mother’s instruction by inspiring and preserving its selected words for the pages of Holy Scripture. Every mother should rejoice at her opportunity to instruct and form a son into a great man by considering this woman’s practical wisdom and her concise and plain declaration of it. Not every woman can raise a son to be a great king, but every woman can learn from such a mother!
Who is king Lemuel? Who is Agur, the son of Jakeh (30:1)? Who were Ithiel and Ucal? What is the book of Jasher (Josh 10:13)? Since the Lord did not tell us, their identities are not important. Let us not speculate about His secrets and miss the inspired wisdom we have here (Deut 29:29). We know the Author, even if we do not know the specific writer. Whether Bathsheba’s advice to Solomon, Abijah’s advice to Hezekiah, or the advice of a foreign queen to her son, it matters little. God inspired these words for you, since it is called a prophecy, and since it has a most godly summary of a virtuous woman (31:30).
Solomon wrote…(click more to continue)
Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs (I Kings 4:32), but the men of Hezekiah copied out only a few select ones (25:1). They likely added two appendices – the proverbs of Agur (a wise teacher) and the royal advice of Lemuel’s mother, both by God’s providence. They could even be the same person; but again, there is no proof or profit in such conjectures.
God inspired a woman to teach her son rules for moral protection (31:3-7), honorable use of his office (31:3-9), and domestic tranquillity (31:10-31). These are some of the most valuable and pleasant words in the Bible. Every woman should humbly realize it was a woman who gave the lofty description of the virtuous wife that follows (31:10-31).
Wise women know their important role in training children, even sons. Bathsheba taught Solomon (4:3-4; 6:20), and Solomon assumed that mothers teach their sons (1:8; 6:20). But helping with homework and assigning household duties are not nearly enough. This great mother taught her son very plainly, even when grown, on real subjects like women, wine, justice, and marriage. Let every mother wisely use her time with her son.
Hannah clearly taught Samuel well for religious life at Shiloh, for we read he worshipped God there, when she left him with Eli, shortly after his weaning (I Samuel 1:21-28)!
Lois and Eunice, grandmother and mother respectively, communicated their sincere faith to Timothy and taught him the Holy Scriptures from childhood (II Tim 1:5; 3:15).
We do not know details of Mary’s relationship to Jesus, but we know He was in subjection to her, and she pondered His words in her heart (Luke 2:51). Being a virtuous woman, we know she taught Him good doctrine, and He honored her (John 19:25-27).
Let every holy woman rejoice to train her sons in the fear of the Lord and vital issues of life (22:6), and let every son cherish, honor, and obey such a precious mother (1:8; 6:20). Let him give credit where credit is due, when he recounts the excellent training he received as a child from his mother. Let this combination raise up great men for God!
Mother, what have you done today to impart to your son wisdom for his life along the lines of what is in this last chapter of Proverbs? Were you neglectful of this matter? God can and will forgive you (I John 1:9), and He is able to restore years lost to neglect or chastening (Joel 2:25). Are you an older woman with sons established in marriages and professions? Then heed this proverb by teaching it to younger mothers (Titus 2:3-5).
Jonathan Crosby
The words of King Lemuel, an oraclet that his mother taught him:
Proverbs 31:1 NET
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