When the Wine is Red - Proverbs 23:31

In the book of Proverbs Solomon asked, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has babbling? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse thirty-one of Proverbs Solomon said, “look not upon the wine when it is red” where we read,

Look not you upon the wine when it is red,

when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.

The verse begins, “Look not you upon the wine when it is red, ...” Solomon began with the words, “look not you” or “do not inspect, perceive, discover or have vision to watch and observe”“upon the wine” which means “on the fermented and intoxicating fruit of the vine” “when it is red” or “at the time and moment it, the wine, is glaring, glowing, flush or turned rosy”. Solomon said his son was not to gaze upon or observe the fruit of the vine at the time it is glowing and turned rosy. 

The verse goes on to say, “... when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.” Solomon continued with the words, “when it gives his color” or “at the time and moment it, the wine, puts forth, bestows and produces a sparkle” “in the cup” which means “within the drinking vessel”, “when it moves itself aright” or “at the time and moment it, the wine, proceeds evenly and smoothly down”. Solomon referred to the time when the “wine” sparkles in the drinking vessel and goes down smoothly. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we are warned through Solomon concerning drinking fermented beverages. Solomon's idea was for his son not even to “look upon” the “wine” when it was in this condition. God knows the effect alcoholic beverages has upon people, and when they are abused, they cause much ruin and destruction. God loves us, and He proved His love to us when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and protect us from destructive drinks that sparkle and swirl within the “cup”.

Next time Solomon says, “at the last is bites like a serpent”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".