Category: Bible

Like a Serpent – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:31-32 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 

‘Look not thou upon the wine when it is red…’ This verse moves from the consequences of drunkenness to the beginning of temptation. The command is striking: “Look not.” The warning is directed toward the attraction before the intoxication. The description portrays fermented wine sparkling in the cup, rich in colour, smooth to drink, and attractive to the eye.

Scripture recognises that temptation often begins with what appeals to the senses. Sin is rarely presented as ugly. It appears attractive, pleasurable, sophisticated, harmless, and enjoyable. Yet outward beauty often conceals inward destruction.

The wise person does not merely resist sin after becoming entangled; he avoids its attraction before it gains influence. This principle applies far beyond alcohol. Believers are called to avoid whatever entices the heart toward sin.

To be continued…

To Seek Mixed Wine – Part 3

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

‘They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.’ The answers to the questions are straightforward. The person experiencing these troubles is the one who lingers over wine and continually seeks a stronger drink. The problem is not merely tasting wine but remaining with it, making drinking a habit and pursuing intoxication.

‘Wine’ – the Hebrew word yayin is a general term used throughout the Old Testament for the juice of grapes and, depending on the context, can refer to either fermented or unfermented grape juice. In this passage, however, the context makes it clear that Solomon is speaking of intoxicating wine, as he describes drunkenness and its harmful effects.

‘Mixed wine’ was wine strengthened or enhanced with spices or other ingredients to increase its flavour or potency. The emphasis is upon deliberately seeking a stronger intoxicating drink. Instead of warning only against drunkenness, Scripture warns against pursuing the very thing that leads to it.

To Seek Mixed Wine – Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

Six curses of drunkenness: [1] Woe refers to deep distress, misery, and calamity. The drunkard often experiences broken relationships, financial hardship, poor decisions, loss of respect, and continual trouble. What begins as pleasure frequently ends in pain. [2] Sorrow – alcohol cannot permanently remove grief. Instead, it often creates greater sorrow through guilt, shame, broken families, poor health, and regret over sinful actions. Many drink to escape pain, yet alcohol often multiplies the very sorrows they seek to forget. [3] Contentions – drunkenness commonly produces arguments, violence, domestic conflict, broken friendships, and legal troubles. Alcohol weakens self-control and impairs sound judgment. [4] Babbling – the Hebrew idea includes foolish, senseless, or uncontrolled speech. The drunkard often says embarrassing things, is offensive, reveals hidden thoughts, or causes lasting damage. Scripture repeatedly teaches that a wise person exercises restraint in speech. [5] Wounds without cause – these are injuries received through reckless behaviour. The drunkard may awaken bruised or injured without remembering how it happened. Many accidents, assaults, and self-inflicted injuries result from impaired judgment. [6] Redness of eyes – red or bloodshot eyes become an outward sign of inward excess. What begins as a hidden indulgence eventually becomes visible to everyone. Sin rarely remains concealed forever.

To be continued…

To Seek Mixed Wine – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:29-30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

The final section of Proverbs 23 contains one of the Bible’s clearest and most vivid warnings against drunkenness. Scripture does not merely forbid drinking; it describes its progression from temptation, to intoxication, to moral corruption, to addiction, and finally to self-destruction.

The passage unfolds like a series of scenes: The misery of the drunkard (vv. 29-30), the temptation of alcohol (v. 31), the consequences of drinking wine and stronger drinks (vv. 32-34), and the bondage of addiction (v. 35).

‘Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?’ These rhetorical questions invite the reader to consider the result of drinking. The drunkard often excuses his drinking as a means of escaping life’s pressures, relaxing after work, relieving emotional pain, or forgetting his troubles for a while. However, Scripture exposes these as false comforts. Alcohol may dull the senses for a short time, but it cannot remove the causes of sorrow or bring lasting peace. Instead, it often multiplies the very problems it promises to relieve, leading to grief, conflict, poor judgment, physical harm, and spiritual decline. Wisdom therefore teaches us to evaluate not the passing pleasure of indulgence, but its lasting consequences, for sin always promises more than it can deliver and ultimately leaves its victims worse than before.

To be continued…

As for a Prey – Part 3

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:27-28 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 

The choice is between two voices: Wisdom calling us to life, and temptation calling us to destruction.

These verses teach that sexual temptation is never merely a physical matter—it is fundamentally a spiritual battle for the heart. Before warning against the immoral woman, Scripture says, “My son, give me thine heart” (v. 26). A heart fully surrendered to God is the greatest safeguard against moral failure.

The warning also extends beyond sexual immorality. Any temptation that promises pleasure while leading us away from God functions like the “deep ditch” or “narrow pit.” Sin always hides its consequences until it has gained a foothold.

The wise believer therefore guards both heart and eyes, walks in God’s ways, and flees every form of temptation, knowing that God’s path leads to freedom, while the path of sin ultimately leads to bondage and destruction.

