Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Saying 18
My son, give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,
for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Like a bandit she lies in wait
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Saying 19
Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Those who linger over wine,
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”

• Proverbs 23:26-35

Proverbs 23:31Wine when it is red: ”This describes wine when it is especially desirable and when it is most intoxicating, perhaps as ‘strong drink’ or mixed with spices only and not water, as opposed to the ‘new wine’ (3:10), which was fresh and unfermented or less fermented (cf. Hos. 4:11).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

The Message

Saying 18 speaks of the heart of the son, since Solomon prefaces this book as advice from father to son in the first nine chapters.  If you chase after wayward women, it is not only the heart of the wayward woman that is at risk.  The hearts of many men are at risk.  In Solomon’s time, it might be a wayward woman in the streets, but today there are prostitutes who work on the streets, call girls over the phone, and houses of ill repute.  But there is pornography that can become addicting.  The hormones are fed by what the eyes see, so that the eyes must see it to achieve sexual pleasure, the woman is no longer enough.  And while porn was only available in “adult” stores, it is now readily available over the internet to be seen on the computer, the tablet, and the phone or tied into the television.  Yes, one wayward woman can ruin many men today.

Saying 19 speaks of the drunkard.  The last line is telling.  “When will I wake up so that I might drink again?”

Dean Martin was known for pretending to be drunk.  He did drink and might drink to excess on occasion, but he went along with the reputation.  He said on his television show one night that he was watching what he was drinking the other night.  He was perfectly capable of walking home.  He was doing fine until someone stepped on his hand.

I don’t know why I remember that joke, but it was part of the information in my brain that told me to never indulge too much in alcohol.  Overindulgence of anything is not good for you, but alcohol and drugs can lead to driving under the influence.  It can lead to others being killed.  And there are countless reports of drunken parents beating their spouse and their children.

And Solomon knew that the one he was trying to teach was his son, who would be king.  Many rulers have made horrible decisions while drunk, but because they said it, it became law.  Consider the first chapter in the book of Esther.  Vashti was deposed while Xerxes was drunk, but once he sobered, he regretted his decision.  Yet, even then, God used that situation to protect His Chosen People while they were in exile in Persia.

And now let us sing.

The following song is Come, O Sinner.  This is sung by Sovereign Grace Music.  I was thinking of the Loretta Lynn song, Wine, Women, and Song, but we should know what that combination turns into eventually.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Help us to value wisdom.  The focus here is on wine and wayward women, but the man has something to do about this too.  Forgive us, Lord.  Guide us to Your truth.  With our eyes on Jesus, we can refrain from overindulgence, and if to indulge in something sinful, just the thought is a sin.  Forgive us, heal us, cleanse us.  This world was created perfect by You speaking it into existence. We are the cause of this world becoming a cesspool of enticing temptations that only provide temporary numbness from our pain.  You are the great Healer.  Guide us back to You.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.