Wine Biting Like a Serpent - Proverbs 23:32

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. Look not you upon the wine when it is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse thirty-two of Proverbs Solomon said, “at the last it bites like a serpent” where we read,

At the last it bites like a serpent,

and it stings like an adder.

The verse begins, “At the last it bites like a serpent, ...” Solomon began with the words, “at the last” or “in the end, latter time, hinder-most part and future” “it bites” which means “the fermented wine or mixed drink strikes with a sting” “like a serpent” or “similar and in likeness to a snake”. Solomon shared how the fermented “wine” or mixed drinks will strike like the sting of a snake. 

The verse continues, “... and it stings like an adder.” Solomon added the words, “and it stings” or “and the fermented wine or mixed drinks pierce and wound” “like an adder” which means “similar and in likeness to a poisonous viper or serpent”. Solomon said fermented wine and mixed drinks pierce and wound similar to a poisonous viper. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how there are “stinging” consequences for partaking of fermented wine and mixed drinks. Because God loves us, He warns us of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wounds that are caused by over-indulging in alcoholic beverages. Many lives have been damaged and lost because people fell prey to the influence of fermented drinks, and God knows this sinful behavior like many others exists among people. This is why God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and 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 the temptation and “stinging” harm that is cause by imbibing intoxicating liquids. 

Next time Solomon says, “your eyes shall behold strange women”, 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".