Proverbs 23-26

 

Proverbs presents two categories of people: the wise or cautiousbeing and the fool, scoffer, or unwise being.  The first one seeks wisdom and loves instruction: the second avoids discipline altogether. Also, each one can be characterized by his or her response to parental and/or other authority, the first brings happiness and enjoyment, the second brings shame, dishonor, and sadness.  Proverbs wants the reader to become wise and look down on the foolish and their foolishness.  With all this being said, we dive into a very touchy subject for many found in Proverbs 23:29-35, concerning alcohol.  Whether you think it is OK or not Ok to partake in alcohol conception, Proverbs is telling us to the effects of alcohol if abused.  Alcohol like many other things can be bad for us spiritually, physically, and mentally if abused and missed used. 

 

This is like a short essay within the text against alcohol abuse.  Wine is described as dangerous as a snake (v. 32 NKJV), producing hallucinations (v. 33 NKJV), bad language (v. 33 NKJV), and insensitivity (v. 34,35 NKJV).  Alcohol can be very appealing and satisfying for many people, alluring many into a foolish life.  Proverbs is telling us here to not allow it to take your eyes off God who gives you wisdom for a short fix that ends in destruction.  As in all things we are not to abuse things, for it is the abuse of things that always gets us into trouble.

 

All of Proverbs has a resounding theme if you haven’t caught on yet and that is seek out knowledge.  Hold on to it as a precious jewel as we see once again found in Proverbs 24:13-14.  I heard a friend the other day say that Proverbs keeps repeating itself over and over again – about be careful not to be foolish and seek out wisdom.  Another friend of mine said that the foolish need to hear about wisdom repetitively in order for it to sink in.

 

I love v.28 of Proverbs chapter 25, it says; “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.”  In the days of the Bible a city was only as strong as the wall that kept the enemy out.  If you had a weak wall the enemy would overtake your city, but a strong wall kept out those that you did not want to come into the city.  Just like a man or women that is out of control, with no self-imposed limits is any man.  We all need limits, we all need to be cautious and take heed from others!

 

Finally in Proverbs 26:6-11 & 17-19 we see a vivid list of things that should not be together.  Go over these verses and see if there are things in your own life that maybe you are trying to merge together that should not be together, knowing that one does not complement the other.  Or in other words are you trying to indulge in a little evil while trying to serve the Lord, you can not do both – it has got to be one or the other.