Daily Devotionals for December 20
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Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living
Devotional Scripture:
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.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Proverbs 31:4-7 (AMP):
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink (as medicine) to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty and (seriously) remember his want and misery no more.
Thought for the Day
Verses 4-7 - David promised Bathsheba that her son would become king; so she wisely trained him for the enormous responsibilities he would face. She pointed out to him that drinking is an unbecoming indulgence for kings. Although drinking wine was the common practice of those times, she knew that her son would be accountable to God for everything he did. She warned him that wine was dangerous, for it clouds one's reason; causing one to forget the law, and to err in judgment. A king must be rational, so that he might remember God's laws and judge the people justly. He must always have a clear head.
According to these verses, the only cases in which the use of alcohol is recommended, are pain and extreme distress. In such instances, it can be administered medicinally. Paul reiterated this instruction to Timothy, directing the use of wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23). Even today, alcohol can be used medicinally, and we find it is an ingredient in a number of prescription compounds.
The affects of alcohol upon man have not changed through the millennia. It still perverts people's judgment. Long before one notices its effects, it slows one's responses. Because of today's high-speed travel, even the slightest slowing of a driver's responses can cause fatal accidents. Alcoholism also continues to generate great heartache for those enslaved by it and for their families.
The Bible tells us that we have been made a kingdom of priests to God. "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6). As it was unfitting for Lemuel to indulge in wine, so it is unfitting for us, as God's royal family, to do so. We are responsible before God for those around us as well as ourselves. "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). As God's children, love should motivate us to abstain from anything that might cause someone to stumble.
Prayer Devotional for the Day
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