in the Book of Proverbs:
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Wine is not for kings,
as Lemuel the Wise did say,
Lest justice and fair judgment
far from truth and fairness stray.
We, too, do interpret this
for us applicable,
Though kings we’re not and
as a judge found far from capable.
Wisdom plainly warns us
from excess in this regard,
But slavery to the letter
chains us to words much more hard.
Do we stretch the hand
to offer forth the drug of choice?
Give short relief from present pains
to loosen stifled voice?
Maybe here we see the type
of what the Christ would do:
To dine with lowly sinners
and be touched by prostitutes.
Giving drink, and joy therewith,
shown at the wedding feast,
God’s earthly plan to save our souls
beginning with the least.