Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. – – Proverbs 20:1 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit – – Ephesians 5:18

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 The Bible clearly and consistently condemns drunkenness (Eph. 5:18, 1 Cor. 6:10, Proverbs 23:21), but what does it say about the consumption of alcohol in moderation? This has been the topic of debate and controversy in this country for years, and it is my desire this morning for each of us to study out the Scriptures on this matter and allow God’s Word to guide our convictions and practice in the area of drinking.

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Today’s study takes us to a topic in Scripture that is highly relevant yet also highly volatile among believers. The book of Proverbs contains several warnings regarding the use and abuse of alcohol, in fact, Scripture speaks of wine in more than 200 passages. In Scripture we see wine being used as offerings to God, as drinks for celebration, as medicine for the body and as a drink leading to drunkenness.

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Wine is referenced more than 230 times in the Old and NT 10+ Hebrew words for wine or intoxicating drink, the most common being yayin. The Mishnah made a distinction between 40 day, two years and three years old wine. Only 1 occurrence (Num. 6:3) of non- fermented grape juice. 5 NT words for wine, but the primary term oinos can refer to both fermented and non-fermented wine.

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Shekar (Hebrew)-Strong Drink-10-15% alcoholic content – – used 23 times – – 1 time in reference to a drink offering (Numbers 28:7) – – 1 time in reference to enjoyment Deuteronomy 14:26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the L ORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. – – 21 times in context of warning!

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Many times in both the Old and New Testament wine is spoken of in a very amoral way, such as one might speak of water or Gatorade. The writer is simply speaking of a drink that is common without speaking to its good or evil. There are however instances when wine is spoke of in both the positive and negative aspects. In the passages where the use of wine is spoken of in a moral way, there are far more passages that give warning than there are passages that give commendation. This reality should give each of us reason to consider what our involvement will be in the area of alcohol. Drunkenness is clearly a sin throughout Scripture, personal abstinence is never condemned and moderation appears to be the normal practice for God-followers.

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Words of Warning – – Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. – – Proverbs 21:17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. – – Proverbs 23:20 Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;* – – Proverbs 23:30–31 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; – – Proverbs 31:4–6 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. *Glutton is used 7 times in Scripture and 5 of those 7 times are in connection with winebibbers or drunkards. The sin of gluttony and drunkenness share some commonality

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Words of Warning Commands for abstinence or restraint – – Willful abstinence Rechabites (Jer. 35:1-19) Kings (Proverbs 31:4) – – Commanded Abstinence Levites while serving in temple (Lev. 10:9) Navarites (Numbers 6:3) – – Commanded Moderation Pastor and Deacons (1 Tim. 3:3, 8) All Believers (Eph. 5:18)

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Words of Warning Commands for abstinence or restraint Cautionary Tales – – Noah (Genesis 9:20-25) – – Lot (Genesis 19:30-38)

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Words of Warning Commands for abstinence or restraint Cautionary Tales Stories of Pleasure – – Wedding of Cana-Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:1-12) – – Psalm 104:15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart. – – Ecclesiastes 9:7–10 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. 8 Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. – – Deuteronomy 14:26

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 God loves you (John 3:16; Roman 8:38-39) God wants the best for you (Genesis 2:15-17) – – Statistics on Alcohol Abuse from CDC and Dept. of Justice 79,000 deaths annual attributed to excessive alcohol use 1.6 million hospitalizations, 4 million emergency room visits for alcohol related condition (2005) 35-40% of all victims of violence report the offender was under the influence of alcohol. 2 of 3 domestic abuse associated with alcohol alcohol is leading factor in child maltreatment and neglect cases 32% of all traffic related deaths in US attributed to alcohol impaired driving crashes (2009)

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 God loves you (John 3:16; Roman 8:38-39) God wants the best for you (Genesis 2:15-17) God desire is for your desire! (Deuteronomy 4:24; Matthew 22:37) – – Deuteronomy 4:24 24 For the L ORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. – – Matthew 22:37 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the L ORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Will it violate my conscience – – Romans 14:14 Will it ensnare a weaker brother or sisters – – Romans 14:15-19 Will it help me? – – 1 Corinthians 6:12a Will it enslave me? – – 1 Corinthians 6:12b – – Ephesians 5:18

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 It is my conclusion from Scripture that the bigger issue regarding drinking is the question of who is in the control seat of your heart? God desires to be your Lord and your leader in every point of your life, so the bigger question for each of us this morning is who is leading and controlling my life?

Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs Walking With the Wise: study of Proverbs He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,