Verse 5

This is a picture of my younger sister, Laura, way back in the mid 1970's. Again, nothing to do with the post but a fun picture. I love memories when they're good!

Proverbs 31:5 "lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights." (NIV)

What do people who've had one too many tend to do? They "forget what the law decrees" and they "deprive the oppressed of their rights." I would say that this verse isn't really talking about the laws that we have today, but it certainly does apply. I think what it's talking about is the LAW as given in the old testament. When someone drinks alcohol in excess their judgment becomes cloudy and they aren't usually thinking in the correct frame of mind.

Certainly, I haven't seen too many drunks who are concerned with pleasing God WHILE THEY ARE INEBRIATED. I'm in no way insisting that a person who consumes alcohol isn't a Christian. But when a Christian drinks a bit much, his/her tongue becomes looser. He/she might engage in behavior that he/she wouldn't normally, such as flirt with someone other than his/her spouse. Later on, this person might feel guilty and embarrassed.

The king's mother has warned her son to stay away from alcohol because he can have a clear head that way and keep his mind on the law. He will be less likely to make poor decisions that way. The oppressed can be assured that their king is acting wisely rather than reacting to something that he poured into his body.