As for a Prey – Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:27-28 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 

‘And increaseth the transgressors among men.’ Sexual immorality rarely remains an isolated sin. It often produces further transgressions, including deception, broken promises, adultery, exploitation, broken families, violence, and spiritual decline.

One act of compromise frequently leads to many others. The immoral person not only sins personally but also draws others into sin, multiplying transgression within society. This explains why Scripture speaks so strongly about avoiding sexual temptation before it begins.

This also comes back to the reasoning why sons should be devoted to wisdom. Verses 27-28 explain the appeal of verse 26. A heart devoted to wisdom is far less vulnerable to temptation. Wisdom teaches purity, self-control, discernment, faithfulness, and contentment. Sexual immorality offers the opposite: deception, temporary pleasure, lasting regret, broken relationships, and spiritual decline.

To be continued…

As for a Prey – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:27-28 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 

‘She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.’ Scripture now describes the immoral person as a hunter lying in ambush. The picture is that of a robber or predator hiding beside the road, waiting for an unsuspecting traveller. Likewise, temptation is often deliberate, patient, deceptive, and opportunistic.

It waits for moments of loneliness, discouragement, pride, curiosity, anger, or spiritual weakness. That’s why the first warning to guard your heart is so important to avoid useless and ungodly feelings that open the door to the enemy (1Pet. 5:7-10). The enemy rarely attacks when believers are strongest but often when they are least watchful.

The immoral person seeks victims rather than healthy relationships. This language highlights the selfish nature of sexual [as well as other] temptation. Its goal is not genuine love but self-gratification, often at another person’s expense. Like a hunter waiting for prey, temptation studies weaknesses, appeals to natural desires, disguises danger, and promises pleasure while concealing the cost. This is why Scripture repeatedly urges believers to be vigilant and self-controlled.

To be continued…

A Narrow Pit – Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:27-28 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 

‘A strange woman is a narrow pit.’ The Hebrew word nokriy refers to a foreign or alien woman, one outside the covenant community of Israel. In Proverbs, however, the expression carries a broader moral meaning. It describes a woman who is spiritually and morally “foreign” to God’s ways and who seeks to draw others away from covenant faithfulness.

She is “strange” not merely because of nationality but because she rejects God’s standards, disregards the sanctity of marriage, lives contrary to wisdom, and entices others to do the same.

The “narrow pit” suggests confinement and entrapment. Unlike an open road, a narrow pit leaves little room to escape.

Once caught in sexual sin, people often become trapped by guilt, shame, deception, broken trust, emotional bondage, financial consequences, or repeated sinful habits. Sin promises freedom but produces slavery.

A Narrow Pit – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:27-28 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 

Having urged his son to give his heart wholly to wisdom (v. 26), Solomon immediately explains why. The heart cannot be devoted both to wisdom and to sexual immorality. One path leads to life; the other leads to destruction. Throughout Proverbs, the “strange woman” represents not only sexual temptation but every form of seduction that draws a person away from God’s truth. She is the opposite of Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8-9. Wisdom calls people into life, while the immoral woman [mostly a symbol of false religions] lures them into ruin.

The warning is not directed against women in general, but against the immoral woman who deliberately entices others into sin. Elsewhere in Scripture, the same warnings are given to women concerning immoral men. The issue is not gender but immorality and temptation.

‘For a whore is a deep ditch.’ A deep ditch is a hidden danger from which escape is difficult. In ancient times, a traveller who fell into a deep pit could be seriously injured or trapped. Scripture uses this picture to describe the destructive nature of sexual immorality.

It is called a deep ditch because it appears harmless at first, often begins with small compromises, traps those who enter, is difficult to escape, and leaves lasting consequences. Sexual sin has destroyed marriages, families, reputations, finances, friendships, and fellowship with God. The deeper a person falls into sin, the harder it often becomes to return without painful consequences.

James describes the same progression: “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

To be continued…

Let Thine Eyes Observe My Ways

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 

The eyes represent our attention, focus, and direction. What we continually look at eventually influences our thoughts, desires, decisions, and ultimately our character.

To observe wisdom’s ways means to study them carefully, keep them continually before you, follow their example, and never lose sight of God’s path. The believer is called not merely to admire wisdom but to walk in it daily.

Just as a traveller keeps his eyes on the path before him, so God’s people are to keep their attention fixed upon His Word and His ways. “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established” (4:26). The eyes often determine the direction of the heart. When our eyes are fixed on God’s truth, our feet are more likely to remain on His path.

There is a beautiful progression in this verse: The heart represents inward devotion. The eyes represent outward direction. The heart determines what we love. The eyes determine what we pursue. When both belong to God, the whole life is brought under His rule. If the heart is divided, the eyes soon wander. But when the heart is wholly devoted to God, the eyes naturally seek His ways.