Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
There are several dimensions to healing the nations.
One of them is godly parenting that incorporates the fear of God and respect
for other people into the consciousness of the child.
The Mother of King Lemuel Proverbs
Chapter 30 verses 1 to 9
Though her name is not mentioned in the Bible, the
name of her son, King Lemuel is mentioned, significantly in connection with
what his mother taught him (Please see Deuteronomy Chapters 6 verses 6 to 9, 4
verses 5 to 10). The Bible states that King Lemuel’s mother instructed him to
practice justice and equity in his domain, to open his mouth for the
speechless, that is to speak for those who
had no voice in the society, intervene in cases of people sentenced to
death, to plead the cause of the poor and needy.
King Lemuel was instructed by his mother to speak up
at all times and judge righteously as a King. This instruction is in keeping
with the word of God in Proverbs Chapter 16 verse 12, 20 verse 8, 29 verses 4
and 14.
To rule effectively, and to dispense justice in the
land, King Lemuel’s mother cautioned her son not to engage in that which
destroys king which she enumerated as – give his strength to women, drink wine
or intoxicating drink. She noted that when kings multiply women against the
commandments of God (Deuteronomy Chapter 17 verses 14 to 20) and rise to drink
wine and intoxicating drink, they forget the law and pervert the justice of all
the afflicted. She therefore instructed her son quite early in life not to
engage in such destructive activities.
The mother of King Lemuel was an exceptional mother,
in point of fact, one of the mothers to be celebrated. She had a godly view and
understanding of kingship – to rule in the fear of God and be a blessing to
humanity. She is different from the likes of Jezebel and Athalliah who used
positions of power for oppression; and for promoting the practice of idolatry
in the land.
