Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 23:29-35 ESV

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
34You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast.
35 "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink."

Drunk: Intoxicated with strong drink (alcohol)

Inebriation: To make drunk with liquor

Intoxication: State of being intoxicated or drunk

Alcoholic: A person addicted to excessive use of alcoholic liquors.

Dipsomania: A morbid and uncontrollable craving for alcohol

The writers of Scripture have only one term for the excessive use of alcohol – drunk. It is never considered a disease. It is always written about and described as sin. The habitual drunk, a dipsomaniac, is one who has continued in his sin long enough to become the slave of alcohol.

In the same way the habitual liar, the habitual thief, the whoremonger, the effeminate, and the serial murderer is not sick, but sinful. The present social definitions fail to realize the power of sin, the weakness of the flesh, and the overwhelming authority of Satan over the lost of the world.

The writer of Proverbs in 23:29-35 describes drunkenness in its cause and effect. Verses 29-30 draw your attention to the drunkard with a description of both his internal and external condition. First, in verse 29 he is one with overwhelming inner turmoil. In verse 30, his external condition is that of unnecessary and unexplainable physical distress.

Secondly, in verses 30-31 the writer answers the previous question. His answer is those who over indulge in alcoholic drink. This is the drunkard. In verse 31, while describing the drunkard he states the simple solution. Do Not Go There. To what extent one has to go to stay away from alcohol is not the subject here. But it is certain you cannot keep it in the cabinet and refrigerator and stay away from it.

Thirdly, in verses 32-33 he briefly lists the effects of over-indulgence. It is a poison without remedy. It is the author of delusion. It makes the subject of its influence profane.

Finally in verse 32 he gives the cause. The drunk has no consciousness of danger or responsibility. And his desire which should be a disciplined servant has become his master.

Two applications that can be made:

1. There is no sin of the flesh or mind that cannot become your master.

2. Faith in Jesus Christ is liberating. II Cor. 5:21 and Romans 6:1-14 plainly give in slave to sine the promise of relief. The single condition is “in Christ”. Read I Cor. 6:9-11, “But such were some of you.”

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and