Wisdom and Alcohol (Proverbs 23:29-35)
I. The definition of Wine and Strong Drink
A. Alcohol Drink (Genesis 9:20-21)
1. Significantly less alcoholic than drinks today.
– Wine would be diluted with water
“We call a mixture ‘wine’, although the larger of the component parts is water.” Plutarch (1st Century A.D.)
“The best measure of wine is neither much nor very little; for ’tis the cause of either grief or madness. It pleases the wine to be the fourth, mixed with three nymphs.” Euenos (5th century B.C.)
– Wine would sometime be boiled down to a paste
– Strong fermentation processes came much later
2. Often was necessary because of their water. (1 Timothy 5:23)
“It is harmful to drink wine alone, or again, to drink water alone, while wine mixed with water is sweet and delicious and enhances one’s enjoyment.” Maccabees (60 B.C.)
B. Grape Juice (Genesis 40:11)
II. The Danger of Alcohol
A. Its Deceitfulness
1. It is enticing (Proverbs 23:31)
2. It laughs and rages (Proverbs 20:1)
B. Its Sting (Proverbs 23:32)
1. It hurts yourself
a. Grief and despair (Proverbs 23:29)
b. Loss of control (Proverbs 23:29)
c. Controlled by the alcohol (Proverbs 23:33)
d. Miserableness (Proverbs 23:34-35)
2. It hurts others
a. Contentions (Proverbs 23:29)
b. Loss of judgment (Proverbs 31:4-5)
C. Its Addictiveness (Proverbs 23:35)
III. The Avoidance of Alcohol (Proverbs 20:1; 31:4-5)
A. Don’t forget the danger (Proverbs 23:29-35)
B. Don’t forget the sinfulness
1. Its control (Ephesians 5:18)
2. Its harm to our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19)
3. Our example before others
C. Remember the context
D. Stay far away (Proverbs 27:12)