Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
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.
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.
(ESV)
—Proverbs 31:4-9
by: Grace Crouch.
This passage focuses on being fair in judgment. We are warned to make sure that our judgment is not impaired by outside evils when dealing with the rights of others. We are instead to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves and to maintain the rights of the poor and needy.