Proverbs 31:1-3 (ESV)
1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
Proverbs 31, the final chapter in the book, contains the wisdom of King Lemuel, imparted to him by his mother. Although royal women had influence upon their families and the politics of the day, it is not common to stumble upon an ancient mother’s advice to her noble son. Lemuel’s mother, the queen, requests that her son make wise decisions and lead well. She reminds her son of his origin from her womb and the vows she made to the Lord concerning him, possibly prior to his conception. The queen begins by imploring her son to avoid entanglement with the wrong women. If he is to lead well, he must limit his sexual behavior. Throughout history, men and women have made destructive decisions based upon ungodly lusts. Sex outside of marriage has ruined empires, families, and even individual lives. God created the gift of sex and calls us to trust him with the constraints he places upon its power.