Proverbs 31:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about intoxicated leadership:

Proverbs 31:4

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

It is not for kings to drink wine and strong drink ... interesting?  How many people today would interrupt this verse as a principle to follow in God's Word.  The verse, in context, can't stand alone.   You have to read the following verses to grasp what the writer is saying.  Note the entire context:

Proverbs 31:5-7

For they will drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

And wine to him whose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty

And remember his trouble no more.

You can see that the writer is telling us that it is not for leadership to drink to the point that their judgement is impaired.   Strong drink has a purpose but, according to Proverbs, it is not for leadership who wish to make sound judgements and lead with integrity and care for the poor: Those they are sworn to protect.   We have many people in this society who have lost sight of the purpose of leadership and their need to protect others.   The "kings" role was not to promote himself but to uphold the purposes of God and His Word.   Leadership is to follow through with what God intends leadership to do (Romans 13).  Drinking is not forbidden in these verses but the King is warned to avoid anything that might cause his judgments to go contrary to God's Word and God's purpose for his position.   That would be true of anything.  We are not to get drunk with the vine or with power or with possessions.   We are to fulfill God's Word and His purpose.