Proverbs 31.1-2
“The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?”
We have arrived at the last chapter of the book of Proverbs. It is interesting to note that Proverbs began with words of wisdom from a father to his son, and it ends with a word of wisdom from a mother to her son.
We don’t know the identity of King Lemuel or his mother. We do know that the mother is a godly woman whose desire is for her son to walk in wisdom. She asks him, “What are you doing?” In other words, what path are you following? What decisions are you making? What principles and standards are you following?
She calls him “son of my womb.” She appeals to what only mothers can: the bond of conceiving, carrying, and giving birth. She felt his first movements before his first breath. She uses this simple fact to describe their union, express her love, and secure his attention.
Her message to her son is this: “You are mine, and not another’s. You were not adopted. You were of me, in me, and by me. I rejoiced at your conception. I carried you happily, and I loved you even before birth. I nourished you in a hidden place. I felt every beat of your heart. I gladly gave you life and breath with my own labor. Now hear my best advice.”
She also called him the son of her vows. In other words, she reminds him that she dedicated him to the Lord. . She reminds him of her many prayers and promises to God to train him in the fear of the Lord.
She said, “You were God’s gift to me. I consecrated you to the Lord and his kingdom even before birth. I willingly gave you back to God, who gave you to me. I have prayed for you then and I pray for you today. I now exhort and encourage you to fulfill the kingdom purpose I have had for you. Hear my best advice.”
This is a powerful message for all Christian parents.
