Aas we come to chapter 23, let me review with you a blog post from earlier; and in doing so, let me ask you to continue to frequent this blog, even after May 31st. Now, I won't be posting every day, but at least 2-3 times a week, Lord willing. Here is something that I wrote a couple of months ago on today's chapter.
Proverbs 23:29-35 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? (30) They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (31) Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. (32) At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (33) Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. (34) Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. (35) They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs 23:29-35 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? (30) They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (31) Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. (32) At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (33) Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. (34) Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. (35) They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Here is one of the MANY Bible passages that teaches us the perils of alcohol. In this passage, we read about the Sorrows of Alcohol:
The Reminder of the Sorrow Alcohol Causes - 23:29. It causes pain in the body with headaches, body sickness, agonies of the mind, and the torture of your conscience through the sins that it leads you to commit. You do things that you normally wouldn't do, and you say things that you normally wouldn't say. The next day brings sickness and regret.
The Reality of the Sorrow Alcohol Causes - 23:30. The reality is that a person does not consume alcohol, but alcohol consumes them. It takes over their personality and takes over their life. Eventually, it is not enough and they need to mix the alcohol and make it stronger. Sin is never enough, and it quickly spirals out of control. Reminds me of the fact that an alcoholic never thinks they will be one when they take that first drink.
The Remedy for the Sorrow Alcohol Causes - 23:31. Look not means that you are not in the presence of it, and so then you cannot be tempted with it. The best advice to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol is just to avoid it all together!
The Results of the Sorrow Alcohol Causes - 23:32-35. Here, the author of this Proverb paints the "morning after" picture that the alcohol companies WILL NOT show you on their product advertisements. Why in the world would anyone choose to subject themselves to these sorrows? The answer is: SIN!
Instead of trying to figure out some way that it might be okay or acceptable to drink alcohol, lets just take the Principle of the Proverb and avoid the Sorrows of Alcohol.
Thirsting for alcohol removes the desire for the living water of our Lord. The picture painted here should be sufficient to turn from it.
ReplyDeleteI also like: Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: [Proverbs 23:10 KJV] A reminder from Chapter 22.
It is interesting to note the repeating theme of the heart in this chapter. 7 times it is referred to:
ReplyDeleteProverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Proverbs 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Proverbs 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
I think verse 26 is one of the key verses in this whole book.
One of my favourite verses, and which I named my Bible study blog after, is verse 23:
Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Buy the truth (ie. spend your time investing in it) - where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!