Proverbs 23:1-8 is a father giving his noble son some advice concerning future opportunities he will have greeting and meeting the rich and famous, the movers and shakers, the dignitaries and rulers. This portion of information is divided into three basic pieces of advice:

1. Understanding is necessary (23:1-3)
2. Wisdom would demonstrate restraint (23:4-5)
3. Nothing is free, they will expect a favor in return (23:6-8 and 23:3)

First, this meeting and this meal are a tests. The host is testing the guests to see if they are self-controlled. Are the guests impressed with wealth? Are the guests interested in talking, learning and being with the host? Or, are the guests interested in FREE food!?

Second, this meeting and this meal are indeed preparation for “networking”, but this exchanging of favors will include contracts, commitments, and compromise. That is what is meant by the NIV translation in 23:1-3, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you.”
The advice is not, “Son, memorize the menu!” Instead, the Hebrew can also be translated,
“Make sure you understand what is really going on in front of you!” This is a good translation because the rich host is testing you, and the ruling host is expecting a favor in return! Don’t be impressed with yourself. This stuff is NOT FREE.

These men have worked hard to get where they are and to have what they are setting in front of you. Do not crave it because the price they have paid is steep.

Do not eat their food like a glutton, because that is not really what you are here for. You are here to be impressed. The food is not really there to eat. It is there to impress. If you think this ruler has worked hard so he can feed you, then WAKE UP! He wants your compliments and your favors. He doesn’t want to feed you. If you do not understand this then you will leave this meeting gaging. The LXX translations says it this way, “For like a hair in the throat, so is he.” You will gage on his sweet, manipulative talk and vomit up the entire experience you feasted on in gluttony and self-worship.

“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.”
- Chuck Swindoll

Simeon (63-107 AD),
bishop of Jerusalem

Simeon, son of Clophas (Joseph’s brother), was chosen in 63 to be the new bishop of Jerusalem by the surviving apostles and disciples of Jesus.

As Roman armies approached Jerusalem in 66 Simeon led the Jerusalem church across the Jordan into Pella in the Decapolis to save them.

After the fall of Jerusalem, Simeon led the Christians back across the Jordan to the defeated city of Jerusalem, built a church and won many Jewish converts.

In order to prevent another revolt after the fall of Jerusalem the Emperor Vespasian ordered the death of anyone who was a descendant of Davidbut Simeon escaped this order from 70 AD.

Emperor Domitian (81-96) followed up on the order to execute the line of David and was informed that there were grandsons of Jesus’ brother Jude. They were ordered to appear before Domitian. When Domitian saw how simple and poor they were he allowed them to live and considered them to be no threat.

Simeon was later killed in 107 AD at the age of about 120 when Emperor Trajan gave a similar order to execute the line of David.