Cross Reference

Proverbs 23:35 (KJV) 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.

This verse is at the end of a long section dealing with the abuse of alcohol.  The advice of Proverbs is to use great moderation and caution, at least in this chapter.

What hit me today as I was looking at this in the KJV and comparing it to the NASB,  I noticed that the final phrase here is, “I will seek it yet again.”  What I find much more compelling to me is what the NASB says.  It says, “I will seek another drink.”  I like that.  It is well put.  The problem is it’s not a literal translation.  The King James here has the literal translation and the marginal reading in the NASB points that out.

I still prefer the reading of the NASB, but I find that it is really helpful to cross reference it with another translation, such as the KJV, to find out the truth.  No group of translators is 100% on board with being literal.  Everybody wants to paraphrase.  Everybody wants to put in their two cents worth.

So?  Keep seeking truth.  It is available.  In a case like this, it’s not the end of the world, but there’s a principle involved.  

Outmoded Excuse

Proverbs 31:6 (KJV) Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

To be honest, there have been times in my life when if I have been reading through Proverbs and it come to this verse, I might have used it as an excuse to go out and get drunk.  I’ve never been drunk.  I have no idea what the experience is like.  I have been depressed.  I have been ready to get drunk, or so I thought.  I have never, though, been to the point where I was ready to go out buy a bottle of whiskey, and start doing some serious drinking.

So maybe I’ve never really been depressed.  Maybe I’ve never had a really heavy heart.

At this time in my life, it seems silly solution.  As I spend time on a daily basis with the Lord, I find that the heaviness in my heart, is lifted up and moved closer to glory.  It also becomes clear to me that I will not spend that daily time with the Lord unless I make it a priority.  It is a conscious choice that I must make to put other activities in second place.

So?  I’m aware it’s easy advice to give when you’re not dealing with a heavy heart.  I don’t know that I would respond well either if I were struggling in the depths.  But if you can reach out, expect God to meet you and move into the glory of His presence.  Blessings. 

Timely Word

Proverbs 31:7 (KJV) Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

It is somewhat amusing the way God brings certain verses in front of you on certain occasions.  I’m assuming this will be posted on December 31.  That means it’s New Year’s Eve.  I’m at the point in life where I’ll probably be in bed about the same time, as I usually am, hopefully by 9 o’clock.  I’m not too much into celebrating the new year anymore.

One of the ways many people celebrate is to drink too much.  I don’t drink at all.  I’ve tasted a few things, but don’t like it.  I also have moral issues with it.  I’ve often wondered why people think it is so much fun to get drunk and do stupid things, and often not even remember how stupid they were.

I think there is a point where people who drink too much notice that it says to forget and remember no more.  They are trying to forget part of their life that they don’t like.  I tend to think you use it as an escape.  I’m sure this doesn’t apply to people who have a glass of wine at dinner or might feel like a cocktail when they get home from work is relaxing.  I’m sure they have self control and don’t have to deal with this.  For them it’s just recreation.  But for others they’re trying to escape.

So?  If you’re one of those that likes to get drunk on New Year’s Eve then I would invite you to stop and seriously think about what your motivation is.  It’s easy for me to get judgmental since I don’t drink.  I am aware of that.  I have other things I have to meditate on and look at.  Too bad you don’t have a blog to advise me.

BYOB

(Pro 23:21 KJV)  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Today the word that stood out to me, was “drowsiness”.  It stood out, not because of the word itself, but because of the word that Moffatt substituted for it.  He calls it reveling.  Now the word drowsy is a much better translation of the Hebrew.  One of the problems we have is this is the only place it is used in the Bible.  The word is used so that makes it hard to understand.  When he uses reveling instead of drowsy, he is taking a bit of liberty.  He is interpreting.

I like his interpretation as a rabbit trail to follow in trying to understand the dangers of alcohol.  I don’t drink myself, but I am amazed at how expensive it is when you go out to eat and they actually have a list of alcoholic beverages available.  I remember going to one nice restaurant and they had this little kiosk on the desk on the table and it was listing individual whiskeys at about $25 a glass.  How can anybody afford that kind of thing.  Anyhow, I see how drinking can drive you into poverty.  Poverty means that you’re dressed in rags.  What struck me about this was a testimony.  I heard one time of a Korean gentleman who said that when he became a Christian in Korea, his disposable income went up 75% because when he became a Christian, he quit drinking and gambling and doing other kinds of activities that tend to suck out all of his financial support.

So?  Sometimes it’s the application of the truth that brings home why we should be living holy lives.  No, you don’t go to hell for having one drink.  No, alcoholic beverages are not automatically condemned in scripture.  But, it’s clear that there is a real danger of damaging your life and your family by the wrong priorities. 

