Proverbs 23:31-35
Prov 23:31 (KJB)
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
 
I have heard many Christians claim that there are no prohibitions in the Bible against drinking alcohol. The last two verses give an indication of what kind of a night a person can have if they go out for the purpose of drinking. In verse 31, we do see a prohibition against drinking, especially for the believer. This verse is stating that we should not even look at the wine or other alcoholic drink in the cup. Looking at the drink comes before drinking it. The admonition to us here is not even to look at the alcohol simply because if we don’t see it, we will not fall prey to the lust of the eyes. Many alcoholic drinks are made to look pretty with little umbrellas and things like that but if we do not look at it, we are taking God’s way out of that sin. (1 Cor 10:13 KJV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
 
Prov 23:32 (KJB)
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
 
When one sets out to start drinking, there may be a temporary feeling of euphoria but as they continue to drink, then drunkenness sets in. Alcohol never leaves a person in a good state. In the end or last, you can contract diseases from it, it can get you hooked so you wake up in the morning and the first thing you look for is a drink. It drains you of your finances and can make you a violent person which can commit a violent act against someone, such as a family member. It can cause a great painful death in a drunk. There have been cases of people who have been so diseased with alcohol, that they have literally spit up parts of their liver. This is one of the great consequences of drunkenness.
 
Prov 23:33 (KJB)
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
 
There was a country and western song some years ago and one of the lines was, “the girls all get prettier at closing time.” This means that under the influence of alcohol, a man will not concern himself with who he goes home with or takes to a motel. The influence of alcohol causes you to let down your guard and you will make moves you never would if you were sober and also many drunks have loud mouths and tell many filthy jokes and have normal filthy language. Many times vulgarity is held in check when a person is sober but once they are under the influence of alcohol, there is nothing to check it. Many people have contracted diseases by just picking up anybody at a bar. Alcohol is the enemy that many people love.
 
Prov 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.
 
Here is one of the best descriptions of a person’s movement that is under the influence of alcohol. Just as a ship, which is not governed, will be tossed to and fro and from side to side, a person who is drunk will walk and act the same way. They will not be able to walk straight never mind navigate a car or a sidewalk. In fact, this verse states that they will be so drunk and uncoordinated, that they will be like someone who is on top of the mast where there will be the most motion visible. Their drunkenness will be severe and they will stagger and fall as they attempt to walk. It is not a pretty sight nor should one be laughed at in that condition, for that condition puts anyone on the precipice of death.
 
Prov 23:35 (KJB)
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.
 
Beaten - To strike, hammer, or smite
 
This verse is a very good one describing the results of one who gets into a fight while they are under the influence of alcohol. First, he claims that they have stricken him and yet he was not sick. Then he was beaten and he did not feel it because the alcohol made him numb to reality. He than asks the question as to when he will awake whether out of sleep or out a stupor. One thing you can count on from a drunk that as soon as they sober up and patch up their wounds, they are going to go after the alcohol again and repeat the same scenario. It is a very vicious and deadly cycle. Only God can break the power of the sin cycle in a drunk by saving them.

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