Page 660 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

WINE

vine: De. 11:14; 2 Ch. 31:5; Ne. 13:15; Pr. 3:10; Is. Proverbs 31:4-5 teaches, “It is not for kings, O
16:10; 65:8; 1 Ti. 5:23. Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes
2. The context will always show when “wine” refers to strong drink: lest they drink and forget the law, and
alcoholic beverages. In such cases, God discusses the bad pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” The
effects of it and warns against it. An example would be danger is obvious. By the way, Pr. 31:6-7 give us the
Ge. 9, Noah’s experience after the Flood. Verse 21, “and only legitimate use of alcoholic wine in Scripture. “Give
he drank of the wine, and was drunken,” clearly refers strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine
to alcoholic beverage. unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and
Proverbs 20:1 speaks of the same thing, warning that forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and This would be using it as an anesthetic; a pain killer. But
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Alcoholic this is not for everyone; he says in v. 6, “unto him that is
wine is deceptive; but how? In the very way that people ready to perish.” Of course, they did not have all the
are advocating today, by saying that drinking a little bit pain killers that we have today. In our time, it would not
will not hurt. Everyone admits that drinking too much is be necessary to do this. We have many anesthetics
bad; even the liquor companies tell us not to drive and available for those who are dying. Then, about the only
drink, but they insist that a small amount is all right. thing available to the average person would have been
However, that is the very thing that is deceptive. Who some kind of alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant; it is not a
knows how little to drink? Experts tell us that each stimulant, as some think. After several drinks, one gets
person is different. It takes an ounce to affect one, while dizzy; then he will pass out. So this passage teaches that
more is necessary for another. The same person will alcoholic beverage would be only for the person who is
react to alcohol differently, depending on the amount of ready to die; there would be no hope for his life. All that
food he has had, among other things. So, the idea that would be possible would be to ease his pain and help
“a little bit won’t hurt” is deceptive, and whosoever is him forget his misery.
deceived thereby is not wise! Another passage is Isaiah 5:11. “Woe unto them that
Proverbs 23:30-31 refers to alcoholic wine, because it rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
tells us in the previous verse that those who drink it strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame
have woe, sorrow, contentions, babbling, wounds them!” Obviously this is alcoholic, because it inflames.
without cause, and redness of eyes. What a graphic Why does he say, “Woe unto them”? Verse 12 answers,
description of those who “tarry long” at alcoholism. “...they regard not the work of the Lord, neither
Verses 32-35 continue the same description; context consider the operation of his hands.” Everyone knows
always makes it clear when alcohol is meant. If “wine” that when one gives himself to the drinking of alcoholic
may mean fresh grape juice or alcohol, how can we beverage, he will not be more spiritual, more desirous of
know which is intended? The context determines the learning the Word of God. To the contrary, it causes a
meaning. We can tell when “wine” means fresh grape person to ignore the Lord. Verses 13-14 reveal two other
juice and when it means alcoholic beverage by reading serious results: people go into captivity (become slaves
the context, just as we have done in the previous to something or someone) and hell enlarges itself! The
paragraphs. drinking of alcoholic wine has caused hell to be
3. Scripture warns against the drinking of alcoholic enlarged! God does not want anyone to go to hell; He
has given the greatest, dearest gift that He possibly
wine. The Bible is consistent on this, both in the Old and could, to rescue sinners from it. He never made hell for
New Testaments. people. The Lord Jesus Christ said that hell was
The two previously quoted passages, Proverbs 20:1 prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41).
and 23:29-35, are good examples of scriptural warnings However, because of evil alcohol, hell has had an
against consuming alcohol. Proverbs 23:32 says “at the enlargement campaign. Here, then, is a clear warning
last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” against drinking alcohol, because God does not want
Verse 33 shows that it will cause one to look at strange anyone to go to hell.
women (that is, not one’s wife) and to say perverse Isaiah 28:7-8 continues the warning. “But they also
things, or things which he would not say if he were have erred through wine, and through strong drink are
sober. Verse 34 predicts that it will cause death, such as out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred
drowning, or loneliness, such as lying upon the top of a through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine,
mast. Verse 35 warns against numbness (“they have they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in
beaten me and I felt it not”) and “addiction (“when shall vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full
I awake? I will seek it yet again”).
of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.”
What a tragic thing, that even in the days of Isaiah, the

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