Bucket List

(Pro 31:7 KJV)  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

I have never been drunk.  I have never been even close.  It has been 40 years since I have even tasted alcoholic beverages.  I was curious enough about the taste to hold my nose and take a sip but as far as I was concerned it tasted as bad as it smelled.  So I have a hard time understanding what is going on here.  I read about it in novels and hear horror stories but I don’t have a clue.

There are times when I wonder if I am missing something.  Should I tie one on at least once?  The answer has always been “no” and I imagine it will continue to be that way.  There are some things that we don’t need to experience.  For most of us this is a call to wisdom and counting the cost.

So?  If you identify with one of these people then I guess this could be justification for getting drunk.  Somehow I think the advice of the rest of Proverbs might be a better solution.

Distractions

(Pro 20:1 KJV)  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

It is easy to get distracted by the example being used here.  The misuse of alcohol is something that everyone can agree is not good.  I phrase it that way because there are so many who are defensive about their drinking and another block that see booze as undiluted evil.  I tend to be in the latter group.  Don’t get distracted by the concrete example.  Look to the principle that is expressed in “intoxicated” (7686).  The word picture in this word has to do with the staggering drunk, weaving his way down the street.  It means to stray.  It is a common problem we have and we miss the point if we confine ourselves to getting drunk.

We are called to live righteous lives.  There are many ways of contrasting righteousness with sin.  You can have upright as opposed to crooked.  You can have the KJV word I love, froward, as opposed to pure.  The point being made here is that there are many choices and actions in life that can drag us off the path God wants us to follow.

So?  Read the signs.  Follow the directions.  Stay in the right lane.  Of course that assumes that your destination is eternal life.  As usual, the choice is yours.

Medicinal Purposes

(Pro 23:31 KJV)  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

Whenever alcohol comes up the drinkers always refer to Jesus turning water into wine and Paul telling Timothy to take some wine for his stomach.  Let me respond to the second based on this verse.  Paul was telling Timothy to use the wine like a medicine.  What seems to be one characteristic of medicines?  They do not taste good.  I could easily use wine as a medicine because I hate the smell of alcohol.  I would always limit myself to what was required.

Notice the warning against using wine when it goes down easy, when its color seems warm and inviting.  Balance is a good solid Christian virtue.  In some cases abstinence is even better.

So?  If you feel a need to justify your alcohol then maybe it is something that needs to be rethought. 

The Curse of Moderation

(Pro 23:30 KJV)  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

The use of alcohol as a beverage is controversial among Christians for some reason.  As with many teachings in the Bible, the balanced approach of the Book is usually ignored and extremes adopted.  Part of that is because most of us have a hard time with the thinking and discipline that comes from a reasoned, balanced approach to issues.  The problem with alcohol is that too much of it is destructive to our reasoning powers and too long of excess can ruin our physical bodies.  Think of it like strychnine.  Strychnine is a natural substance that is often present in water and food.  In the natural levels it is not dangerous but if too much is ingested it is deadly.  Or take a drug like morphine.  Carefully controlled it can be a life-saver in relieving  pain.  It can also lead to addiction and be destructive.

Too often people who claim to follow Jesus do not want to exercise the discipline that He expects.  Drunkenness and gluttony are two examples of this.  The difference is that you can live without booze but you can’t live without food.

So?  It is always a good idea to examine the things we think are important and see if they are enhancing our lives or dragging us down.  Here is it alcohol.  My issues are other places but just as real. 

Which Came First?

(Pro 23:29 KJV)  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Yes, I am aware that Paul advises Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake.  No, I don’t believe that the wine Jesus made from water was alcohol free.  I accept the fact that people have used wine for years to kill the germs in their drinking water.  I wonder how that would work in our water today?  Another question that comes to mind in this verse, which came first, the woe (188, KJV; 190 NASB) or the wine?

There are a lot of questions.  There is one salient point:  Drunkenness is sin.  Consider the list Paul gives us.

(Gal 5:21 KJV)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice that the people on this list will not be at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

So?  Stomach problems?  Wine might work or you might just stop eating the foods that cause the problem.  Water dirty?  Again, wine might work but make sure that you can’t see the color or make the mixture too strong.  Best bet is steer clear. 

Halloween Party Reminder

(Pro 31:7 KJV) Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

I have real trouble with this passage.  The first part is good.  It advises leaders not to let their minds be clouded by alcohol but this part seems counterproductive.  We need to run our minds over the other teaching in scripture to keep a balance.  We have the pro of Paul talking to Timothy.

(1Ti 5:23 KJV) Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

But make a note of the limitations and boundaries on this.  We see it listed as a contrast to righteous living.

(Rom 13:13 KJV) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

And we see the contrast that is expected of us.

(Eph 5:18 KJV) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Perhaps this is a directive to those who make the laws to not try to pass things like Prohibition.  It may be an admission that people in stress are going to numb their minds with the bottle and at least find some comfort.

So?  Walk in righteousness and discernment.  The fact that sin seems to mean being crooked and when drunk it is hard to walk straight might be a clue. 

Wiggle Room

(Pro 31:6 KJV) Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Is “strong drink” (7941) different from “wine” (3196)?  They did not have the trick of distilling hard liquor at that time in history so we are not talking about things like whiskey.  Almost every time that “strong drink” is mentioned it is linked with the use of wine so I would imagine that there is a bit of poetic license involved.  Not being a drinker I am speaking from speculation but I think it was customary for people to mix their wine with water.  How much water depended on the occasion.  If you were having a time of serious discussion there would be a lot of water and little wine.  If you were out to get drunk as a skunk you would leave the water for washing dishes.  That would then qualify as “strong drink”.

All of that is academic because almost every time you come across this word formula it is used in a negative context.  It speaks of losing control and wanting to abandon reality.  It is to be avoided.

So?  Again I concede that a bit of alcohol does not send you to hell but I also hold that it is better to avoid it all together. 

No, Thanks

(Proverbs 31:4 KJV)  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

As I read this verse I am reminded that President Trump does not drink alcoholic beverages.  I don’t think that is any proof-text that he is God’s man of the hour, but it is interesting considering how much certain people hate him.  I would be willing to bet that everyone who hates him is comfortable having a glass of “wine” (3196).  I would venture a guess that most of them use things much stronger and more illegal.

Have you ever been mocked because you don’t drink?  I have.  I will admit that most of the time it is good natured ribbing but there was also a deeper discomfort.  The discomfort was not in me.  I am comfortable not drinking and it does not bother me when they hoist a few.  The tension is in them.  That tension is present any time you take a stand that makes you stand out from the crowd.  It is even worse when the stand is clearly Biblical morality and not just alcohol which is a bit more nuanced.

So?  I think you would be better off as a teetotaler but won’t condemn you to hell if you aren’t.  It is one of those things that has never been a problem for me and I am grateful for that.  I just wish I didn’t have a problem with gluttony. 

Side Effects

(Proverbs 23:35 KJV)  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.

In the days of Solomon you had fewer mild altering substances than you do today, but you did have them.  If Solomon were writing today I can’t help but think that he would mention marijuana and the palate of drugs people are taking on a regular basis.  For most people alcohol would have been the drug of choice. 

One of the problems with drugs, be they prescription, over the counter or back alley, is that they often cause more damage than they remedy.  Take almost any medication and you will find a list of side effects.  I will grant you that much of the print is legal jargon to keep from getting sued but there are some serious possibilities.  I am taking a blood thinner.  The most serious warning is that you bleed easier and clot slower.  It can happen internally so you don’t even know it.  That is a problem.

So?  Sin usually does not come with a list of side effects.  You may need to do your own research.  Drive down to where the homeless encampments are in your neighborhood and ask yourself, “How many of these people has access to drugs?”  Be aware of the rewards of unrighteousness. 

Lie Down with Care

(Proverbs 23:34 KJV)  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.

Just in case you are still living in denial, this is not praise for clever behavior or the ability to think outside the box.  This is a reminder of all the really retarded actions you have taken in your life if you are someone who gets drunk.  You may not remember.  That may be a result of the alcohol blocking your memory.  It may be that the alcohol killed the brain cells tasked with remembering that moment.  It may just be a psychological defensive measure because you could not live with the embarrassment when you were sober. 

Alcohol has a place.  I admit that.  Usually its place is in a bottle waiting for a medical emergency or a time in life where things are totally hopeless (see the beginning of chapter 31).  I may be that something else makes you forget the important things.  I guess gluttony or a juicy bit of gossip can also make us embarrass ourselves. 

So?  We all make mistakes.  I guess this is a reminder that we should work to avoid situations which make the mistake a guarantee instead of a possibility.  This is a good reminder during the Christmas/New Year holidays. 

A Tool, Not a Toy

(Proverbs 23:33 KJV)  Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Off the top of my head I can’t think of anything good that Proverbs has to say about alcoholic beverages and it is full of warnings.  It is like the pocket knife I carry.  It has its uses and its times.  I like to keep it with me.  It is a tool, not a toy.

Booze is similar.  It has a sharp edge and can cut.  The cut can be fatal.  It can be misused and is potentially dangerous.  Does that mean we ban them?  Not really.  I remember a day when every little boy had a pocket knife with him at school.   We played games with them during recess.  The potential for problems was there but the risk was worth it.

So?  I accept that alcohol has a use and a place.  I also accept that it is very dangerous if not handled with caution.  Maturity is full of these kinds of issues.  I am glad that God has chosen to entrust us with decision making ability. 

Don’t Tarry, Don’t Seek

(Proverbs 23:30 KJV)  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

When seen in isolation there is something you might not notice in this verse:  It is the answer to a question.  To summarize the previous verse, the question is, “Who is really messed up?”  Solomon’s editors probably would not let him make it that simple but this would be the Reader’s Digest version or perhaps the Message.

The point is that alcoholic beverages tend to mess you up.  It is not a blanket indictment, just an observation.  If that bothers you think about why.

So?  What do you think the list would say if every bottle of wine came with the same type of printout that your medication is required to provide.  God provided a brain that has more than instinct.

The Wisdom Meter

(Proverbs 20:1 KJV)  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

This is a pretty clear statement.  If you get drunk, you are not “wise” (2449).  We have the wise; we have the fools.  Is there an in between or a continuum?  What do we call all the people in between?  I am thinking that perhaps neither on is an absolute.  I think we have all had times when we seemed to see things clearly and other times when it was like our brain forgot to come back from lunch.  It would seem that what we do in the physical realm effects us in the intellectual and spiritual.  That would explain why too many naps can sap our initiative and gluttony sate our acuity.  Physical discipline can enhance or drain our lives.

On second thought, does the wine deaden the wisdom or does getting drunk mean you never had any?

So?  Don’t eat, drink and be merry or tomorrow you may die.  If you don’t die you will move toward the wrong end of the wisdom meter. 

Seeker Friendly

(Proverbs 23:35 KJV)  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.

Certain bits of “wisdom” point out simple truths.  “If it tastes good, it is fattening.”  “If it is fun, it is sin.”  “If it is easy, it isn’t worth doing.”  Have you found these to be true in your life?  When I was researching the purchase of my first computer I came across a statement that has stuck with me:  “The easier software is to learn, the less flexibility you will have.” 

What does that have to do with life today?  The same sense that I get from this verse.  It is very easy for us to travel down hill.  It is fun to careen down a snowy mountain.  It is drudgery to climb back up.  In this verse it is talking about getting drunk.  I hear people complaining about the hangovers and the embarrassment.  The next chance they get, they do the same thing. 

So?  Be on the lookout for actions that are easily repeated and you know are not right.  Don’t drift into unrighteousness.  I think that is more common than jumping in.  God is waiting to help us make the right turns and decisions. 

Dangerous Verbs

(Proverbs 23:30 KJV)  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

There are two verbs here in regard to alcohol.  We are warned not to “tarry” (linger NASB) (309).  This does not refer to the slow drinker.  This is the guy who stays behind to have “one for the road”.  He might be the one who needs to be reminded that it is closing time.  I have been chased out of the library, but never out of a bar.

The second verb is better in the KJV with “seek” (2713) rather than the “taste” of the NASB.  I picture myself at a pot luck dinner with so many choices and only one plate.  I keep going back to taste each one, I seek them out.  In terms of alcohol I imagine this could be seeing how many different variations you could have, you know, olive or onion.

So?  We have so many reasons for doing things we know damage our body and our spirits.  When I go to an “all you can eat” restaurant, I look at it as a challenge to get as much as I can for my money.  I call it good stewardship.  God calls it gluttony and He is not amused. 

Onomatopoeia

(Proverbs 23:29 KJV)  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Drinking causes “sorrow” (17).  Adam Clarke suggests that this is a case of onomatopoeia.  For those who have been texting and forgotten the big words, that is a literary devise in which a word duplicates the sound it is describing, such as “hiss”.  Clarke suggests that this word, used only here in the Old Testament is meant to convey the sound of misery coming from someone who is in the grip of alcohol.

I heard it in a different context and about a different drug but to paraphrase, “Booze does not let you have a good time, it makes you think you are having a good time.”  One of the sad truths is that too much alcohol leaves a trail behind it and usually the trail is not desirable.

At times I wonder if I have missed something.  The beer in the mug, the whiskey with the warm light shining through it, the smiling crowds of drinkers, make me wonder if I should try it.  Proverbs reminds me of the potential for misery.

So?  Who you gonna believe, the beer commercial or the word of God?  You would think that would be a no-brainer, but I don’t see the liquor stores closing down.